New-York tribune., 1876-05-31
TIE MEMORIAL GRAFTON.

/
| Ii. A. .GILDERsLEEyE-TIIE REV. H. W. BElLo"S
| ID. D., ORATOR OF THE DAY.
| A large and intelligent audience assembled
ut the Academy Music last evening to participate III
the exercises the funds arising from which were an
noUnced to 90 toward tine erection OF Soldlels anu
| Sailors Home The parquet and galleries were well
filed and few OF the boxes were empty inc HOFerhoi
Island band was stationed in the space usually devoted
orchestra, and from time to time rendered the
| selections of music marked the programme NUM-
! bers OF sweet-scented flowers were placed along
| the edge of the stage, and large ana hahusoho
| flower piece placed on the Presidents tapie'
Among the audience wero many persons prominent I'D
professional social and political circles exOces ol the
army, however, predominating Many of those who ad
participated in the decoration services wero present III
uniform and this gave military aspect to the assem-
bage the stage. Among The gentlemen present were
| Chief-Justice Charles f. DAILY, Police COMMISSIONERS
Erhardt and Wheeler, eX-COmmisslOner Grdner JACK
son s. Schultz, President Salem H. Wales of toe Dock De
partu,ent Gen. Jardinc, William Lainbeer Col Rush e.
Hawkins and Col Thorpe 1t had been intimatcd that
Senator Roscoe COnkng would be the speaker u iHe
evening, and it the programme that the Rev Dr
Cnapn would offer up prayer, but neither OF these gen
| tlemcn appeared.
Soon after O'Clock the band struck up the march from
"Tannhauscr" and the officers walked upon the stage
and took their seats Judge Noah Davis who had been
selected President made the preliminary address He
said that the object OF the meeting was to honor the
memory of the noble men who died in the service Of their
country The for which they had sacrificed them
selves was than 100 years ago, having seen
the light the field or Lexington. What the soldiers OF
tho Revolution fought obtain, the soldiers OF the
later struggle had fought to maintain. Their comrades
during the day had crowned with e4uil iduIcis ~"
statues of Washington and Lincoln, comnrInoTatinS
with equal honor the services OF both IL 'ayen would
have no quarrel with such They were not Tor
personal ambition aggrandizemcnt such as was the
| th NJ
wars based ON principle, with the liberty and equal
rights o. man their basis.
Col Henry A. Gnderseevo followed the President in
the opening address He said that throughout the land
tributes respect had been paid alike at the base OF the
monument of the distinguished officer who fell in battle
and over the less preentOus graves OF those unknown
10 fame The debt thus paid one OF gratitude and
Justice The war was of principle and Of justice, and
the sacrifice OF would not have been in vain If it
resulted IN the pernanency Of the Union
The Rev d.. Henry W. Bellows the next speaker.
and made in substance, the following address:
God himself has made day ful OF bracing liberty,
and he very breath OF freedom this day has proved
honor the graves OF BY the people OF this
and al other patriotic communities. see them looking
from the prOud battlcmtnts Of Heaven their faces s
ng will proud JOY as they their comrades and friends
owerng with ineir blessings and irrSatins with their
tears tie sod out of which springs The memory O ther
heroic sacrihces This day IS not only Kept Dy
those on earth, put also by those brave ones
| whose bodies lie under the sod, bI; whose
souls again don their arlnor and join with
celebrating the day when they sled thcr blood mat
|
cafes To this procession Of faithful hearts that CRATE
fully remember then precious dead III seems 10 me bht
| day-O you younger men ana younger women IL must
seem almost agesncc those regiments which sprug
up the cali Of Their country were gathered IN their
crudeness from the villages oi me lana ana hled her
| guns and muskcts so awkwardIy passed through ms
city their way to the front | see he FOND mothers
and new made brides with their tcaiS and cheers as they
passed tue river. which TO them might almost seem
to be OF AcerOn when they thought that there
might rcpassing. Down they went ana tnc IN one
day or more the widows that walled over tHe dead
heard me notes that told their dear had fallen,
| th, urstm
beloved sons and the first ncw-ma1e brides t0Ok unto
their hearts thc agony Of a parting that Eevcr more
might be en- led until the JOYFUL meeting again IN that
IIeaye those dead ones are now ana to WHch we
arc going began that wall that for four sad weary
veaTs pr4vacd over this land. Doubtless there are
| mothers, ami widows. and those VINO wOuId nave
been happy brides, now before me. whose ony con.
