Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-05-31

Of tho day flags were displayed at half
mast from almost every flagstaff IN the
city, ~ we'll as from the vessels Ia orr
harbor.
The exercises were conducted under
the auspices Of Stevens Post q. A. H.,
assisted by Custer Post Ii. A. r., of Ia
coma. The procession formed on Front
street abou. 1880 pm. and marched up
to Union street, and from there to the
| University gro1nds in IN following Or
der:
Grand Marshal-I. II. Griswold.
Seattle Cornet Band.
Pos, Commander and AdJutant.
Caster Post, u. A. H.. Of Tacoma.
Stevens Post no. l. of Seattle.
Visiting Comrades and ex-Uaion Sol
diera and Sailors.
Snns q. Veterans.
President Of the Day, Orators aud Poet.
| Aids to Grand Marshal.
Mayor and Council OF Seattle.
| Knights of Pytbias.
Columbia, Seattle and Alki Lodges of
A. q. u. w.
Citizens on foot and in carriages.
| The exercises were held in beauti-
| ful grove in tho center of the University
| grounds, whore a platform had boon
erected for the speakers and seats for
those who wished thcm.
| The vas. assembly was called to order
by Gov +. y. Ferry. president of the
day. in a neat little speech, closing "a
| follows: While we thus remember
tho dead Va innst not forget the living,
but mus. support and uphold the Gov
eminent which grants liberal pensions
| 10 manned and wounded soldiers, and
| to the widows and orphans of their
| dsad comrades. Bat for the soldiers
we would have no Government today.
| The old flag Of which we are so proud
would have been trampled in the dust,
and our nation would have been divided
| up into dozen or more republics, with
different and conflicting interests, and
our Government would have been q
thing of the past. Let our motto "a a
natiou bo, "Aonoye for the dead, hon
ors and rewards for the living"
Roswell Scott. on behalf OF tho Deco
ration Committee, reported that the
| graves of all soldiers in the various
burying grounds had been appropriate
ly dscked with flowers by the commit
| tee appointed for that purpose.
| Rev. j. +. Fills then invoked the bless
ing Of Almighty God upon the SOL
diers there assembled, and invoked His
watchful care over the days proceed
| incs.
J. c. Haines, Esq, orator OF the day,
waa then introduced, and delivered q
most eloquent Grafton, and we regret
our inability to publish it in full. The
speaker took up the causes which led to
the great rebellion and followed them
down TO the firing on Fort Sumpter by
the rebels. He then pictured that long,
bloody, agonizing four years struggle
which cost SO many human lives, and
millions Of money, and showed that the
Union soldier WAS fighting alone for a
great principle. The Union was victori-
Gus, and our nation preserved. He then
spoke Of the duty the living owe to
themselves, and to those who rendered
up their lives and fortunes for the pro-
servation of the Union. 1t ia the duty
OF the living TO keep at the head Of this
nation, by their ballots. men who will
| labor for its good; men who will con-
duct its affairs honorably and uprightIy,
and who will see that il is handed down
| TO our children united and glorious
nation. At tho close of his very eLo-
quent and able Grafton Mr.. Haines was
loudly applauded.
This was followed by the singing Of
Tho Voice Of Peace" by the choir.
w. IL. White, who had boon selected
poet for the occasion, was introduced,
and after few preliminary remarks, in
which he stated he had never written a
line of poetry in his life. he road Long
fellows Decoration Day." and also
"You PUT NO FLOWERS ON NY pArA's
GRAVE"
This beautiful poem was written bv
Q. T.. Il. Holmes, and runs as follows:
With sable drapcd banners, and slow.
measured tread,
The fower,lad ranks pass tho gates of
the dead,
And seeking each mound where a
comrades form rests,
Leave tear.bsdswsd garlands to bloom
on his breast.
Ended at last 10 the labor of love:
Once more through tho gateway the
saddsued lines move
A Willing Of anguish, a sobbins of
Falls low on the ear of the battle SCARED
chief;
Close srouoas sa,, b the portals sunny
Besought him in accents With Grief
rendered wild:
"Oh' sir. hs was good, and they say he
died brave
Why! why! did you pass BY my dear
papa'a grave7
! know he vas poor. bot a. kind and a.
As ever marched into the hattie with
Won
His grave is SO humble-no stone marks
the spot
You may not have seen IL. Oh. say you
did not.
For my poor heart would break IL you
knew il were there,
And thought him tooloviy your offerings
10 share.
he didn't die lowly--hs poured his
hearts blood
In rich crimson stream, FROM the top
crowning sod
OF the brsastworks which stood in front
of the fight
And died. shouting, Onward. for God
and the right
Ger all his dead comrades your bright
gariauds wave
But You haven't put one on my papa's
grave.
II mamma we're hsre-bus shs lies by
his side.
Her wearisd heart broke whom our dear
papa died"
Battalion! fls left. countsr-naroh -
cried the chief;
This young orphAa'd maid hath full
cause for her grief"
Then up In his arms from the hot, dusty
street,
He lifted tbs maiden, while in through
the gate
The long line repaaDes, and many an eye
Pays fresh tribute o1 toars - Sho lone
oSpaan's Sigh.