The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-31
NEwYo Iah nmnu life

Gettysburg. Lincoln gave his life, and
the brave men who responded to his call
gave their lives for the Union, for liberty,
and for a stable constitutional government
They believed that our institutions were
equal to any emergency, and that they
ought to be maintained at the cost of
property and of life. If our assembling
in this place shall fitly honor the men we
now wish remembered with gratitude, it
will be because, beholding these scenes and
contemplating the examples of the heroes
who made Gettysburg iIlustrious, we shall
be able to estimate more wisely the value
Of our country and of her institutions. and
be better prepared for the duties which
under providence have devolved upon us.
Let US here give heed to the words of
Abraham Lincoln. Let Us here rightly
resolve that these dead shall not have died
in vain; that the nation under God shall
have new birth of freedom, and that a
government of the people and by the REQ
pie shall not perish from the earth. tEnt-
husiastica ppiause.)
Attorney-General Devens spoke forci-
bly, and eloquently on the subject of the
battle Of Gettysburg, and Secretary Nc
| Crearv also made a briet address. The
ceremonies were concluded with o bene-
| dictioD.
At 6P. NJ. the presidential party left
Gettysburg by special train for Washing
ton, amid enthusiastic cheers.
! SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, May 30.-Decoratlon
day was observed here 10 the usual man.
ner, the exercises taking place at Oak
Ridge instead of the National cemetery,
as heretofore. Public business was gen
orally suspended and the state. county and
city offices and public schools were closed.
There was a parade by the Grand Army
of the Republic with the Governors Guard
acting as escort. The exercises at the
| Lincoln monument consisted of prayer,
vocal and instrumental music, and an
address by W, S. Brown, of Attica, n. 7.
The Grand Army memorial service was
aiterward observed at the soldiers monu
meDt and at the Lincoln monument. The
soldiers monument and the graves OF
soldiers were decorated. The graves at
the National cemetery and Camp Butler
were decorated without ceremony. The
ceremonies at Oak Ridge were witnessed
by an immense conccurse.
| BALTIMORE, Md, May 30.-A heavy
rain interrupted all exercises connected
with Decoration day, except that of the
decoration, which was performed by ladies
and gentlemen.
CHICAGO. May 30,-Decoration day
seems to have been less generally observed
throughout the northwest to-day than
usual. In Chicago the banks. government
buildings, and many places Of business
were closed. There was a parade by the
fremen and military organizations iu the
afternoon, and at all the cemeteries deco
rations were carried on by private indiVid-
uals with very little military display OF
speech making,
OMAHA, May 3O.-There was an ex-
cellens observance of Decoration day here
to-day. notwithstanding the unfavorable
weather.
PEORIA, May so 0-Decoration day was
generally and appropriately observed in
Peoria to-day by the closing of the courts
county and city Offices, banks, public
schools, postofice, board of trade and q
partial suspension of business. Flags
foated above the public buildings
: private residences, aud business
blocks. In the afternoon a pro
cession Of bands, military, and car
riages marched to Springdale Cemetery
; where the services we're held neal
the soldiers graves in the presence o
5000 people. The exercises consisted O.
music by the band and male quartet
prayers by the ceray, reading of poem
written for the occasion by Mrs. Z. X. *
Brothersou, an oration by Judge Davit
McCuiloch of ,ae circuit court decoratio!
of graves with profusion of flowers and
military salute. The weather was coo
: and cloudy.
4 y New YORK. May 30.-The evening Ger
II emanies 10 connecti1n with Decoration da
took place in Booths theatre. Every sea
was filed and the stage was brilliant wit
the glitter of military uniforms. Ger
, Lloyd Aspinwall presided. After praye
1t by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Gen. W
= T. Sherman, who was received with enthu
) j siastic applause, said the pageant of t
u day and this assemblage demonstrate
! , Enthusiastically that public interest in th
l. events of 1S6l-'65 did not die with th
II heroes and martyrs Of that epoch w
: claim, he said, that we of the Union arm
were right, and our adversaries wronl
is and no special pleading can change tn
II verdict of the war. He would not for th
y world revive the angry passions of tb;
u period, but we should never tear from OF
D. history the pages recording the gre;
d events of 1861 to 1865. They should fol
- ever stand as warning TO those who frol
~ passion or self.interest. or a1y huma
ic cause or pretext, may undertake 70 destrC
this government by violence. (Appause
u After an Grafton by Gen. Banks Il
LA exercises terminated
LoUILvILLE, May 30.-The federal ar
ie confederate graves were decorated to da
i Ex Governor Young delivered the addres
TOLEDO, May 30.-Decoration servic
&c were performed as usual to day. JoF
u Bently, of Columbus. was the orator.
40 MILWAUKEE. May 3O.-Business W
le mostly suspended. The 6. A. r. organ
~ ization paraded and services were held
AS the Soldiers Home, where Gen. Shiel
delivered an eloquent address.
COLUMBUS, o., May 3O-Decorati
day was more generally Observed than
any time since the war Gov RishI