The National tribune., 1882-06-17
DESIGNATING SOLDIERS, GRAVES.
traordinary Course Pursued by n Catholic
Priest.-Bis Condemnation by the G. AR.

DESIGNATING SOLDIERS GRAVES.
Extraordinary Course Pursued by n Catholic
Priest.-Bis Condemnation by the G. a. II.
Special Correspondence National Tribune.
MILFORD MASS, June 15.-Much excitement
has been caused here by the action of a Cath
Ollie priest, in connection with the recent Deco
ration Day ceremonies. 1t appears that on
May % Father Cuddihy addressed card to
local paper denying the right Of Fletcher Post,
Of Milford, to decorate the graves of soldiers
inferred in the Catholic cemetery. The money,
in the opinion of this individual, should have
been expended in masses for the rcpose Of the
souls of the departed, instead of in procuring
flowers, and, as the priest says sneeringly, to
putting pennys worth Of cotton bunting on
the graves" The order was disregarded, how
ever, and the flowers and flags We're placed on
the mounds. On Thursday, greatly to the sur
prise and Indignation OF the people, it was
found that the flags had been pulled up and
some of them were torn to shreds. The outrage
has been universally denounced by the press
and people, and Father Cuddihy'S course con-
dcmned in the most unqualified manner. No
objection has ever been made to the decoration
OF soldiers graves in any of the large Catholic
cemeteries, and the course of this priest is with
out parallel Soon after the news Of the desc
Grafton of the graves became known meeting
was held by Fletcher Post, No. %, and a COM
mittcc appointed to investigate the matter
The committee subsequently, adopted the fol-
lowing, which the Milford Gazette at once pub
lishcd in an extra"
Whereas, 1t has come to the knowledge of
a, NJ of
Milford, Mass, that the flags placed by them
upon the graves of deceased soldiers in the
Catholic cemetery on Memorial Day have been
pulled up, the sticks broken, and the bunting
torn into shreds, and feeling that by this act we
are called upon to champion the cause of the
Grand Army Of the Republic of the Nation
and to again defend the honor of the Old Flag
and
Whereas, 1t is in the due Observance of Me-
mortal day that we recall to the minds OF the
public the sacrifices trials, and sutferlngs OF
those brave men who gave their lives that a
Nation might live" and should such utter dis
regard and contempt of their claims upon our
sense of honor, justice, and national liberty be
fostered in our midst, the cause for which they
did so much would be lost sight Of and the
those glorious principles for which our COM
rades fought and for which they died, and
Whereas, the Grand Army of the Republic
was organized for a charitable purpose, and
has for its motto Fraternity, Charity and
Loyalty" cultivating the kindest feelings
towards each other, true loyalty to our Gov
Crnment, and charity to our unfortunate COM
rades, their widows and orphans, and in carry
ing out the principles of our motto, we bow to
no political parties, we bend to no religious
sect or creed, and we debar no one on account
of their nationality, our only inquiry being,
Did you serve your country faithfully in the
rebellion" and Have you obtained an hon
orabe discharge" therefore be it
Res0}Ced That the act be branded as cOwardiy,
and one to be condemned by every loyal citizen
in the land, and that the person or persons, to
us unknown, who committed this act of van
dalism. deserve no better treatment than is
/ allotted to traitors.
| Resslced, That by this act is manifested a
| spirit of outlawry, which, if permitted to pass
unnoticcd, would finally result in the over
/ throw of order and good government.
III hesofre8,saTha we, as a Post of the Grand
Army of the Republic, do in unmeasured
| terms deRounce the act of desecrating the
/ graves of our fallen comrades by tearing from
them the national flag placed thereon, as an
insult to the Grand Army of the town, the
| State and the Nation; an insult TO every loyal
| citizen and an act of vandalism that ought not
! to go unrebuked or unpunished if detected.
! And we do hereby authorize the committee
| on "the Good of the Order" to forward these
!
at the outrage to Department Headquarters,
with a request that they, and a statement of
! the facts which led to framing OF the same,
be transmitted to the National Encampment,
and, if thought proper called to the attention
of the President OF the United States. Also,
| to publish the same in the local newspapers.
| Alfred 4. Burrell, Charles w. Wilcox, Thomas
Coyne, Henry J. Bailey, James Kelley,
! George L. Maynard, Committee on the Good
of the Order.
/ B. H. Montague, Post Commander.
MILFORD MASS, June 9, 1882.
| The Hartford C0Want speaking of the act of
! Cuddihy, says it don't envy him the quarter of
an hour he is going to spend with Archbishop
Williams or the vicar-General when the news
! of his performance reaches the ecclesiastical
headquarters. Evidently the CourGRt doesn't
! know tho old gentleman.
And the Southbridge Herald sensibly re-
marks If the good people of Milford had any
of the fiery spirit Of our forefathers of rs,
| they would give the instigator of this foul
/ piece of work a coat of tar and feathers and
free ride out of town ON a three -cornered
stick.
/