The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-30
DECORATION DAY.
strewing the Graves Of Our Fallen Heroes

Strewing the Graves Of Our Fallen Heroes
Ceremonies at Spring GrOve-Ad-
dress by Judge Cox.
This morning, at the time appointed,
the different military organizations
and civic societies met at
the City Buildings, where badges
were distributed and the line formed un.
der command OF Gen. j. FL. Bates, Grand
Marshal, and at few minutes before
8 O'clock the procession, In the order
printed yesterday, took up their line OF
march over the following route:
Forming on Eighth street, the line
marched west to Central avenue, thence
north to Thirteenth street, east to Elm,
north to Liberty, east to Vine, south to
Fifth, east TO Broadway, south to
Fourth, west to Plum, south
to the Marietta & Cincinnati Depot
where it took the 10 A. Nj. train for
Spring Grove Cemetery. IL was hot
and dusty march, but the men bore up
under the discomfort with admirable
spirit.
The early trains which left the Plum
street Depot, beginning at half-past 7
O'clock and continuing throughout the
morning, were well filled with ladies
and children.
As early as s O'Clock the grounds at
the Cemetery were thr0nged with people
from the suburbs. Flowers were in
abundance; several wagon loads being
hauled from the different places where
donations were lett, by teams kindly
furnished by the Adams Express Com
pany.
At the Soldiers Mound in the Ceme-
terry, the exercises were opened, upon
the arrival of The train, with military
and civic societies, few minutes past
II O'clock.
The programme, as follows. was ad-
hered To-:
Ode-Decoration Day, by l.. Cist;
written for this occasion by the request
Of the Committee on Music. Tune,
"Auld Lang Syne."
Prayer-Rev. Henry D. Moore.
Music-Dirge, BY the band.
Oration-H0n. Judge Joseph Cox.
The following is o summary OF the cd
dress:
Judge Joseph Cox said: We come to-
day to deck with flowers the tomos Of
the dead. Precious 10 the memory OF our
dead. Consecrated In our hearts is the
last spot of earth Which holds that iMan-
innate body which once pulsated With lile
and affection. 1t may have mouldered to
dust, and the spirit returned to God
who gave 1t, but we bow head and knee
over the IOwly hillock, and bedew with
tears the turf which grows nowhere else
so green. We remember the face, once 80
pleasant to look upon, all the kind offices
OF friendship and love, all the brave
and noble deeds. The earth hides all
errors, and, like skillfui alchemist,
transmutes them into gold No real
voice speaks up through the earth to
soothe our sorrows, no hand is reached
out to grasp us with its warm clasp, or
thrilling lip presented to touch us with
its e.kiss. But memory is full. No
voice so sweet as thai whose music
has ceased 10 US forever here, and
no eye shines SO brightly as that
into whose loving depths we never more
may gaze. Tho spot 10 holy ground. 10
these mounds Of earth we come, as the
Holy OF Holes. We guard them sacred-
iy and shrink involuntarily lest the foot
OF the profane may desecrate them, or
even the voice Of the stranger
startle the quiet solemnity which
all nature seems to suspend
about them. We bedeok them with how-
ers, emblems OF purity and lOvelineSs,
as II to win the dead back again to lite,
from eOidness and silence and dust. 1t
may be that they are insensible to these
ceremonies. But the tribute is one in.
stinctively prompted by our hearts, and
no material philosophy can persuade us,
a part OF whose life lies buried here, that
our gifts and cares and watchfulness are
in vain. We believe they are about US,
sharing In the emotions which quicken
our own hearts. Not as seen by us, but
as seeing US; they in q veil impenetrable
with lie to them.
"And they watch us
With those deep and tender eyes,
Like the stars so still and saint-1ike,
Looking downward from the skies"
These are the feelings with which we
approach the graves OF our friends and
kindred. They are the Nations dead,
to whom our Nation In the hour OF its
utmost need pledged untading honors to
their memory and support to their
widows and orphans.
1t seems TO US but as yesterday, we
saw them gathering from all parts OF the
land, anu from all the employments OF
life, gathering In companies and regi.
ments, ana origades. anu marching unr
der that banner OF beauty aud glory,
with proud and elastic step, into the
very vortex OF war. No fear OF peril de-
tered them. They only knew their
country called, and they pressed on,
eager in the path OF duty.
All these are alike worthy Of the hon.
ors OF their country, for each, in what
soeyer capacity he served, formed a part
Of that great complex machinery OF
war, any one OF which being want.
ing destroyed the efficiency OF
the whole. BULBS Run, Winohes-
ter. Shiloh, Stone River, Atlanta,
Chicamauga, Perry Vile, Carnifax Ferry,
Mill Spring, Fredericksburg. Antietam,
vieksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, Gettys.
burg, The Wilderness, Franklin, Peters
burg, Richmond; ali those, and hun
drcds OF other battle-dsids, will tell
through ~ iIws low those nasn gave 10