Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-31
DECORATION ORATORY.

DECORATION ORATORY.
THE PULIrlOlANs ON THE PLATFORM.
Regular Beaver e1 Ianeesssr and I.depe,-
dent Aarnn 1t 0nEiotta.-Tho
Day I'm the County.
Tho announcement of an Grafton by
General Beaver attracted large audience
to Fulton opera house last evening, and
by eight o'clock the auditorium of the
building was crowded and the gallery
nearly or quite full. In the audience were
a number of ladies who gave the scene
an attractive appearance. The Grand
Army post, with tho Millersville band at
their head, waited upon Gen. Beaver at
the Stevens house shortly before the hour
named, and after few patriotic airs had
been performed, escorted their distin-
guished guest to the opera house. His ar
rival was hailed with applause, which was
repeated when he went upon tho stage.
The Grand Army men also took seats upon
the stage.
After the Millersville band had played
several selections, Rev. J. Max Hark
offered prayer and Major Reinoehl pre-.
scnted to the audience tho soldier and
hero who bears upon his person tho scars
Of charlottesville, Cold HartOr and
Petersburg and who left leg upon the
bloody field Ream's Station, and than
whose there is no name better known or
loved throughout the length and breadth
of this commemorative James A.
Beaver" Applause.
General Beaver, before beginning his
address, was compelled to pause until the
cordial applause with which he was
greeted had subsided. Referring to the
solemnity and sacredness of the occasion
that had assembled this audience and that
had pcrvaded the exercises of the day, he
said the time was not one for idle words
or unmeaning compliment, but it cOnsti-
tutcd the opportunity for instruction. for
thought and reflection, that should mako
us better citizens of our grand old COM
mOnwealth and great republic. He re-
cognized that the people in the seats be-
fore him, and those gathered round him,
were animated by the same feelings that
moved the men of Lancaster who marched
forth with Hambright and whom Welsh
led to Harrisburg, tho first Offering of the
community to defend the assailed integrity
of our country. Since that day Lancaster
has never been lacking in men, brave
spirits ready to uphold the honor of their
state and of the nation. Within the radius
of mile Lancaster holds in her embrace
men who did more to make the history of
the last twenty or twenty-five years than
any other in tho country. When
the speaker first set foot in Ian
caster on Monday, his thoughts
turned to the graves of the "Old Com
mOner" and of that one whose untimely
death had robbed Pennsylvania of perhaps
her greatest soldier. When the name Of
Stevens, who aroused the heroic
sentiment of patriotism in the troublous
times of twenty years ago, and of Rey-
nolds, who set his squadrOns in the field
and led them to glory, are mentioned,
what moro need to repeat that Lancaster
holds in the cold embrace of death men
who wrought with moulding influence
upon the history of the republic =?
The resurrection of the springtimc has
como VIC have culled the early blossoms
and nipped the opening buds to lay them
a willing token OH the graves of the men
who offered their lives as a sacrifice upon
their country's altar. The speaker had heard
the remark made that when the old fel
lows of tho Grand Army are dead and
gone tho observance of Decoration day
will die out also but rs he looked Oh the
ranks in tO-day's procession and saw the
sturdy young men marching shoulder to
shoulder in the line the thought came to
him that the SONS of the sires would surely
not forget the acts of their fathers-GOd
pity them if they could!
1t is all old story, but one that can be
told with increasing instruction, that re.
minds us that the Union once imperiled
shall be the Union Of generations unborn
for ten cepturieS to come that teaches us
that when treason nerved tho arm of the
men who rose to smite the integrity of the
nation, patriotism was equally ready to
raise up men to stand between their cOun.
try and the dangers that threatened it,
apd SO many of whose graves are garland.
ed to. day with fresh tributes of affectiOnate
remembrance. These are facts that shall
always exist and that at such time as
this come to teach us lessons of wisdom
but while remembering the difference be-
tween patriotism and treason we must re-
member also that the men who appealed
to the dread arbitrament Of the sword to
maintain their position perishcd by the
sword. Now the vital question is What
of to day p not what has happened. The
days of peace have conc and with them
there must DO established fraternity
of feeling between the lately embittcred
| sections ; the speaker rejoiced to see
tho men Of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie taking tho initiative to bring about
this feeling of unity and concord he 1e.
.joiced that it had been his privilege
to see exemplifed the fact that there was
the bond of fraternity between the men
who had fought in the Southern army and
those who fought in the Northern army
he had heard a man who bore arms in the
Confederate ranks say that they come now
to lay their lost cause upon the altar Of a
common country and fight under one flag
with the men who had opposed them.
That was great thing for a man to say
whom We call rebel )" more than
We can appreciate, because wo have no
wounded feelings to soothe we can take
the man that gave utterance to that ex-
preston by the hand and pity tho man
that cart.
We are confronted with the practical
question ado the results of tho war pay
for it's cost? ?" Go with me on the grand
rounds. From the Kennebec to the Rio
Grande We find the graves of the men who
died for the cause they espoused. Come
to Pennsylvania battle field. "Halt
who lie here" Friends" comes back
the answer from the silent white
sentinels who guard the last rest
ing place of only portion of
tho dead of single battle. Across
the Potomac the same challenge greets
our coming footsteps; they are friends
above whose graves the white sentinels
keep their silent watch. Seventeen thous-
and brave spirits rest within sight of the
dome of the capitol, but if you multiply