The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-09
Decoration Day.


ance or Decoration Day in this city
to-day was more general, and on 9
larger and more elaborate scale thar
has heretofore characterized this sol
emn and impressive anniversary
The weather was delightful, and the
streets were crowded with sight see
ers. All the public buildings, banks
insurance companies, &C., were
closed, and business almost entirely
suspended. The national cOlor5 were
displayed at half mast from hun
dreds of private residences in the
various streets, from the Postoffice,
the City Hall, the newspaper offices
and hotels. Almost every boat oi
the different ferry lines on the North
an East rivers were likewise decked
out in bunting, and the shipping in
the harbor displayed insignia OF
mourning from their mastheads.
The Worth Monument, and the stat
ues of Washington, Lincoln and La
fayette were deliberately decorated.
Rev. Henry II. Garnett, a colored
preacher, made an invocation at the
Lincoln statue.
The procession was large and the
floral features especially noticeable.
The different military organizations
of the city generally participated,
and made an imposing appearance.
The celebration throughout was very
| impressive.
At Brooklyn there was a general
observance Of the day. The city
was handsomely decorated with bun
ting, and the streets crowded with
people. Ceremonies were held at
the tomb of the Revolutionary mar
tyrs at Fort Greene, at the Cemetery
of the Holy Cross and at Greenwood.
AT the latter place arrangements tor
| decoration were very extensive. At
ter the ceremonies in this city vari-
Gus organizations proceeded to the
various cemeteries, where the graves
were decorated and addresses deliv-
cred.
A SOUTHERN SOLDIERS ADDRESS.
The Academy of Music was filled
tonight with large audience. The
orator Of the day was Gen. Roger A.
Pryor, who delivered brilliant and
patriotic address. He began by dis.
claiming the atfectatiOn OF regarding
the invitation to deliver the address
as a personal compliment. There
was Worthier and weighter signifi-
canoe. He continued "In saluting
the participation of Confederate sol
dierS in the sOlemnities of this day,
you mean to tender them an over.
ture of reconciliation, to avow your
good will toward your recent adver
saries, and to proclaim your desire
for the prevalence of peace and fra
ternal feeling between the lately bel.
ligerent sections. By no token more
touching and impressive could you
make manifest these liberal and pa.
triotic sentiments. To proffer YOU
| former foes share in the simple but
pathetic ceremonial by which, or
this hallOWed anniversary, you sym.
! boliZe the perennial bloom and fra.
GRANGE associated with the memory
of your departed comrades, to admit
| US into the sanctuary of your SOr'
rows, and allow us to unite in the
| homage you render to the fallen he
rOes of the Union, is indeed so aflec.
ting a testimonial of your kindness
and magnanimity that we unreserv.
edly yield ourselves to its benign in.
! fluences and reciprocate with all the
warmth of our ardent Southern ma.
ture the inarticulate but heartfelt as.
| piratiOn for reign Of peace and good
will over our agitated and afflicted
land. That from our bOsOmS every
vindictive or uncharitable recollpc.
ton of the unhappy conflict is ban
ished, never to return, we this day
attest by the last act of concession
and Cancellation, even by bearing the
tribute of praise and benediction tC
the tomb of those by whose hand oul
Confederate republic was stricken
down. BY solemnity so impress
siVe, by sacrifice 50 transcendent
the soldiers Of the lately contendins
armies trust to propitiate the fel
spirit of discord and to gladden. thu
nation once more with the blessing
of restored and reconciled country
And this, the highest Office and mos
precious service, is fifty app opriate,
and discharged by the soldier"
Reviewing the causes of the Re
belliOn, he found it was not the sol
der, but the men of peace-the poll
ticians-who brought on the war
While the latter labored to divid
the country, the soldiers of the ma