Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-05-31
GRAVES OF THE NATIONS DEAD.


Appropriate Ceremonies.
Address by VIM. Rule---Large Crowd in
Attendance.
The annually recurring custom of paying
a fitting tribute to the memory of those who
fell in gallant defense of their country and
the Union, was yesterday observed in the
National Cemetery at this place. Although
comparatively little mention had been
made of the occurrence, and
although there was no programme for pa
rade or procession, still the occasion drew a
great many visitors to the city, and added
to the multitudes from the city who never
loose the opportunity, there was q very
large and respectable assemblage in the en-
closure and around the grand stand, at the
hour of 2 o'clock p. m. The exercises
were formal aud unpretentious, yet solemn
and impressive.
The Odd Fellows cornet band, having
been secured, rendered an opening piece of
music, and an eloquent, fervent and appro-
pirate prayer was offered by Rev. F. E.
Sturgis, pastor of the Second Presbyterian
Church.
The band then rendered, in a beautiful
and impress i've manner, Hail Columbia, Z"
after which VIM. Rule, Esq, editor of the
CHRoNI Gle, was introduced in few brief
but appropriate remarks, by Maj A. S.
Prosser, who presided very becomingiy and
satisfactorily over the ceremonies of the
occasion. Mr. Rule addressed the assem-
blage as follows:
Ladies, Gentlemen and Comrades:
More than two thousand years ago
Leonidas, with his three hundred SparGans,
encountered the Persian hosts at Thermopy-
lac, and won immortal fame for himself, his
comrades and his country. After resistance
that in its principal features stands without a
parallel in the annals of ancient or modern
warfare; their ranks thinned and their lances
broken; pressed on every side by over
whelming numbers, they yielded only to
death, and not one of them was left to re-
peat the story of their dauntless valor. 1t
is no wonder that they were remembered
by their grateful countrymen, and that
whatever art could suggest was done to
commemorate their chivairous deeds. A
marble lion was erected on the spot in
honor of Leonidas, and two monuments to
the memory of the three hundred, one of
which bears the modest inscription
Stranger, the tidings to the Spartans tell
That here, obeying their commands, we
fell.
Ever since that eventful day the name
Spartan" has been considered as synony-
nous with courage and chivalIy, and no
higher compliment could be paid to any
body of soldiers than to say of them: "They
fought with Spartan courage" Through
out the ages the event has been theme for
the muses., and orators have exhausted their
eloquence in praise of Leonidas and his gallant
three hundred. They were heroes. But
the SpartaRs dwelt in land noted for the
strength of its military organization The OBJ
iect of its rulers was to make warriors of their
subjects. To this end every male child was
held as belonging to the State and he was
under public inspection from his birth, be-
ing trained solely with reference to war like
exercises. If weak or deformed he was left
to perish, if need be, otherwise he was taken
from his mother at the age of seven years,
to be educated and disciplined. At the age
of thirty he might marry wife, but he was
continued under public discipline, took his
meals at the public mess, slept in the public
barracks, and was finally released from
military service only when he had attained
the age of three score years. 1t is to be ex
pected that such race of people, with such
education and training, would distinguish
themselves for martial valor and military
genius.
But if such soldiers, educated in such
manner in such country, were worthy oil
the high honors bestowed upon them, how
| much more are those whom we have met to
honor to-day. Those were rigidly trained
for war. These were trained solely in the
arts of peace. Those were sol
diers by education and by long
and forced habit. These were
simply citizens, called without previous
| preparation from the common walks of life
| The safety of many countries in the ole
world lies in their large standing armies,
| but it is not so with us, and it is one of oul
| proud boasts that such is the fact. We dc
| not look to our standing army to protect
our rights and preserve our liberties. If the
| hour of trouble comes our citizens are ready
to lay down the implements of industry anc
peace and take up those or war. When the
peril is impending and the CRY
| goes forth that the country il
III danger, the citizens of the nation are
| ever ready to respond with an alacrity and
enthusiasm which inspires hope in our rank
and strikes terror to the hearts of the foe
They come from every State and county
every village and hamlet, from almos
every household, from every hillside and
valley in the wide extended land, pouring
| in ever swelling streams to their country
| rescue They embrace every class ant
every vocation in life; the farmer from hi
plough, the mechanic from his shop, tn
| lawyer from his office, the physician from
his.patients, the merchant from his counter
| the teacher from his school ant
even the minister from his pulpit
| They include the rich and the poor, tn
learned and the illiterate, the widely known
! and the obscure, the white and the colored
all volunteering to do battle for the main
tenance of the Union, of the States and tn,
supremacy of the constitution.
| such ale the men who sleep beneath tn,
green sod of this sacred enclosure, and il
hundreds of other places throughout tn,
Union, and whose graves we bedeck will
flowers to-day. They were citizens indi
vidual sovereigns, freemen, in a free repub
lic They went to their graves, not as the
serfs or slaves of some kingly poten
tate who prosecutes wars only fol-
his individual glory, nor were the.
mercenary hirelings. but they poured GU
their hearts blood in order that their off
spring might continue to enjoy the blessing
of one great, progressive, free and undi
vided nation. 1t is this pure patriotism tina
makes our nation strong. We need no larg
standing army. Although we passed throug
terrible civil war few years ago and wer
divided and embittered by internal dissen
sions, no one doubts that were we to b
attacked by foreign foe now, those VIII
wore the grey would vie with those who wor
the blue in their devotion to the Union an
in their defense of the flag of the FIRE
and the home of the brave" 1t is TIL
sense of individual responsibility whic
make soldiers of our citizens and citizens {
our soldiers, and this it is that nerves I
J when we confront danger, and urges on OIL
brave defenders in the face of danger al
death.
There was much to admire in the Sparta
soldier. His courage and fortitude ha,
q never been called in question. That he WI
even patriotic will be generally admitted
|