The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-31
DECORATION DAY,
Floral Tributes to the Graves OF
Our Union Soldiers.


soldiers of La Sale county who lie buried IN
the different cemeteries in Ottawa ana her SUD
urbs, and also in adornlng the La Sale county
soldiers monument after the usual custom
with evergreens and beautiful flowers,
The day was generally respected here; flags
at halfmast were displayed on all the promi-
nent business blocks, banks, hotels, &c, and
most of the stores and shops were closed.
large crowd of people came in from the coun-
try round about in carriages, and in the pro-
cession formed long and handsome lines of
elegant vehicles.
At l 30 p. NJ. r. w. Buchanan, the marshal
of the day, assisted by T. VI. Mason, Col d. f.
Hit and NJ. X. Rlordan, formed the procession
in front OF the Presbyterian church The line
consisted of the Ottawa Guards, Co. ID, escort
ed by Bach's Battalion band After marching
around Washington Square, they entered,
where they found probably two thousand men,
women and children around the soldiers
monument. After some delay in getting sutll-
cient room for the procession, the band dis
coursed most excellent music which was FOL
lowed by a song by Donnovan's Tennessee
r,i,s,ro, ,ro,no ,,hic, bannoninc ,o strike tbc
l,,,tooro1
Town LOT conceit III 'iic c''h'nS,
10 sing a song appropriate to the occasion.
They delighted exceedingly such of the vast
audience rs could hear them. The procession
then marched to the Opera l1oHse, followed
and preceded pel nell by the crowd, which
soon filled the building to its fullest capacity.
Every seat was speedily taken, and hundreds
oo,,,d ,o, .o, !, ,t oil Az rho t,nero House
N
holds some l'.oo people some "e" Gun oc
formed of the rush for seats, when it is known
that m three minutpe after the door oDened
.,,. ,,.,, ,oo,,,;ol
'ci5 in.A VI WYNN vas
HIS Honor Mayor Nicholson, delivered Inc
following address:
We learn from history I'm, all ciyj,Izri na.
lions nj rh,. ,yurd have. observed anniversary
Iay. IN conn. cn,,ri;,,n ,r ,h.u fallen heroes
and OF impor,aut events in their national his
torr
His cnstom sheds = charming influence
unon the character q, n loval neoplc and in
snires the loval heart with sentiments of the
unrest natriotism
Nothing ls more essential to the welfare and
nerpetuity of a nation than the LOYALTY of the
naonIe Who live under lis government and
notbinn Is co well calculated TO preserve the
,idrLtv and deviation Of the peonle 70 the laws
and institutions of their country as the custom
NJ kcening in remembrance GREAT heroic deeds
done in defense of the national life.
4 ,a,y voors opo-it seems b,,t Yesterday
nnr rnunirv was threatened bv formidable
roh.llion agoinst her laws based mon a foul
consplracv- on the part of the rebellious fac
ton, to DESTROY our Tree institutions and to dis
member our Federal Union.
This rebellion eliminated in civil war-a
desperate, uAreiehllhg "aI-"lilch a' l's W
sIhns see;.eu ~ piaoc Ine iI' oi saaJ -
W W a., Ia ,,,''.aty' "5 -"
PM Thousand, oftor thousands of the hest of
her sons from Maine To California. rushed for
ward took up arms. and desperately fought
for the preservation of their country
The result was glorious victory over urea
son anu leoeIlion. ...,., ,,.,
ri ~. ~ ,,i,r 1,r ins3,,, ~
,,,ot ,.rond ANU, ~ ,,otr;otu did NOT survive
the Great Rebellionv They Gave their lives
for the preservation of the Republic
We mourn their loss; we revere their mem
Dry, and we hope 10 perpetuate the rememb-
rance OF tne great sacrlnces they maze lor lhelr
,rI as oHai,p,oo wv. W. Ia''
deem. gratitude for the noble deeds of the fallen
soldiers TO strew flowers ON their graves
While performing these solemn acts of honor
let us cherish the hope that by keeping alive
these sentiments OF love ana gralitudc our
country may NC strengthened al" hci '"9'''"-
'ione ioh''io u "'oi' 'h'''
ih'S was io4'o"eu ~ 'Pi'n''u i'''' ~ '"C"
""hu lhen rroi' ooi'"oou uei''e''o al I'LL
P'essNc prayer
The announcement that the Tennessee min
stres tcolored people, would sing was received
with rapturous applause. The troupe sang very
finely and proved themselves to be vocalists of en-
ccllcnt Skill.
Rev. q. Il. Barnes, of this city, then delivered
the address. At frs; the rowdy boys in the gal
lcry refused to hear, and seemed bent on an en-
core for the MINISTRIES. The reverend gentleman