Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-30

II little recks what we may say,
For there. beyond your narrow bed
Shines the new light, your better day:
And amidst the music OF the spheres
That sound the soldiers reveille,
Wnere march and countermarch the years,
lie wait the peace that is to be-
s. H. NJ BYERs
Following is the full text Of the grafton by MI.
Justice Strong.
Grafton by Hon. VIM. strong.
Ladies ana Gentlemen, ana Gentlemen Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic:
Another Decoration day has come, and we are
assembled TO perform its duties, to enjoy its
pleasures, and to recall the precious memories as
ISOLATED with It 1t was beautiful idea that led
to setting apart one day in each year to refresh
our memory Of those OF our fellow countrymen
who gave the most that man can give-their
1Ves-to the preservation OF our national Union,
and to the conservation OF our free and we'll
guarded civil institutions 1t is fitting express
time to time upon their graves Flowers are the
language OF love between the living, and equally
between the living and the dead. All of US have
passed through cemeteries, and noticed here and
there the roSe the mlgnonnette the lily o. the Inn
mortelles resting On the graves OF those who sleep
below, and We have not doubted what the spec
tacle means The sleeper il all unconscious of the.
tribute paid to his memory, but the flowers speak
OF the living, OF the glowing affection that fingers
In thelr hearts, an affection that death has not
tnguished- The tribute is not unmeaning. Nor
win ours be when We resort to the national ceme-
sleeperS there the tokens OF
OUR LOVE AND uNFApINa RECOLLECTION
For more than an hundred years we have an.
nually celebrated by bonflres, firing OF cannon,
ringing OF bells, and public gatherings the birth
and Independent existence OF our great nation.
We have paid public honors to the memory of the
actors In the revolutionary struggle. The Fourth
OF July. 1776, will ever be remembered and cele-
brated with glad acclaims And so we honor ali
muse. known or unknown, by whom our country
was carried successfully through the contest that
resulted In establishing our Independence. Their
names may have been forgotten but their patriot
isfn their love OF liberty and their heroic self
sacrifice will be fOrgotten-nere,.. We shall be
false to our ancestry, false to much that ennobles
human nature, when we forget, or cease to honor
ne love OF country the love OF civil liberty, and
Tue Self-dev0tion which the soldiers OF the revolu-
ton exhibited in securing for u.s. their posterity
the uneounted blessings we now enjoy. never
ever humble he may have been, without profound
respect l often search the tombstoDes in old
churGhyards to find those recording the fact that
ton And to this day we all regard It an honor
lor any man to be able to say l am descendant
OF Revolutionary soldier We ali acknowledge
tnat every officer and private who sleeps In
REVOLUTIONARY GRAVE
IS Justly entitled to our respect and gratftude-en-
Titled to be held in everlasting remembrance for
his far-seeing patriotism and for his self-sacriee
Nor can we ever forget the enlightened patriotism
and comprehensive affection that gave to the
constitution
Union under which we now live, distributing bless
ingS to every family in this broad land and to
every individual, however humble. That, indeed.
was not the work OF soldiers but 1t was the out.
growth OF what the soldiers OF the Revolution had
done.
And why should not those who, In our great civil
war, with the same spirit that animated the SOL
ders OF the revolution hazarded and gave the most
tnat man can giVe-tOil, privatiOn, suffering and
ntemior the preservation OF the grandest political
Union the world has ever seen, and for the bless
lngS that Union c0mprehendS be deemed worthy OF
equal, If not greater, honor? Why should not they
to9momcel ana soder.oe deemed alike worthy OF
Delng held In everlasting remembrance? Why
should not we. who reap the fruit OF their toll and
suffering, stand reverently and affectionately be-
were volunteers, but ali left their usual employ,
ments, abandoned the pursuits in which they
were end engaged severed themselves from father
ana mother, from brother and sister, from wife
ana chll1ren, at their country's call, and
CROWNED THEIR SACRIFICE
by yielding life itself, not for themselves but for
their countrynen, for US, who now stand over
their graves They lived and died, not for the
glory or conqueror, not in support OF a royal
master or an arbitrary government but for the
welfare Of a great people, to preserve an Union,
the avowed object Of which is to establish tus-
tlce, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common Defense promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings OF liberty to ourselves
and our poster1ty." Was there ever q nobier pat
riotism? All horor be to them. We VIII ever re-
honor ourselves by hOnoring them
Such Is one OF the purposes III understand
theml OF the association known as the Grand
Army OF the Republic, before one department of
which speak this day. This department is COM
posed OF survivors of the Army OF the Potomac,
I men VINO met the perlls, endured the hardships.
pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia during the
late civil war; They are the men OF Antietafn. of
in the army but they are banded together for very
noble purposes, one OF which is to perpetuate the
memory and
HISTORY OF THE DEAD.
They have passed through an experience like to
that OF those who have fallen and who lie sleeping
In yonder cemetery. 1t might be expected they
VIII feel an honorable regard. tender affection
1or those with whom they were formerly asso-
whose patriotism, love OF the Union, and devotion
to public duty were like their own common
experience OF hardships and dangers is bond OF
sympathy and mutual regard which even death
cannot sever. 1t draws men together as no other
experience can. But you, gentlemen OF the Grand
Army, are not alone In your reverence and afTec-
ton for your fallen comrades. Millions OF your
counlrynen who never belonged to the army
men and women who had no share in your toils
ana dangers, stand side by side with you in earn
est desire TO perpetuate the memory OF the de-
parted patriots. TO them ana to you belongs the
honor OF having saved for yourselves and ali OF us
as we'll as for those Who shall come after Us that
constitutional union which Is the guardian OF onr
liberties, OF our domestic tranquility, and OF our
advancement In clyiltz alton.
But the purpose OF
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
extends far beyond perpetuation OF the memory
and history OF the dead 1t is also to assist such
comrades In arms as need help and protection. and
to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans
OF the fallen. Could there be nobler purpose &,
ITO pity distress Is human, to relieve it Is God
like" They serve God well, who serve his crea-
lures" Nor do they serve In vain. "What pre-
Cious comfort It's TO have so many, ike brothers.
commanding one anOther'S fortunes ~ AmOnr
the vast numbers OF widows and orphans MADE
Such Dy the fortunes OF war, there must be- there
have been multttudeS who have sOrely needed and
VINO stu neeQ, the sympathy and aid which the
members OF Che Grand Army are pledged 60 give
Not alone their husbands and fathers made Sacri-
nee for the welfare OF the country They were
part OF the Offering. In a true sense victims of the
sacrifice To extend TO them needed relief and the
supporting hand OF heartfelt sympathy. must be
one of the joys OF membership in the association
The great Ret1eemer OF the world, who knew what
Is In The heart OF man, said IL Is more blessed TO
give than to receive, and those who have tried
the experiment OF extending needed aid Syrnea.
tLetlc aid appreciate the truth OF the deoiefa-
ton.
Beyond the widows and orphans
OF FALLEN COMRADES
the association extends its kindly arms TO assist
comrades that still live who need help and protac
ton. and OF these there must be many And even
where no aid or protection is needed, In hours OF
perpicxity or depression, which come upon Ms all