Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-10


and RAINY, followed by clearing weather.
PUBLIC MEETING.-A meetirg VII Ea held
10 the market square tonight at 5 O'CLOCK,
which will be addressed By Messts Nealo and
Hunton, candidates for Congress-
DECORATION DAY. The services incident to
the Confederate Decoration Day took place as
announced, yesterday evening. Early 10 the
evening the crowd began to assemble on w ASH
;pgton street between King aud Queen and BY
four o'clock, the time fixed for the exercises TO
commence, about ous THOUSAND persons were
present, there being j goodly sprlokNrS o.
ladiea.
Owing to the threatening weather, !! IS
supposed, the Washington Association was
represented by only one genslsmap.
The flowers. OF which there were 9 very large
number contributed, were exceedingly beautiful
and we're received by the committee heretofore
announced, who were kept busy during the
whole evening.
The members Of The Southern Memorial AS;
ISOLATION, each wearing badge, a0d mary OF
them carving bouquets assembled 10 front OF
Christ Church and marched under direction OF
Gen. Nj. D. Corse, their president, to tie
front of the Potomac Academy, where they
were faced to the front and listened to the ad.
Dress
The children of mary cx Confederate sol:
diers, each carrying bouquet, were formed
10 ono rank 10 front OF the Association, under
the charge of assistant marshal, 5. y. Brent
The exercises were opened by Gen. Corse,
who stated, that owing to some mlsunGerstand-
ing, Rev. Mr.. Dame, VINO was TO have opened.
with prayer, was absent from the cl!y.
The anthem ''lnteger Vi'a' was then sung
by an Octette composed OF Messrs. j. NJ.
Buchanan. r. w. Writ. George McBurney,
A. N. Hurdle, S. K. Field, e. A. Statler,
+. 7. Grimes end G. i. French.
Gen. Corsc then introduced Gen. W. Ii. L.
Lee, the orator Of the day, who delivered
mcss eloquent AID stirriog address, of which
the following ia brief synopsis:
Comrades, friends aud fair ladies' Not
otce or twice only in Southern story has the
path Of duty been the way to glory. Ii had
uot;" he said, been always way solt to the
tread and surrounded with H)wers. Often 1t
had led over rugged couutIy, across sharp
rocks and weary places. add sometimes down
through the mre OF despair and into the quick
sands Of defeat. But ever it led to glory, that
despite all fasehood aud misrepresentation
would shine brighter as limo went Oh. The
clouds may cover the sky for time. but the
SUP of truth still shiucs, and liz beams will seek
every crack and crcvlce 10 the rcck Of ayes aud
make all things plain. Applause. The Gay
will como when mcn will wonder that even fer
time such thin watcry vapar should have
c'cuded so much Of the truth
what though The hattie was lost All was
not lost. The proud recollection OF having de-
Tended the liberty Of cur country and the
safety of our fresides is imper5habl". 20 such
occasions as this solemn pleasure comes
hand in hand with high duty We feel that
while We survive it is our duty to publish to
The world the virtues Of the ncn at whose
sra7es We mourn. They did not die in vain.
Tho blood Of the brave SENDS says Scott, a
roaring voiee through all time Who can
sonteruI.laro t.a sacrifice these man made ?
N no can lock upon these sl,cn; Eoun,!', whether
7ouely by the roadside where they fell on the
tsogch, or thick IKE forest trtea on the battle
fields they never yielded, or 10 city cemeteries,
crowned with flower. the emb!@m1 OF woman's
love aud devoi1n, und not feel, while tears
come to the eye, the hpaft grow stranger f,r the
aightI
Nv ho were those men? Catch ! light oi
their line Of b.t.!c; listen to that c:iIc:. Sec
the onset with which they fall upon the Zoe.
Let some such meme cries as these QulVtr 10 Inc
heart snd say, Has this blGod tnGl shed In
vain ? Not in vain, Tor it has snoHn inst 10
people, however SMALL IN numbers and weak IN
resources, Can BE- overcome u1;il their rivers
.eGden with the blood OF the slam and ,hesc Is
not LETT corporai's Guard to carry on the tigh:
They.dih not die in vac, for uu!!.!ui history
will recount such examples OF patriotism. self
snc1i6ce aud daring as will make ils pages that
,e,l Of these heroes lessons o. public siFiue,
and their lives the text books w"c:e!D honor
rav be :"aroc1 Even the rCcord 81 me heroes
Of the Pagan age is to day ;Es ts&t beck 81
Christian schools.
Such blood is never shed il yair, un':ss al
(1rtcian yaior ADD Roman proves shall DC ne!d
for naught; unless P0lsud's example :i,eai.s 10
more, unless the g!cns of Scotland, full ct self
sacrifice, or the green boys OF Ireland, where
men died for freedom, Rave ceased 10 nerve
men to deeds Of virtue and Of daring, tic blood
of these men whose graves We decorate has not
been shed 10 vain. BY their manly sacrifices
civilization has been purified ADD freedom ad,
yanced to q higher love among mer.
"The time will come when those who fought
ns in the field will say that this blood was shed
az much 10 their defense aud IN detcuse Of con
stitutional liberty, as we'll IS for our dear Old
land Iapplause, ard they will join With US 10
appreciation of the vcarious sacrifices made by
tho gallant men whose graves TO day re sire"
with flowers. 1t vas a pleasure" he said, TO
stand by the graves OF departed frcDds, 10 re-
member the days that are gone.
He drew lively picture of the men IN whose
honor this assemblage gathered, from tn.
beardless boy whose slight hands, incapable of
yrasppe muskct, yet held and sounded the
6uRIe at the head of the gallant charge or beat
upon tho drum his own funeral march, to
tho gray headed sire who would not Let
his sous go TO battle without him. lie
pic,ured uany Of the war s,eGes. There
were myriad deaths, but DO time fer mourn
iug then. But these tender ties were
oct severed, and now in peace We may
give utteflase 10 our pent up sorrow. As the
press spread tbs Intelligence through tho land
mapy sad heart would thank God that by old
Alexandria due honor was paid their memories;
that no greater honor did 1lion ever to her
heroes pay. ~,
But the past must not claim all our heart. The
psth of duty still lies before US. Our country
claims our allegiance. Virgins still lives. Our
every thought should be given to her honor and