The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY.
How the bay was Observed in
Hilisdale.

To accordance with arrangernents. as
on previous years, Memorial Day
ia remembrance Of the fallen patriots.
the preservers OF our nation. the day
was appropriately observed In this city.
in which citizens Of the surrounding
country participated. making II the
largest gathering for the occasion ever
Witnessed in this county. ya.
About noon people came thronging
into the city from every direction. AT
one o'clock the fire companies and
soldiers formed procession at the
Court House. and proceeded to tho
City and Catholic Cemeteries, accom-.
panied by I.amberts' BaOd AZ $40 q
large procession wss formed and pro.
cseled 10 Oak Grove Cemetery. which
had for two hours been crowded with
people anxiously awaiting the COM
mencement Of ceremonies. After the
visiting and strewing Of flowers over
the graves, tho ceremonies were
opened with prayer by Rev. A. II.
Gillett. OF this city. Singing by the
Hills.lale Glee Club. After which DR..
r.. A. Everett, ofiicsr OF the day. Intro
ducel 4. st. John. Esq. orator OF the
day, who addressed the assembly "a
follows;
AppREsn.
tadlo,s and 6ealletneD u oor Cou.
mon Country
We gather again In the Observance
OF day set apart for the performance
OF a sacred duty. say duty, and IL
is true; bat with pride We can refer
10 the fact, that the observance OF this
day by the American people 10 not con.
sidered by them in any sense as the ful'
fillment OF an obligation enioined up
on them by legislative enactment. Hol.
low. indeed. would be these ceremo.
MES. Insulting to those who have pass.
Ell swsy, aud whose memories We are
now ins ct TO honor, and The cAnse OF Ln.
manity for which they gave the highest
Of all considerations, that OF life itself.
and an outrage upon the highest, Pn.
rest impulses of our own nature, II
the main spring OF our action was other
than the strong, deep gratitude and 81.
fectioa OF people proud shke OF
the liberties of their country, and the
willing sacrifices OF its citizens IN its
hour OF need, by which those liberties
have been established and confirmed.
Ii 10 not merely 70 commemorate the
, military achievements Of our armies in
4 the past. that we meet to-day. Although,
Z A We were disposed 20 celebrate only
, the yAlor and endurance oi our soldiers
upon the battle held, in the lie OF
this country short ne It comparatively
is, we could dnd almost tnnnmsrable
examples, drawn from many hard fought
bloody fields, 10 justify such action.
Nor need We fesr comparison with tho
most renowned armies, OF which We
have knowledge. Many Of the older
nations boast OF having reduced war to
A science. And IL would seem n neces'
! ity. for We discover that FOR centuries
ro continued military power they owe
i their very existence. And even with
those whose history is lost IN tradition.
we search in vain for some act Of cour-
age aud heroisIn in their armies, that
cannot he equaled by our own. Bot
this day is set apart for higher pnr'
pose, desiring 70 render honor unto
whom honor IS due, ve meet 10 scat
ter these floral tributos OF love aud
| gratitude on tho grayss Of our Illus
trous dead. And u Is we'll for US to
consider why we hold these ashes IL
rememhrsroo and vensratiop. II Is
! but natural the memories OF love
and affection We have for our kindred
aud friends while living, should mak'
their Anal resting plsce a spot es"I
green in our hearts, and where We ire
1nently gather, forgetting all the TN
pcri-cli0ns and !railties OF hie, (ro
Inembering We are elAy) and speak onll
of the virtues VI the departed. Bu
these graves are not ali hIled With th'
rsniains Of our Kindred, or sven with
our friends aud aclnaintances. Thes,
are a nation. dead, aud the tie tina
binds true aud loyal hearts together
aud the almost holy regard We have 10
those Who died for ns Ia defense y
home and country. at an imperiled na
,io,.s call, srs the cords that draw "a
here to-day.
Sixteen years ago the iotms tbst no'
slamher in these cofi1ns were fuii G
life aud vigorous manhood. with hig
aspirations aud an earnest desire
take noble part Ia life's great hattls
citizens VI tlis same republic wher
they aud their ancestors had lived
personal ifeedon aud seearlty, ocat
try controlled by n constitution base
apon the broad principle Of equal hr
man rights, where royalty. GLASS distin'
ton and aristocracy were unknown
where educational advantages were NJ
founded upon wealth or station, but tl
door Of the common school was ope
20 all. where manual labor was nj
lishonerable and honest toll receive
iis own reward, y land whose entire q
ergies were bent in the ways Of peao
where the hum of the factory aud a
sound II the loom aud anvil weis hear
!. on every haud, and above al else whel
every freeman by the exercise OF u
ballot could be heard in the cpunci
Of state aud nation in every malt-t q
fecting the public welfare. and ia th
|, exercise Of personal freedom all wi
. peace aud coutcutment. We speak
liberty ia the abstract, - though
. vas ia the uniform possession VI o
n.auliL.l, ss ii il existed in an "a
limited quantity and might he bong
- aDa cold. and given away aud {
ooald enjoy the utmDst possible anOa
10 Of 10 Ms vi the air we breathe. Forgettii
\ that from the earliest times men wi
! were horne lown aud crashed mud
= ruaeqnsl yoke OF t,ranous COVER
1 men, have dreamed of day Ia the
: futaIs when tyranny aud oppressi
4 .lionld c. asc, Era governInents shOu
] not ke orrrr,xe-i sud carried on 10 /
y sie interest oi tb. railing pow,
\ whrn class. UT family ~ meb a
= women wluA MT he considered 81 4
periur lie.h a,i blood with n figLt
cvntro! i!.e welfare uf aISce or natl
With it, inGui,c responsibilities,
4 happiness on imisrry irOua a mere &C
y dent nf harts, and ve lud thai is col
claim ~ ci,,i or rrl,si0us hi~Ity, u
spirit hsi ofisn hrukcu forth 10 ~
peraLe ntiemp. o. recover this ffeedo
they considered the just possession
all. aui IN vain, Cor deap1tisn, sp
"a on i,y fssr and ambition has alN'
w watched With ieaion-. si-epless ~
iss iLIs spirit 60 autagoni-tic 20 ia
o. dreams " power. and Joining bAr
'iis with oppression every whcrc aud m
log colamon cailse sgsinst Ibis. IL