The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-05-30
Such is the condition of Sold
ier's Graves.
Exercises observing the day at
Rock Island.
Full account of the cere
monies ON the Island
THE

apart as q time for visiting the cities OF the
silent majority and there, decorating with
floral tributes the graves and resting places
of the heroes, who gave up their lives that
the Union might live.
Year by year since its first establishment
as a national holiday, the custom has been
observed. and the living wend their way to
the cemeteries to do homage to the mem
DRY of patriotism and bravery. A CRATE
full people recognize the benefits accruing
from the settlement of "a vexed principle,
and it is fitting and proper that once a
year, the abiding place of those who died
for principles sake should be visited by
the public, in no partizan sense but simply
as grateful people.
The day has been most delightful, and
the weather highly propitious for outdoor
celebrations The dusty condition of the
streets alone marring the perfection of the
season The schools in this and neighbor-
ing cities have been closed during the day,
thus enabling the scholars to participate in
the various exercises which marked the
event
Business has only partially been sus-
pe0Oeu, Tie DdIkS anu ObIleI puuliC
tuition being closed while the various mer-
camille establishments have not felt them
selves called upon to close their doors
against the daily customers.
The telephone exchange was closed a
portion of the day but will be open for the
transaction of business after o'clock this
afternoon. The postoffice has also closed
their doors during the afternoon.
The three cities displayed fair amount
of bunting and as consequence the streets
and business houses presented a gala day
appearance.
The crowd in this city was only fair
during the morning at the exercise con-
Quoted at the Court House Square.
Davenport had taken no steps to observe
the day but with Rock Island and Moline
visited the national cemetry on the Island
in the afternoon. The attendance at the
latter place has not been as large as was
the case in former years, but was still
respectable in numbers and appearance.
AT ROCK ISLAND,
The decoration ceremonies of this city
were held this morning in the Court House |
square, and attracted fair gathering of
people.
At an early hour the remaining members |
of the Rock Island light artillery visited the
soldiers monument and commenced the
work of decorating it. By the hour named |
for the commencement of the ceremonies, |
the monument was appropriately trimmed
and presented a very handsome appear
ance. Prominent among the many con-
tributions of floral offerings were the
wreaths of Miss Bessie Flagler and Mrs.
Mapes of Moline The former donation
a conspicuous place on the figure
the column, and the latter was
placed near the top of the monument.
At $50 O'Clock the Rodman Rifles and
the Cadets having arrived and taken their
positions the exercises were commenced by
DR. Gregg calling the meeting to order in
a few well timed and appropriate remarks.
The following programme was then carried
out:
Prayer-By the Rev. N Collins
Vocal Music-'Forget not the dead
Address-Rey. j. A p. McGaw
Music-Glee Club.
Remarks-Rev. D. McCord
Music-Glee Club
Benediction-Rev. j. G. Holiday.
ADDRESS oE REV. j. A. P. MeGAw.
FeiloW Citizens, Ladies and (Gentlesssea:-What
mean we by the services of Decoration Day? We
10 not expect by strewing flowers upon the graves
.Is oeae OF our ate civil war 70 aHoro any
ire all unconscious of what do to-day in honor of
heir memory. They are beyond the power of be-
ng panied by our censure or pleased by praise,
Not because we imagine can afford them graf
do we meet TO speak their praises. and to
Nor do we engage in this service to perpetuate
he momory of fratricida1 strife. Few of us, /
hink, have. and none of us ought to have, any de-
sire to kindle anew the flames of luminosity that
burned so fercely while the terrible conflict was
aging Our brave boys in blue fought, and many
If them died, to preserve and restore the Union:
md perfectly restored Union means restoration
we're formerly at variance: 1t does not mean
Union in which part shall constantly exult as
Fictors and the other shall constantly cringe as van
luished.
This is the era of reconciliation and the work of
esonciaro1 is just az to tine complete
oldier in striking down the armed power that was
raised for its destruction. We shall best honor the
BY all honorable methods the work to which their
'alor and sacrifices were necessary contribution
We nave lost none OF our feeling of horror at the
'tupendous crime of rebellion against government
40 mild and beneicent that Of the United States
certainly we nave no apologies to make for having
by force OF arms put down the rebellion. Nor can
We blot out the memory of the losses we sustained
suppression of rebellion The wives where made
Widows and the children who made orphans
W the of the rebellion the fathers and mothers
whose sons were cut off in their prime, eonnot be
expected TO regret, while memory performs her
aimed,
And yet, great as have been our LOSSES it is the
part of magnanmity to remember that the losses on
The other side were greater still. III we lost SONS
md brothers, did they. If sacrificed millions
If treasure in the prosecution of the war, and If we
must expect Tor years TO come TO carry heavy bur
1ens of taxation consequence OF the war, ii is
well for us to remember that erring Southern
orethern staked everything upon the issue of the
conflict and lost The institution which they imagined
10 be IN peril, TO defend which they rushed oarms,
was wiped out. and what they had been wont to
estimate as valuable property passed entirely out
1f their hands They fought for the preservation of
slavery and they lost all their slaves. They fought
Tor the establishment of an independent govern
nent, and they failed. We fought for the preserva
ion of the Union and were successful. We fought
not directly for the freedom of the slave but to pre-
rent the extension of the of slavery: and we {
not only succeeded in preventing the extension of
slavery but we destroyed the institution itself and
ngs. ii
say, therefore. that afford to be magnani-
nous to our foes, now our brethren. We can afford
10 give them little time to make up their minds
,uly to accept the situation. Let them If they !
ind any qualification in it, defend slavery theoreti
;aly Few OF them desire expect that the nsti i
uton can ever be reestablishod on American soil
Let them il they choose, maintain that their theory
of state sovereignty was according the intent
and meaning of the Constitutions many of them are
ready TO acknowledge and all of them win be com
peiieo ultimately to acknowledge, that the exp0si-
lon OF Daniel Webster and not that of John c. Cal
noun mas been established logical sequence of
me war Ii u definitely settled that are hence
ioTtn 70 De one people, Therefore let lay aside
all malice and cultivate those feelings of mutual
respect and liberation which will be be suited to !
promote true and lasting union I
Net Tor the purpose, them of revivng and perpet-
uang old anim0sities and strifes dc we observe this
decoration day. To adopt the immortal sentiment
put forth in the second inaugural of pur uartyr
freedent, With malice toward none with char