The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-31

10 reJOIcc III tic COAuMOH prosperity. AHc
logic of events" has brought the south as
contest, the conyulsive birth throe of a
nation to new and nobler life.
Ihave had men say to me, ri wish this
decoration of soldiers graves would be
done away, these memorial days would
cease, because they tend to keep alive the
passions of the past / would say so too,
did believe it true. 1t 10 not in Ameri
can human nature to refuse to recognize
the worth and valor of a PROSTATE foe if
he has borne himself nobly in the strife
When that timid woman, years
ago, regardless of the censure of
of the public opinion around her in obedi-
ance to a noble instinct, quietly placed
chaplet of flowers on the neglected grave
of the soldier who fought on the other
side, she did much to foster and hasten the
spread by the press, touched tender
chord in many hearts North and South,
which has gone on vibrating with increas
ing fullness and power. These days are
becoming days of reconciliation well as
of commemoration. Let this spirit con-
tinue-let such manifestations of good
will on either side abound, and we soon
shall have not only the reconstruction of
our political framework, but complete
regeneration of the national heart as well.
Little more than one year ago the crown
of civic honor was placed on the brow of
our slain President crown not without
thorns To-day portion of our people
will lay their floral offerings on his mauso-
:eum; but the hearts of our millions, as
they recall the new made soldiers grave
by Lake Erie, will in one. general impulse
of regret, drop tear of sympathy to crown
his memory with a halo of afectionate re
gard, because he was the President of
Love.
DIR. GREGG.
Spoke as follows
This large and intelligent gathering is an
indication that the memory of our brave
defenders is still green with us, and that
the more remote we get from the sad scenes
of our deplorable conflict, the more tena-
eious we become in the observance of the
day. It is said by some and doubtless con
scientiously said that Decoration Day
should be abolished, that it tends to keep
alive animosities aer prolongs the day of
reconciliation. / do not so view il, Con-
tinually since the war the North has been
holding out the olive branch, and if not
grasped by the Somth as cordially as it is
preferred the faults is not with the North.
But surely and steadily the azure blue is
appearing between the rifting clouds, and
it is hoped that the time is not far distant
when the wide chasm which separated the
sections will be filed up, and became
level plain, grassed and lowered over. red
olent of returning fraternity and brotherly
love, and covering up forever the vile
odors of estrangement and hatred The
southern people decorate the graves of
their dead, and the North enteres no pro-
test. The quiet unostentations way in
which our services are conducted here is
commendable and | some times fancy /
can hear spirit spirit whisperings from on
high in approval.
Not with the leud-mouthed cannon,
Not with the trumpets blare,
Not with tumultous shouting.
And cheers that rend the air
But with Natures loveliest blossoms,
Wreathed by Patriot hands and true.
Appropriate such the emblems,
For the dead who wore the blue.
Sing the Nations anthem,
That anthem so sublime,
Whose notes flow for ever down
The endless stream of time
Sing a song of gladne IS,
That our country ROW is free,
Sing brave Garfeld's funeral hymn,
Nearer my God to Thee
Ger you our spirits hover,
Showering blessings down,
On loving hands placing on our brows,
OF laurel leaves, the crown.
The liberty for which we fight,
The cause our souls so tried,
Bsqneathed to your children unimpaired,
With the land for which died.
W. W. WARNER
of Henry. in the absence of p OMara,
who was detained by business engage
ment, made an extemporaneous address.
He commenced by congratulating the PEG
pie ON the large gathering which was as
sembled. He regarded the Both of Nav
and the Fourth of July as the two great
political holidays of this nation. He
briefly reviewed the effects of the war,
which have made the mem orial day what
it is at the present time. He stated that
IN the observance of the day the political
organizations were lost sight of, and the
principal idea was the perpetuity of the ma
ton as an entirety. In the latter light he
hoped that the day would always be re-
membered and observed.
commenced his remarks by the statement
buab lb WAR alLuOSt SdCfllCSC 10 SDtstA III
the presence of the soldiers monument di-
rectly in front of him. He said that hui
man lips could not tell the story of the
war as the silent pedestal told it to each
human heart.
He briefly stated the characteristics of
the different holidays, and deduced the
fact that Christmas, New Years and the
Fourth Of July all commemorate the birth
of Christ, the year and the Republic, while
Decoration Day commemorated no such
commencement. 1t was simply the ex
preston of grateful people, honoring
the memory of those who died that the
nation might live. -
He spoke of the sad thoughts that the
monument and its memories kindled in the
hearts of those who had lost relatives in
the conflict. and whose names were inscrib-
ed upon that tablet of honor.
EX-SENATOR DooLITTLE,
of Wisconsin, was introd uced. He said
that he had visited Rock Island on bust
ness and had come to witness the Decora-
ton exercises as an auditor and not a talk
er. He, however, had been induced to
address the audience and it gave him great
pleasure to meet the people on such an
occasion. He could hardly realize the fact
that more than twcnty-one years had pass
ed since the war began, and seventeen
years since its conclusion. Muny of the