New-York tribune., 1879-05-31
IN SIrBURBAN TOWNS

The boats and trans to TOttenyille, Staten
Island crowded yesterday with excursion parties
from tine city, many persons going 10 witness the
Decoration Day services at that place The main street
of Tottenyille gay with flags and banners and
nearly every house in the displayed the National
colors The great of the day the service in
the Bethel Church Cemetery, whore graceful monu-
ment had been recently raised to the memory OF Union
soldiers. The monument unveiled at III tho
presence largo number Of spectators George Will
lam Curtis made the presentation address, and deiv-
cred brief GRAFTON on the occasion. His remarks were
received with much applause. His Grafton subsan-
tally as foows
There is no day in the year beautiful and sacred
than this when forgetting that we arc partsans, and
remembering only that we are Americans, We come 10
flowers on the graves Of Union soldiers ana to
renew In own hearts Loyalty To the country for
which they fought and fell IT was IN the spring ana
flowers were blooming all over fhe land when they
dore winthrop, OF Staten Island. lie, TOO was IN MS
SPRING and Drayer more devoted patriot never ie IN
like Joseph Warren AT Bunker l, he declared win
his breath that IL sweet TO dc Tor bis country
liant 9th Regiment of Massachusetts, when was
the first 10 pass through Baltimore 70 tho
nse Of Of S SiP ~f1 SSS DaS n
soldiers and asked MIN, From what part OF the old
STATE 90 you come my friendT Without lifting his
eyes the soldier answered q" come IRON buhAtl Nh.
That the spirit that perYGded our army when the
be fully realized Five hundred thousand precious live
lost aud thousands OF millions u dollars were
flag unsuicd and the broken shaGkes OF four millions
OF slaves We decorate he graves OF tho fallen with
fOwors-symbOls OF their memory In our hearts. The
lesson of to-day that the Government OF TIE people OF
the United supreme for its purposes over all
other authority. The monument which ounye to-day
speaks 10 us OF National unity. Standing by this
selves 10 maintain the for which our
heroes fell. lAppause Our duty to-day Is TO
foster the sentiment Of nationality. The taxation
under which we now groan resulted from mistaken
idea mat the citizens of land loved their States bet
ter than tLey did the Union Let any dspo-
stion beli:to the authority OF the United States
Government IlG men who seek 10 throw discredlt
upon tnis authority sowing dragons teeth which
VIII spring up armed We not 10 Dolitte the
war 1t did something else than tako- human life and
create taxes. II freed the slaves and 1t settled the
question National State sovereignty II s 70 the
1ntiment of National unity for which our soldiers fell
that this monument Ia 10 DO dedicated. May II always
remain silent testimonial OF National unity, peace
and good VIII.
The decoration OF the graves in Coopers st. Peters
Woodland aud Morayian Cemeteries on staten Island
i was under the charge OF subcommittee Of Rankin
Post Of Brooklyn. The ceremonies before starting the
meteries held In the village park. The Rev. j.
f. Rockwell, Of the Episcopal Church. led In prayer
Erastus Brooks thep made address He reviewed AT
some length the revolutionary history Of Staten Island
Passing from that to the history Of the country at large
he referred briefly TO the late civil ana said that
settled two questions; This cannot be IL divided