The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-31
DECORATION DAY.
How it Was Celebrated Throughout the
Country Speeches, Professions, Etc.
WASHINGTON.

| WASHINGTON, May 30.-Businsss Is almos
| entirely suspended here to-day. Many citizens
and visitors, also members of Congress anc
Senators, participated in the decoration cere
monies at Arlington and other points arounC
the city. Arlington was the chief point
OF attraction. There were gathered there
the President and family, members Of the
Cabinet and vast assemblage OF citizens
The arrangements made by the Grand Army
OF the Republic for the observance of the day
were complete In every respect. After ser
vices at the tomb Of the unknown dead the
| following programme was carried out: Call
Ing the assembly 70 order, BY Deputy Com
Rev. A: f Mason; chorus, "The Lords Own
Day" by the Washington Saengerbund: orig
inal poem by Herr Rolin M. Daggott. Of
Nevada; 1d chorus, The Soldiers Farewell y by
Hon. J. Warren Keifer, OF Ohio; original ode By BY
Past Deputy Commander r. g. Staples, sung
by the quartette of Farragut Post No. 1. De-,
partment Of Virginia; "That Flag is Ours"
by the Washington Saengerbund; ; benediction
Mr.. Keifer referred at length to the fact
that the custom Of decorating the graves Of
soldiers is OF ancient origin. Regarding Ar
lington,. he said Though distant from
ilege to be buried beneath sepulchre here,
with powerful nation OF people to guard it
through the ages. Over these graves organ
lzed Liberty stands sentinel. These monu-
mhents, me- ID high and typical sense, represent
generations perpetually Of the sacrifices
made to crown liberty with assured victory:
they will warn those who, In the future,
would assatl the rights Of man of the readi,
ness and Willingness OF brave people to
make requisite sacrifices to preserve them.
Ii new trials come, IL new sacrifices are yet
to be made, the inspiration to duty will be
drawn from the silent voices of the dead SOL
diers and sailors. In life these dead coDsti-
fnfD hn Errxrf Ir,F nm ~.
they will hardly less guard it's safety from
ruthless hands by their never-dying exam
pie This honor to the soldier-dead Is their
Just due. But for these sixteen thousand
dead and their living comrades the govern
ment OF the people for the people and by the
people would have perished from the earth.
Referring to the rebellion the orator saws
that 1t was not an evil II we garner well and |
preserve the good fruits born of the victories
won both on the field Of battle and in the
united. liberty-loying. people with singleness
Of purpose, with one flag and one destiny. and |
q government to be emulated by all the other |
nations OF the earth there would have been
Two feeble natlonailtles engaged in exhausting
The resources and energies of each other in |
perpetual strife. unfeared and unhonored.
Mr.. Keller closed his oration with a refer
ence to the lesson to be learned from the OBJ
servance Of this day. He said: "Com raaes.
et these silent dead speak and teach us the
III.
speak and thrill us with new inspiration and
erv1d devotion for our common country:
'peak and swear us by the memory of their
leeds OF valor, by their suferings and wrongs
ma dn 10y oy tne heaven-consecrated blood of above
0O, 600 OF our comrades who muster on fields
II glory beyond the grave that we will be true
While life lasts to liberty and the Union.''
The poem recited by Mr.. Daggett was en-
tiled "The Watch on the Heights" and is one
4 the finest which has ever been written for
% occasion OF this kind. The ceremonies at
ther points around the city were equally ap-
ropriate.
NEW YORK.
New YORK. May 30-The observance of
decoration Day as public holiday was more
eneral 10 New YORK to-day than usual Not
MY were the banks, insurance companies
Nd exchanges closed, but few of the down
own business houses remained open. The
7eather was delightful, the heat OF the sun
eng pleasantly tempered by the cool (
reezes. thousands OF persons took advan-
age OF the day, for their first spring pleasure
ZIP, and early crowds began to find {
1eir way to the boats and trains
places of popular resort on
ne rivers, bay and sound, while the dwelIers (,
!. the rural districts poured into the city to
1tness with other sight-seers. the first OF
le ceremonies and the formation OF the line
procession. The exercises commenced at
le Lincoln monument, in Union Square, !
hich was magnificently decorated with {
overs, eyergreens, etc, by Lincoln Post, G.
K. Lafayette statue was then decorated
Y the French-American citizens. The statue
Washington was handsomely decorated by
le West Washington Market Association. e
statue of Seward, in Madison Park. Z
as appropriately decorated. The grand '
trade got started at 10 o'clock, V
10 was much the finest ever seen In this
", and was from three to four miles long,
;cupying two hours In passing given o oint. g
ne streets on both sides were tnickly covered b