The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-05-31
IN MEM0RIAM.

Decoration of the Graves of the Soldiers
Buried in MapleWoOd
Cemetery.
Addresses by Judges Graves. Buck, KeI-
logg. Cunningham. Dr.J ). Wright.
Col. David Taylor. Etc. Etc.
The very general and impressive cele-
bration of Memorial Day in Emporia,
speaks well for the patriotism of this
community and stands as an evidence of
the undying gratitude which our PEG
pie cherish for the heroes who offered up
their lives willing sacrifice upon the
altar of their country. Thetributs which
we pay to the hallowed clay
that has gone to mix forever
with the elements cannot appeal to the
silent dust DER which we strev the early
blossoms of spring, but it can keep
green in the hearts of the living those
deeds of immortal vaIor which secured
to US and generations yet unborn the
priceless heritage purchased by the
blood of those heroes who went forth to
battle in freedoms holy cause. and for
the honor of the flag under whose starry
folds the oppressed of all nations gath
cred yesterday.
. The preparations for the appropriate
celebration of this beautiful and solemn
memorial were under the special direc-
ton this year of Emporia Post G. A. r.
and were of such a character as to in
sure its most impressive observance.
The call made by the Post for flowers
was most generously responded to by
the patriotic ladies of the town, who
brought to the offices of DR.. j. A.
Young and Col. DAVID Taylor a
fragrant wealth of roses and other
beautiful floral offerings which were ar
ranged this morning by their def I'm
gers into exquisite boquets and wreaths
to place upon the verdant mounds which
mark the resting places of the country IS
defenders who sleep their last sleep in
the city of the dead, near our beautiful
town. These contributions came from
all directions and the hearty co-opera-
ton of the noble women of EmporIa in
this labor of love evidences the fact that
the fame of patriotism burns as
bright and pure in their hearts to-day as
It did in the dark hours of the nations
peril when their offices of mercy carried
relief to every hospital and camp where
the soldiers OF the Republic languished
on beds of pain and death.
At 2 O'Clock p. m, the procession for
the cemetery formed on Commercial
street between Fifth and Sixth avenues,
Col. j. n. Steele acting as marshal of the
day, assisted by D. w. Eastman and j.
w. latham.
The column was headed by the Z. L.
band, which played with most touching
expression majestic dirge as the pro-
cession took up the line of march, NOV
ing west on Sixth avenue to Merchants
north on Merchants to Eleventh; west
on Eleventh to Rural and thence to the
cemetery. Besides the members of the
Post the Emporis Rifles participated in
the parade and added to the Impressive
character Of the solemn pageant
There were a great number of
carriages with citizens, many of whom
took flowers with them to decorate the
graves of relatives and friends.
Upon arriving at the cemetery, the K
T. band discoursed an appropriate mum
Der, after which Rev. DR.. CordIey offered
a prayer fitting to the memorable oeca-
sion, at the conclusion of which Com
rade w. F. Chalfant, of Emporia Post
No. 55, delivered the following admira-
BILE address:
Comrades and Fellow Citizens:
We n.eet to-day to pay a tribute of re
! spect to the memory OF those who died
that this Republic might live, a united
and prosperous nation, honored and re-
| spected by all the nations of the world
| To-day, all over this broad and peace.
| full land and wherever floats the emblem
OF our national unity, thousands Of pa.
triotic and Christian men and women
arc decorating with flowers the graves
of friends and relatives who fell in bat
| tie or died from disease on the long
and weary march, in the sickly camp, the
cruel prison, or from other causes in
cident to that desperate con.
| tiict of arms which is still
fresh in our memories, and
the scars from which are still visible on
the living flesh of many who partici
pated in this sad but beautiful ceremony
In the years gone by-in the years
to cUme-as q tribute OF respect 10
the memory of the dead who died fight
fling for liberty and universal freedom
what has been, what can be, q more beau
:tiful and impressive ceremony than this
simple and easy one OF decorating their
last resting places with fair and fragrant
1 flowers?
Comrades, this Is a solemn and
thoughtful hour, It calls TO memory
those years of anxiety and danger when
| you and andthDse whose lifeless clay
now mingles with the common earth
were willing to endure the many vicissi-
tudes of cruel war in order
that the unity of these
states might be maintained, together
| with the sacred nights guaranteed TO US
by the constitution of our common coun.
try.
| Comrades, we who are still living, and
were among the active participants in
that great struggle which preserved US
q nation" purified from the wrong oil
slavery by the blood of our fallen com
rades, are here reminded of the brevity
of life, and that we, too, will soon sleeI
in the same kind bosom that now gives
peace and rest TO those whose graves we
come to decorate. As the years multi
and our infrmlties, and SO dc
/ the mute inhabitants of this
city of the dead. The Grand Army OF
the Republic is ever marching-march-
| ing from the active duties of life to the
peace and quiet of the grave, and the
award that awaits it Beyond. When q
/ few years more have come and gone
there will be none left of those citizen.
/ soldiers who, twenty years ago, kept
4 step to the music of the Union and
fought for the flag which 10 to-day the
] national emblem of sixty millions OF
free and prosperous people.
The deeds Of the good and the brave
live after them. When the last aged
veteran of that grand army OF
| factors, however insignificant, shall
sleep his last sleep, the millions who
now enjoy the fruits of its labor. and the
millions yet unborn who are to be bene-
fitted thereby, will come, we hope, with
| patriotic heerts and grateful prayers,
and decorate its soldiers graves as we
do these today. Froci sire to SON
the stream of patriotic blood
will flow, and never, until the
records of valor decay, will the
memory Of that grand army, whose
blood and bravery made this Republic
| the grand embodiment of enlightened
civilization that il is, be forgotten among
men
Comrades. as we today cast the fra
grant flowers upon these peaceful
| graves, we are reminded that war, as an
abstract principle, is the greatest of all
| times results. Since time began, moth
| ing among men has caused so many sad
1 hearts-so much of. Waste-the ruin OF
i