The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1882-06-08

DECORATION DAEl
Grafton Of Governor Hart at Rains
bOrO, May 30, 1889.

peak to our souls with an eloquence more
powerful than the words Of man. Bever-
entity let us stand by the places where our
heroes sleep, and take in the lessons which
heir lives and deaths have taught us.
Who are these men whose names we
come to honor? What have they done
What epoch in the great worlds history is
illustrated by their lives and sanctihed by
their deaths What has been accomplished
for mankind and the world, ana what is the
sum and value OF their achievements II
Grave and comprehensive questions are
these, and 1t would take volumes OF history /
to answer.
Here ON this beautiful day, when the
fields are growing green, and the leaves and .
blossoms have come forth under Gods |
genial sunshine, and all nature betokens
the resurrection, how fit and beautiful it.
is to rest from our work, to let the plow
stand in the furrow and the tools lie IDLE I'M
the workshops, and, come together, old
and young, with flowers in our hands and
love in our hearts, to pay tribute not alone
to the memory OF the soldiers who died IN
their cOuntry's service but also to the holy
cause for which they gave their precious
lives.
The uprising OF the American people IN
the spring of 1861 was the most dramatic
and wonderful event IN this or any other
nation AT that time, to a common OBJ
server, the military spirit OF the masses had
become almost extinct We had nothing
that could properly be called standing
army, and the body of soldiers known as
the army of the United States amounted to
only about sixteen thousand men. The
navy was insignificant, and such ships as
the Government owned had purposely
been scattered to different and distant parts
of the world. The whole country, North,
was devoted to the arts OF peace and IN
dustry A Presidential election had taken
/ place in the fall of 1850. In the December
/ following measures were taken by some OF
the States to secede from the Union,
Northern men became somewhat ANXIOUS,
but they could not and would not believe
that open war would be declared against
the Nauonal authorlIy' weeks ana ilohtns
went by. Lincoln was naugurated Presl-
dent. On the day OF his inauguration,
standing at the east front OF the Capital at
Washington, in tender and almost plaintive
accents, he pleaded with his countrymen to
obey the laws and MAINTAIN the integrity Of
the Constitution. Even then, though NUT
terings were heard IN the distance, and
clouds began to gather there were but few
who believed 1t would result IN open war.
On the 18th OF April, 1861, Fort Sumter
was fired upon, and on the 18TH 1t surren
dered to the rebel forces Like flash o
lightning came the news, and, like the
voice of God omnlpotent the command
/ went forth, and the cry, 10 arms! IL
arms was heard IN every town, hamlet an(
district IN the land Fatfi0tlsnl' SO Ions
latent, now developed with tFemendou
power. The strong men, the young men
the Old men, the farmer the mechahlc, Tn
merchant the men IN the proIesslons-'a
classes and ranks and conditions, heard tn
cry, and by one common impulse moved Il
the same direction and responded to tn
call The country became one vast mill
tary camp for the preparation OF soldier
for battle. Flags hoated from almos
\ every housetop, and the heart OF the natlo
! was stirred and moved as the waves OF tn
sea are moved by the power OF Ehe tempest
True, here and there croaklng note O
! dissatisfaction was heard; but the genera
i voice Of the great Dody OF the people wa
then, as trust II "l1 ever De- Tor the PFC
, serYauon oil the country at every hazaro
\ and at Whatever COST Oh Dioou anu treasure
The best classes OF the American people
/ the most lntellgenJ ana Flrtuous--th
4 young men OF the most promise ana IN
old men OF tne most nuuence-aI II
. vored the war Tor the preservation OF tn
Union. 1t was not a hlIeiln8 soldlery tina
fought the country.s paItles but II was a
! army made up by the best blood and bral
J OF the nation.
L need not repeat 70 you the history c
that great struggle. Ii. Is Ialnllar 70 al
" N a