The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-06-02
DecorRtIOn Day.

was duly observed by the soldiers and
citizens of this and our sister borough
of Weissport. At about nine O'Clock a.
IN. the line was formed in the following
order at the lower end of Bankway:
Marshal end Aids. .-
Young America COrnet Band of Wessport
Ministers and orators in carriages.
Chief Burgess.
Wagon drawn bv four white horses containing
40 little girls dressed in white represent
ing the Goddess of Liberty and the
weissport and Lehighton Boys.
Lehigh Hook and Ladder Company.
Citizens in carriages.
The procession moved up Bankway
and Bank street to North, up North to
Second, down Second to Elm, out Elm
to the cemetery, where they formed
around the grave of departed COM
rade. After an appropriate prayer by
Rev. L. B. Brown, of the NJ. L. church,
the comrades departed to decorate the
graves, the choir singing the Decoration
Hymn. The assemblage then moved
to the shelter Of the grove, and were
addressed by Hon. W. M. Rapsher, in
the following ELOQUENT and patriotic
language:
FRIENbs AND FELLOW CITIZENS lit is mat
ter oi history that all people and natians have
held IN grateful remembrance tner heroic dead;
those who gave their lives upon the battle fields
of TIER country. There is a halo of glory con.
nected with the history and heroes OF human
battles. 1t is well and fitting that this should
by the case because life is the greatest sacrifice
country in tGe cause OF right We are Assem-.
Dled to day to do homage and refresh our
thoughts anew on day anu occasion which has
become with us an annual comeInOratiOn IN re.
membranCe and in honor of the tens of thous.
ands Of our fellow comrades and citizens who
have fallen TO rise no more UPON our own heids
of battle. NAY here say that the desire of
men to be honored and remembered after they
are dead and gone, is very general, If not uni.
Judge SharswOOd says, 1T is one Of the
strOug arguments for our immortality, tnat we
stretch out our desire beyond the brief span of
our present existence and live In the future. A
sad and dreary thought would IL be to a man,
that OF d ing unwept by any one, ,unhonored by
as removed from sight, II not an actor upon
the most prominent theatre OF the worlds his.
tory, within some narrower circle of society
his neighbOrh0Od, his friends, his family, or at
least his desCendants-every one looks anxious.
ly forward. in the hope tnat his memory Will be
respectfully cherished, MS faults and foibles
overlooked and excused his virtues adorned In
their fnirest and lOvlest colours. Whether, in
|
still live after their earthly tabernacles have
crumbled TO their original clay, they have any
knowledge of or interest in the affairs OF the
world which they left behind, we do not know
1t has not Deen revealed to us. From that
bourne no traveller has returned"
Do we reflect npon 1t with that thoughtful
seriousness which this sad and sublime occasion
demands Do we fully appreciate those dearly
bought lessons which we have been 30 practi-
caily taught by actual experienced five do,
then the day will not be misspent There IS a
patriotism and pride for ones country and its
| Inat ffttfin xyn 10 Inf oh "a
revere. And II this national cOmmemOration
day will Impress us, as well as coming genera
tOns, with the belief that il men who fall on
the field of battle, or in the discharge OF the
duties which they owe to the nation in defence
OF liberty. Justice and right, loving and CRATE
ful people will ever remember and hold In rev.
erence the valOr and heroism which they dis
played IN the hour OF their country's peril, IL
Will go far to inspire our citizens, now and
hereafter, with that patriotic fervor which is
essential TO peTpetuate our country and its in
stltutons. In this connection can vel say
soldiers nor their orphan children. They are
remembered not qlone IN gratitude and sympa-
thy, but by substantial recognition by our
Commonwealth and by the National Govern.
ment. Indeed, Pennsylvania stands first among
the great slsterhOOd Of states which compose
the American Republic in the noble work OF
caring for the children made necessitOTes by the
casualues OF war. believe It TO be fact that
our state has done more TO succor the offspring
OF her soldiers who lost life or limb in their
country's service, than all the other States com
Dined. know OF no record Of similar instance
where state has adopted as her special wards
all the dependent children of her slain and
) crippled warriors as the Keystone state has
done. In this cause she has already given over
five millions OF dollars a thank offering to the
valor that saved the nation entire when great
rebellion threatened its dismembeTment and
} rum and gathered under her protecting and
guiding care, from her cities, her hamlets, her
} valleys and her mountains, over eight thousand
| children who represent either the grave or the
mangled form OF q soldier, And the work ie still
going on in our soldiers orphan schools, until
THESE children shall have passed beyond the
wears OF dependency. Besides, our National
Government has generously and literally
granted her bounties and pensions to her sol.
dlers and their families by tens OF millions Of
dollars Such sympathy and gratitude Is OF the
, most practical and substantial sort. The people
! of Pennsylvania may well feel that they have
thus far performed theft duty to their brave
: soldiers, as well as every duty ana requirement
7 to the Naltanal Government in the darkest hour
OF its peril. 1t might be interesting TO review
! at length the position and influence which
! Penns@ylyania sylvan occupied during the late civil
' all, loyal, with her "War GOvefnOr," Andrew
G. Curtin. to sustain the govel nrient; but do
not les Justlhed in thus consuming your time
!, upon this occasion. Suffice II TO say that we
TOO well remember the mOmentOus struggle
, which continued four sad ana weary years We
} stthered many defeats and passed IhI Ough many
seasons OF deepest gloom and discouragement.
= The whole people were humbled anu became
2 thoughtful aud grave under the awful clTcum
: stances amid winch they lived. The sacrifices
. OF the war were fearful During its continuance
= | 2,7OQ,0O bore arms on the side Of the North
: OF this number $4,000 men We're killed in battle
or died OF wounds IN hospitals 100000 died OF
! | Olsehhe IN nOspltalst anu more went home
!, | wounded or stricken with mortal disease to die
l amid the scenes of their childhood. The state
u OF Pennsylvania equipped and sent to the field
. over $4,000 men, OF whom about 50,O05 Derished
What an arrayi Aud most of us present here
to-day have a distinct recollection OF those try
8 ing times. But the people had hope and deter
i minatlOn III their cause. The sentiment whiO1
= those familiar war, songs, Of those times, ex
y pressed with so much feeling and pathOs, W err
. true ana real, and can do no better than MAKE
. few quotations, vzi
many are the hearts that are weary tonight
Wishing Tor the war TO cease;
Many are the hearts looking for the right,
To see the dawn Of peace"
1 Again:
Y "ln the beauties of the lilies Christ was borI
Is across the sea,
With glory IN His bosom that transflgure,
10 Won and me;
!, AS he died to make men holy, let us die to mag
men free,
While Goa is marching on"
4. such feelings and sentiments existed, and tn
)r heart swells with emotion ween we Temembe
our gallant army. whose constant valOr has SUI
tained on the Hello the cause of our country, o
lr civilization and liberty. by the hOmely trad
ton of the fresde, by the headslOnes in tn
70 church yard. COnsecIated 20 those whose form
r rest beneath the marOle slabs NJ Gettysburg o
=. repOse Ear on in rude graves by the Rappahau
(. nOCk, or sleep beneath the sea. embamed in tn
T. memories of succeeding generations OF parent
10 and children, the heroic dead will live on m Im
mortal youth. by their names. their chA faeteI
~ their service their tate, tnelr glory, they car