The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-07-20
From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 9Th, 1875
DECORATION DAY

AE4AGh chOM
From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.. c., June 9Th, 1878.
DECORATION DAY.
Custom, which is stronger than law, has made
May Both a national holiday. We trust it viii
ere long be made a legal day of rest. Since the
close of the late civil war it has been held sacred
TO the memory of the sailors and soldiers who
lost their lives in defense of the Union. Bust.
ness is almost entirely suspended and flags float
from public and private buildings, while the
Doom of cannon at sunrise awaken the people OF
OF each city. Especially is the day observed in
those towns and cities near which National
Cemeteries are located. The ceremonies at these
cemeteries consist usually of fine instrumental
music, an address by some popular officer or
prominent statesman, a poem read and a chorus
sung; then the people scatter through the narrow
alsles dividing the Cities of the Dead and strew
graves with garlands and flowers. At first, the
day was one divided between sorrow and bitter
ness, and often the orators took advantage of the
still bleeding wounds of those who lost friends
to enforce sectional strife and advance their own
interest; but the mellowing effect Of time has
robbed the observance of bitterness, so that now
the same hand will lay flowers on the grave of
friend and foe, recognizing them in death the
brothers they were save for hot passion which
marked the family quarrel, and we rejoice to
realize as years pass on this custom is becoming
- AC"NA "ASutLO OOIN DChhSNA AN "a oAA
the South. The largest National Cemetery is at
ARLINGTON,
About four miles from the Capital, on the Vir-
ginia side Of the Potomac. The mansion house
of this large estate was the home of George w.
+. Gusts, the adopted son of General Washing
ton. Mr.. Gusts lived on this princely domain
until old age; and for q generation it was one Of
the most elegant and hospitable homes in the
country. He bequeathed it to his only daughter,
fha &C. H@-@-,l OoI4.A L. I - - = A.
U. >. Army. AT the breaking out of the late
war, Colonel Lee went with the South, and if he
had owned the estate it would have been con-
fscated; as it was the property of Mrs. Lee, re-
vertIng to her eldest son, it was sold for taxes,
bringing the enormous sum of twenty-six thou
sand eight hundred dollars, the tax due only
amounting to ninety-ttUO dollars and SeUen cents !
The estate is estimated to be worth full three
hundred thousand dollars. AS the sale under
ordinary circumstances Of property for a sum
relatively so small is illegal, the heir of Mrs. Lee
(who died in 1879, George p. W. Lee, President
of the Westinghouse University, Virginia, will
probably in time be reimbursed. He has pre-
sented q memorial to the United States Senate,
and Il compromise will doubtless ensue, as two
hundred acres Immediately around the residence
has been made a cemetery and here rest the
bodies of
SIXTEEN THOUSAND SOLDIERS,
Gathered from the different Virginia battlefelds
and from the hospitals in and near Washington.
The graves are marked as far as is known with
the name, State, company, etc. The West
Cemetery is devoted to the white, the North to
the colored troops. A large square granite monu-
ment is placed above the spot where lie over two
thousand bodies. The single word Unknown"
tells eloquently one of the saddest tales of war.
On one section the names of women only are
seen, and the number is quite large. These were
the noble women who came from different sec
tons OF the country to nurse the wounded, and
never left their posts until death babe them sur
Upon the frieze of the entrance gateway
is inscribed: Here rest Is, 5S5 of the 315 ,55S
who died In defense Of our country from
1861 to 1865"
y large amphitheater was erected in 1873 near
the Mansion House, for the purposes Of the annual
ceremonies. About five thousand persons can
stand under the temporary canvas shelter now
used. Each pillar Is to be n standard for vines,
and when the trellis above is closely covered the
effect will be very beautiful. From the large
portico of the house is obtained the finest view Of
Washington City. The Capitol from that dis
lance looks like some classic temple browning IL
sacred hill; the proportions of the Washington
shrink to acceptable size, and the
new State building looks like a palace of marble;
the broad Potomac threads around-a band
of silver. The average number of visitors is ten
yearly. No place in the country, save
Mount Vernon, of which L will write in my next
letter, has more interest to the traveller. Con-
gressional Cemetery, Soldiers Home, and other
national burial places near Washington, were
the scene of these graceful membranes
Sherman, Frederick Douglas, General
Butler, and other eloquent speakers, delivered
)rations ut different cemeteries. General Butler
spoke at Gettysburg, Penn, and his address,
,hough eloquent, but recalls one made on the
anne sacred spot by President Lincoln the year
preceding his death. This Grafton will live in
NDnlISh litnro n Nc nna of tho most farvi1 farSa
md earnest utterances of which the tongue is
capable.
President Hayes and many distinguished peo-
de went to Gettysburg to observe this ceremonial.
This is also the season of college anniversaries,
md the President, with several members of the
Jabinet, have just returned from visiting the
Normal School at Hampton, Virginia, under the
supervision of General Samuel Armstrong. The
eport from this institution is very satisfactory to
is friends, and the work of those connected with
is certainly worthy of great praise. On Thurs
ay, June 18th. the diplomas will be awarded at
Vest Point by the selected committee. On the
receding evening occurs their annual hop, at
7hich 1t is the ambition of every society belle to
hine. On the Goth of June the cadets go into
amp, and these embryo warriors in an amateur
ray try the hardships of life in the tent. A
number of the young society ladies of Wash
lgton are going to Annapolis to the Naval
hop. given by the graduating class,
uue -OIH, 81 IL Will D0 seen LnaC Jne youth and
eauty of the land smile on both arms of the
,rvice-or, to be more classic, Venus encourages
9th Mars and Neptune.
TIE LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA RESOLUTIONS.
Since the days of the sitting of the Electoral
there has not been such intense ex-
as is felt throughout the country in the
developments feared from the investigation of the
of the House, appointed to look into
lie election frauds in these States. 1t was fully
week before a quorum of the House could be
cured. \ number of Democrats found sudden
nportant duties at home, and thus tried to
'cape the responsibility of voting to reopen this
exed question. But finally a sufficient number
ere whipped into line, and the testimony
ready taken involves a great deal of rebutting
efore the people will believe that some intimate
connected with the present Administration are
1t recipients Of official favors as a reward for
to create the proofs Of the Presidential
ection. We have heard the reasons for this
yestigation from those who conduct it. They
Y: 1--WE want the truth though the heavens
Il; not to unseat a President, but to build up a
,althier state of affairs" The prophesy in re-
I'D to the result, is that of an adaptation of the
d monarch who decapitated the heads of the
Hest pomegranates in answer to a diplomat.
say: Mr.. Hayes position will either be