ISOLATION is visit year after year aud month after month
the graves OF their dead and garnlsh them with simple
flowers Never will they forget Their peIlsneu heroes
believe that those dear boys VINO are up III leaNeh to
day, and who perhaps hear the roll called Dy our Lincoln
Heavens batcmcpts the dl they Kept here on earth
procession Of grateful hearts and say lhink NOT sauy
of us dim heavenly joy by your foolish Tears Or
which has beci freed from its earthly tenement in de-
Tense of its native land nothing more acceptaDe ta
Let me say a few words a somewhat different key
There is but one thing better than to die
is 10 live for your country in the hour OF seeming
safety No country is safe in memories OF the past III
laws or in institutions when the present toe OF dc'O
lion does yyIfy those laws ana memories and nsu
tions Ii is the danger Of all countries 10 lean on o
memories to rely laws and customs No country Is
happier than ours in its laws and institutlons no con
Try IS more IN danger anah cnnses have c5nrcnes
classes fOs traditions, and these may Tor generation
continue and carry on the spirit Of nation With MS 1t
ia different We are the Church and the Government.
Let single generation in America fail To iii ne empty
sarks of 9nr Written laws with the living spirit, and
single generation will succeed in destroy ng our national
lfc. Win tine best Government III the WOi!d we nave
tho hardest serve and preserve. And II better
spirit does animate us than has recently cen shown
one like that sHOwn by those we honor today VINO
volunteered Or battle, and by volunteering our t our
thought efforts, are rs good as dead Nay u We
will do il, dead Many good people tnihk we
are already. There is such cowarce IN my sOn
know too well the common people Pl n.y. y unot ~
the right and to the country Ihey are ony ~ Ia,
under chlOrOform-a temporary lethargy aicr tue "a
control Of their great affairs slip INTO such bands as
are always ready the balance Of power wien IL
there Is no class corporation If the people
fan OF their duty. God help Us. No one else can
or win which vote. will not brlng partisan pocs
here. There two great historical parties IL IS an
honor to belong honestly either. To each is commit
| led n solemn duty. To to oppose those dangers
which from the too great cenraizatlon OF power
TO the other to avoid dangers Of too great dispersion
OF power only say God give that parry success whch
is at the time protector from the greater prese.
! dauger-I leave you to decide winch. but hod tiicn
party firmly TO its principles. what mseIaoe sIgn.
is 10 see either stealing the others platform u ~, w i 20
doubtful whether there is principle IN H. Lei US not
compromise principles, or deceive the people, Oh cau
them by the to what, If they could snel IL,
they would abhor and detest. But now in tie
present state OF parties, Is u not eoou , t,'ne VIC
10 oin the party Of honest mcnl Tne party which re-
spects justice integrity, Cod aud duty winch VIII whp
away every tlef, knave, prostitute ana base leiUm %
machine" is heard, but tnat is difficult BUS hess
seize 1t and run 1T in the interest ol
honest arts politics which the honest politician may
Ii great injury to the country that We hne i
to think the mere iact OF beng pon'ieian as
grace. Politicians must be- and trained pOAtleahs
we need-men pure and tried in political me De.oie .Ie
universal gaze. TO take untTeI man III poltcs i
! like ealing u landsman, who does not know q sPaIA
from STAR, rock from porpose TO manaSe snip ,i
To call such men To pilot our national arr 10 P,J P9J
assininIty. Politics hateful 10 Goa