Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-01

81. ! would not revive the bitterness Of
that day. IL | could speak and il be done,
would say 10 that bitterness Sleep the
sleep Of death beneath these years. and, az
time rolls on, be still more deeply entombed
beneath the agcs But this cannot do
The record made by the subjects Of this
nation during that four years OF conflict
has been chronicled in history, and there
it will r, main.
Standing before you as do to-day, with
memory ifeighted rs 1t is with dark pic
lures, recall no animoSities | let them
sleep. But hear the thunders Of artillery.
u rush to the scene of conflict, and Sumpter
is crumbling beneath shot aud shell. The
Stars and Stripes are shot from the flag
staff and fall 10 the ground, With shouts
and increased thunders Of artillery from
those who shot il down. But scarcely has
the dear old flag, that was never born to be
trailed in the dust, touched the ground till
brave hand seizes it, scales that pole of
liberty, and amid shot and shell. nails it to
the top. What does it mean2 Treason
against the confederation of the States has
lifted its giant form in tue South, unsheathed
the sword and strikes for the dismember-
ment Of the nation. | read the call for
troops hear the drum aud fife upon the
streets of our cities calling for volunteers
! At the homes of this land, mothers give
| their sons the farewell kiss; sisters in tears
| repeat the sad farewell to fat hers and
| brothers that are to never return husbands
and wives hold each other in that long,
| fearful, aud last embrace ia the cottage
! door, while children, nesting near cling to
| the coat Of blue and in soLs and tears as if
| their little hearts would break, they say 70
papa the sad fare we'll, aud turn with the
widowed mother to her chamber to weep
and never to greet that father again till
{ they meet around the Eternal Throne.
! North and South, yea all over this land,
homes are thus made desolate and mothers
and children are left to weep alone.
! The soldiers of the South coming from
| desolated homes meet those OF the North
! on the field of buttlc. For four years they
/ wrestle together in interneciue and frntrici
dal war. On every field of battle loved
ones fall in death aud untold grief enters
! the homes Of this land The conflict deep
ems till the life OF the nation trembes in
! the balance on the nights of Gettysburg
But, thank God, He who is the author Of
nations, who founded our domain in &c
and says in his Word: Honor thy king"
and Render unto Caesar the the things
that are Cnsars and to God the things that
are Gods suffered not our nation to fall.
| But wheE treason was crushed and rebellion
sat in ruin, the earth was drenched in fra
tcrnal blood, homes and hearts were made
dcsolate forever, and the nation itself
though living and mighty was wounded
and bleeding, and the wounds
are not yet healed Out of this debris and
| from her slumbers on this memorial day
call for patriotism and loyalty to awake
| and shout till the vaulted canopy above us
! han nhA nd in PC
the glad acclaim and send it through all
the ages to come. would have patriotism
/ and loyalty 10 breathe their own life into
the subjects of this nation from the Lakes
to the Gulf and from sea 10 sea. We pa
triotically and Loyalty honor our heroic
dead to day For this we have assembled,
for this we have culled our flowers and in
tend TO strew them on their graves. II there
! is one in our midst that is unwilling to do
this and to cherish loyal feelings for the
union of states, | would have the entire
nation arise and sing in his cars this de-
served song;
4" Back to your homo Sou secret traitor.
| Down 10 your own degraded sphere;
| He who unfurled our glorious banner,
Says II shall wave thousand years.
Patriotism, loyalty and fidelity to the
Union of States should be taught in our
|
bar and by the pulpits Of this land. For
fidelity to the confederation of States is
the cement of the nation. Unless tealty to
the nation binds the States together, she
may not stand, but like ancient Rome fall
| 10 fragments
Years ago one, whose name will ever live
said of Independence day that it would be
celebrated and on its annual return the
people of the nation would shed tears CO.
pious, gushing tears not Of subsection and
slavery, but of eXultatiOn of gratitude and
of joy Alas! that this prophesy in our
day is not fulfilled. Independence day is
now rather day of feasting and drunken
ness than day OF patriotic joy. With
malice toward none but act of pure intense
love this my native land, aud the welfare OF
a united people. call for loyalty unmin.
glcd on all national days. Let every shop
he closed let the whp els of industry stand
still Let the fires of sectional hatred be
quenched But let fidelity to the union OF
States, now one and undiscovered, be kin
died in every home and every heart. The
old flag still waves over an undivided land
and not a star has been stricken from her
sky of blue. May they never grow less.
As people we cannot afford to see our ma
ton divided into petty and rival govern
Southern bounds and from sea to sea, wt
want an undivided land.
In concert with these sentiments we NEE
+ to-day. We have pucked our loveliest flow
, ers and with loving hearts and gentle handi
we intend to strew them over the graves o
our heroes who in our late conflict defend
ed our homes and saved our nation. Som'
OF them sleep in the sunny South but VI
will not forget them. Heroically the,
, braved the storm and suffered for you ant
, me, when on the altar of the nation thei
blood was sprinkled by shot and shell
They sleep but re lire to honor them. o.
, their graves we will strew our flowers, de
/. youtly pray God to bless the kindred VIII,
, mourn the sleeping dead, and humbly be
, seech the King of nations to save us, ii
years to come. from the ravages of war.
Both addresses were listened to will
marked attention. The benetliction wa
then pronounced by Rev. Mr.. MATTHIAS.
PROCESSION.
f At the conclusion of the exercises at tn
, Hall the procession was formed in the fol
lowing order:
1st-Marshal Rhcinfrank, mounted.
2d-Arion Cornet Band.
>
, 4th--Soliler. on loot.
, Sth Floral Committee, 100 children.
: 6lh-School Children.
! 7th-Orators, Qnartelte, Council AM
Trustees in Carriages
, Sth-Silver Cornet Band.
! 9th-Frank Seilman, with Flag.
, iOth-Hook g. l.a11er Co. IN Uniform.
lllh-Citizens ON foot.
, l3lh-Single BuGgies.
l3,h--D Double Buggies.
, 1Ith Carriages.
l5th-Wagons.
e The procession thus formed moved on
I Indiana avenue to Louisiana Avenue
North on Lpuiaianr Avenue TO From
street; West ON Front street to Wes
h Boundary; South on West Boundary I,
q Cemetery. Arriving at the Cer,etery gat
= the sol iierA halted and opened ranks, an
? the Floral Committee headed the pruces