Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-05-30

VISION street. AT = U ClOCh Iuc ptOCCoSAOh
reformed in the following order:
Light Guards Band
Co. G. 10th Regt. o. n. G.
Paulus Post, G. A. R.
Flower Wagon.
Amity EncampmentI l. o. o. F.
Sd Battery, o. n. G.
Citizens in Carriages.
The procession then took up its line of
march to Chestnut Grove Cemetery, where
the graves of the soldiers of 1912 and the
rebellion were decorated with flowers.
The closing exercises took place in the
North Park, and were opened by an sp-
propriate prayer by Rev. Jno. Stafford.
Mr.. T. E. Hoyt, City Solicitor, then deliv-
cred an able address which We publish
herewith:
Comrades, Fellouc Citizens, and Ladies.
1t is, and has been from time immemo-
rial. a custom among all nations of the
earth, to commemorate certain historical
events. The new world, and especially
century of national life, is not unlike the
old world in this respect. More than
century has passed, since the formal Dec
laration of American Independence.
Adams, Franklin, Henry, Hancock, Lee,
Livingston, Sherman and all their COM
peers signers of that declaration have long
since been gathered home to their fathers.
The few weak and sparsely settled colonies
have grown into great and pOpulous
States.
New States have been added, until to-
day the stars upon this grand old flag tells
us of the existence of 80, yet nOtwithstand-
ing these years and these changes, there is
one thing which remains unchanged (un-
less per chance intensifed), one thing
which still lives in the hearts and in the
memories of the American people, and
that is their patriotic devotion to the
country for which our comrades fell. And
so our people have for many, many years,
annually commemorated the day which
gave birth, if you please, to this great Re-
public.
More recent events have added still
an other, to these National Holidays.
How well do most of US remember the
outbreak of a Gigantic Rebellion. How
the news of the fall of Sumpter, as it flash
ed Ger the wires, thrilled the hearts OF the
loyal North.
How little groups of men gather
ed here and there to catch the latest
word, and to pledge unto each other,
and before their God, that the old flag,
then stricken down, should rise again, and
90 forward to most glorious victories.
How these mothers, these fathers, these
wives, and sisters, gave their sons. their
husbands and brothers, to the country they
loved so well. And you remember, for
you never can forget, how these brave and
patriotic sons responded to the call of the
Executive for troops.
For some years past the 3Oth OF May
has been observed as Memorial or Decora-
tion Day; time when Nature, clothed
in her most GORGEOUS attire, and fragrant
with beautiful flowers, is certainly most
fitting occasion for these simple cOmmem
oratIYe ceremonies. So comrades we have
again visited the graves of our fallen
brothers; those brave men who were so
freely given, and who so freely gave their
lives for the preservation of this Union.
Again we have strewn those little mounds
with the choicest of May flowers, gathered
by hands, prompted by willing, but in
many instances, stricken hearts, and these
simple acts annually repeated, as they
are, serve to perpetuate the memory of the
heroic dead.
At the commencement of this most un-
happy warfare in which our comrades fell,
the Government of the United States, was
almost without arms and munitions of
war She had but a mere handful of
troops and her little navy was scattered
to the four winds. Under such circum-
stances it is not surprising that the crswn-
ed heads of the world, predicted the sue
cess of the Rebellion, and the downfall Of
Republican Institutions, but the sequel
proves that these men were mistaken.
Weak in her military arm, but strong and
vigorous in every other part, this body
polite, moved by the soul of patriotism,
was able to stay the parricidal hand. From
all parts Of the great North, out OF every
avocation in life came forth grand army
of patriots; men qnskilled inmilitatry
tactics, but apt students, inwhose veins
was the blood Of '76.
The events of that sanguinary sectional
strife in which these men were engaged, are
spread upon record, and stamped upon
our memories.
The roaring of artillery, the rattling Of
musketry, the neighing of steeds, and the
shouts of men, are still fresh in our minds.
Upon more than 100 bloody fields we see
the blue and the gray in mortal combat.
The hillsides and the valleys OF the sun
ny Sonth are red with the blood OF our
gallent men,
New names are added to our battle flags
and new homes are made desOlate by the
ravages Of war.
For four long years the American con-
f1ict goes on, until the pledges of our brave
f,,I1
stripes float triumphantly DER the field at
Appomattox. And now fellow citizens after
IA years of peace and prosperity; after the
battle scars have been mostly Obliterated,
and the remains of our gallant dead re-
turned to dust, We meet on this beautiful
spot to do honor to their memory.
Could we, as surviving comrades, or as
citizens, do less than this? Who were the
men that stood between the invading con-
federate army and our homes, our families
and all we loYed most dear.
Who were the men that saved US from
the sword and the torch; who were the
men that preserved and re-sealed with
their own blood this union of States?
Upon one of the banners displayed on
the occasion of the grand review OF the
army at Washington at the close OF the
war, were these words: "We welcome
those who come, and mourn for those VINO
come not" Is not the latter clause OF
this inscription our heartfelt sentiment
to-day?
Although we annually bring our floral
offerings only to the graves Of those who
sleep among us. Yet those who fell up
on the battle field, were stricken by the
hand of disease or died in prison pens, are
not and cannot be forgotten. Their graves
may remain unknown and unmarked, but
their deeds are inscribed upon the temple
of Fame, and their memory will be cher
ished while that temple stands.
And now, comrades and fellow citizens,
let us inquire more specifically into the
main purpose for which these men fought,
and the grand principle for which they
fell. Was it for the abolition OF the ac-
cursed Institution Of Human Slavery We
answer no, for it was not until the third
year of the war, after the issuing Of the
Emancinatinn nrnclnmatinn that such q