The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-31

nECoRATION%C
Al The National Cemetery,at Graf
ton observation-disclosures Of Ex-
U. 3. Senator Wiley Over the
Graves Of the HOnOFed Dead.

Graves OF the hon0Fed Dead.
GRAFTON, May 80.
Ae immense concourse Of people as,
sembled here to-day 70 take part in and
witness the Decoration ceremonies at The
United States Cemetery. AT an early
hour this morning the streets wer,
thronged with people. Many houses
were gaily decorated with flags, and The
people Of Grafton seemed unanimous In
regarding Il rs gala day. The
political boundary which has hitherto
been very distinctly drawn and studious.
ly observed in reference TO these ceremo.
mics, seems now to be entirely ~obliterated
and fused into the more extensive and
liberal sentiment Of common brother.
hood, and both the blue and the gray did
homage to-day to their common heritage
Of departed valor.
The day opened very auspiciously.
Much however TO the chagrin Of the very
energetic gentleman who contributed SO
much by their labor toigather q crow d
and also 10 all interested in the occasion,
about noon q rain set in, which continued
with but little intermission throughout
the remainder Of the day.
Notwithstanding the rain, numbers Of
people fiocked TO the cemetery. The Rey.
Mr.. Simpson opened the exercises with
livery earnest and beautiful prayer, high.
ly appropriate in every respect.
John W. Mason, Esq, then introduced
Hon. Waitman T. Wiley, the orator Of
the day, who delivered a speech that wa
attentiyely listened to for nearly an hour
by a vast crowd Of people exposed to the
raia. The following is an epitome Of the
address:
Mr.. Wiley commenced his remarks by
observing that history presented hardly
an instance Of any great civil or political
reformation which did not involve the
sacrifice Of human life. Every new birth
Of freedom had its baptism in blood.
Our own history ia no exception to the
general rule. The great Declaration oil
1776 was asserted by eight years Of san.
culinary war. The governments organic.
ed after the war were below the plane OF
fundamental principles on which the war
had been fought. They contained the
elements OF another conflict. That
conflict has CONF and thank God IL has
gone; and now the cardinal truths Of the
Declaration Of our Independence have
been practically and vitality incorporated
in the laws OF the land.
To whom are we indebted for this
great consumation? The answer is writ.
ten on the humble boards marking the
resting places Of the heroic men who
sleep In yonder cemetery. They died
that the nation might live. 1t Is owing
to their sufferings and sacrifices that the
government Of the people by the people
and for the people has not utterly per.
ished from the earth,n How shall we
best honor their memory today II We
could recall them from the spirit land
how would they respond to this interrog.
atoryf Would they not say; First Of all,
bury out Of sight forever the animosities
Of the past2 Gathering over us like the
heavenly host over the plains Of Bethle-
hem, would they not renew that old an.
them" Peace on earth, good will TO
men?"
Victory crowned our standard and the
country still is one, its flag is one, let the
people be one-in peace and amity.
But would they not also say-and say
emphatically-Nand by the results Of
the war. Preserve and enforce every
constitutional guaranty provided to Sc
cure them.
Let It be universally and practically
true that all men are equal before the
law. -.
For this we fought-ior this We died ?
and our memory will be best preserved BY
preserving the fruits Of our sacrifices?
Mr.. Wiley enumerated several perils
which he thought beset the national
pathway Of which an intelligent patriot
Ism would do we'll To take heed.
l. The dangers OF u unexampled
growth and success rs q nation. Success
and power i~ntoxicate nations as well as
individuals; and pride and vain-glory
and seli.suaiciency, wealth and luxury
are Of corrupting tendercy. Several
pertinent examples were referred TO and
The duty Of simplicity Of manners and
frugality Of life earnestly enforced.
II. The vast extent Of our national ter
ritory.
The variety Of staple productions
which II embraces, ought, in fact to be
elements Of strength and unity under the
abundant facilities for inter.communica-
ton, between all sections, provided by
the skill and enterprise Of the age; but
all history shows that the danger OF sc.
and revolt increaaes In proper
ton to the distance Of the subject or cit
lien from the authority. Under despot..
ic forms Of government where the will
OF the sovereign lisa unit, Al in Russia,
the danger Is less, but in this country,
when public sentiment Is the cardinal
bond OF union, there Is peril in 80 wide
a Jurisdiction, among the %antagonisms OF
sectional and commercial interests. See
10 It, that the government Is wisely, just
" and generously administered so as to
give no cause Of discomfort
III. The dangers Of diverse civiliEa-
ton, religions, manners, customs, habi-
tudes SC, introduced chiefly by immigra-
tion from foreign countries. i will re-
auire consummate statesmanship to .
similate these Heterogeneous elements into
the spirit and harmony ofour institutions.
A nation to be harmonious must DO no.
moeeneous.
". The large amount Of illiteracy
existing, especially among the voters:
Intelligent suffrage Is the palladium oil
liberty. Free Institutions must be q
failure without IT, Therefore encourage
the free common schools. He who des-
troyes them Is more guiltythan he who lev.
ies war against the state. An ardent sup
porto Of them Is the beat testof the citizens
patriotism.
v. The prevalent religious rceptici.m
Of the age-especially among u public
men. No nation Of sceptics can ever
remain free. De ToequeVille was right
when he said: Despotism may govern
without faith, but liberty cannot"
Mr.. Wiley REQUIRED TO the fancy, II II
was a fancy, that the spirits Of the patri-
otto dead were still lowering over the As:
.ambIvL deeply interested spectators oil