National Republican., 1883-05-31


any time Il would have excited the gravest appre.
tensions, but which In our land, so recently come
| forth from terrible civ IL war, with legislature
whose membership included many who, in that
war, had been arrayed against the nation, was
indeed appalling. Well might thoughtnl men
aud tested But to the honor Of our people tho
momentous question was submitted to arbitrators
chosen from among our own countrymen and
their decision was obeyed, though at least n
moiety of our citizens believed 1t unjust And
the president, whose election was questioned, was
held 10 have perfect utle because II was awarded
him by lawfully appointed tribunal, and he was
obeycd as Loyalty, north and south, as though he
had entered his high office upborne by an un-
And when for the second time in our history and
In our own generation, an assassin struck down the
chief magistrate, a condition of affairs existed,
iraught with possibilities more dangerous than the
occurrences which had overturned more than one
European government.
The anxieties and sorrows of those months when
| nation was waiting and watching by the bedside
of the llustrious sufferer are still vivid in our
memories. Among the watchers by the bedside,
among the mourners at tho grave bf the president
were the people Of tho states 80 lately in rebel
lion.
And we should thank God that the loyalty and
common sense Of the whole people stayed and up-
held the government during these months when
there was raised grayely important question OF
administration for whose solution no precedent
existed, and when by combination of unparalleled
occurrences but one life intervened between order
The ground on which we now stand over which
the flag Of the United States floats not merely in
dead but in token Of ownership by tho govern,
mept, is held to-day by title different from that OF
tribunal title Which we had believed 10 be abso
Lutte, because created by war and confirmed by
victory and vested in a sovereignty incapable Of
CONSENT has been inyalidated, and considering
the authority OF the decree, the government has
perfected It's ownership by purchase.
IL would Ill become our speaker, nay IL would
be height Of presumption to gainsay decision
rendered by SO august tribunal as the supreme
court OF the United States. Nor would he, even
were this tho fitting place and occasion, question
the righteousness OF the judgment that this prop.
Sg hSd SsSn %9ngn Exposed ior sale put
y came into possession OF the government, 1t is
difficult for the non-legal mind TO comprehend
the nicely Of the reasoning by which SUIT which
could not lie against the sovereign nation, could
lie against the nations officers, who in obedience
to its commands held property for its sole aud di;
rect uso as he resting place OF the dead who fell
In the conflict which determined the existence
and the sovereignty of the nation.
refer to this change In the title simply because
II furnishes another evidence Of the reign OF law
In the land so lately torn by gigantic civil strife
cand TOT psvor eTs ~ ne 01ho une S 10 nrhngon a
the government and is son of him TO whom more
| than to any other the coniederacy owed its pro-
longation, was an idea so repugnnnt to our sense
of fitness and justice as TO be apostolic of tolera.
ton, but that tho title did so pass and that there
the country, is additional proof of our respect for
law and for the rights, even of those whom we
once thought had forfeited all right 10 life and
property.
Perhaps, however, It was not alone respect for
law that allowed the title TO this cemetery TO re-
vert to It's original owner without active opposi-
ton, but as well the consciousness OF our people
that the passage of title was simply upon paper,
that there was no danger that the plow would
turn its furrow here and that no writ would
run against the occupants of these graves. and
that no administration could wave, because OF any
cost, the nations right of eminent domain.
We rejoice that we are here to-day by no mans
suterancei that tho government holds this prop
erty by a title which none can question, and that
no dispute can again disturb these dead.
May their rest remain unbroken until the hour
cometh when 1.-THE dead shall hear the voice of
the Son OF God" May He grant that when that
voice sounds they that sleep in these graves shall
hear and live.
Surely the union is real, the states are indeed
united, which can suppress a rebellion the most
formidable in history; which upon the close Of
that rebellion, and again within half generation
thereafter, eau withstand without shock other
than that of intenest grief transfer of admins
tration, enforced by assassination; which can
peacefully determine disputed succession to the
fs Of civil SunSs IN 1g resunS U
the war, even when those decisions are adverse to
the sentiment for which men died, and which tri.
umphed in that war; which can admit to the ma
tional legislature and to active participation in
| affairs of state men who but few years ago were
in armed array against the government; and
which maintained In war, by the courage and de-
votlon of Its citizens in peace rests upon theirpa
triotic obedience to law;
citizens resolved that 1t should not be wrested
from them have noble fought and died" They
|
The war being over the new order of thing be-
Ing accepted, peace prevailing throughout the
land, why cherish the memories OF the terrible
| strife? Why continue the observance which re-
calls the scenes OF those eventful years?
| The passions and the bitterness of the war time
the ber H Memories sts or 10 eEnds the
! yengeful passions, or over these graves to swear
etersal hate to our former enemies, but only TO
strew flowers lens of peace and love-over
| the resting place of our dead.
We do not recount their deeds that we may ex.
ult over their defeated advorsarles, but only that
we may justly appreciate the devotion to which
these graves bear witness.
Israel was hidden % commemorate the great
dellverance, not that the Egyptian should be
hated, but that the Lord should be remembered.
Themselves the heirs Of all the ages, our broth.
Their Seeds sha
the heritage OF the ages to come.
| Justice to the dead and duty to prosperity alike
demand that we shall transmit the glorious story
untarnished aud undimmed.
In the honor to It's greatest peril these men gave
their lives for the life Of the nation the sacrifice
shall not be forgotten, because the danger which
demanded II was by 1t averted.
Into the wide chasm which opened throughout
into the yawning depths was cast the choicest
treasure OF the nation, there leaped four hundred
hopsand menmthsmseyes %S ne most precious pos
deed closed-God grant that II shall never reopen
but we shall richly deserve to stand again upon
It's fearful brink II we forget them, our brayest and
Rejoicing that our dead have not died in vain 1;
believing ~ our duty, we esteem IL our privilege,
to commemorate their sacrifice, and we to- day by
these simple ceremonies declare both the right
eousness OF the cause and the gratitude Of the ma
ton,
With q final benediction by Rev. DIR. Swal-
low, the ass embly broke up and started for
home, leaving the flower garlanded cemetery
to its usual quiet.
THE CoLoRED CEMETERY.
Just before the exercises began in the am
phitheater, o. z. Morton post, No. 4, and
Charles Sumner post, No. 8, decorated the
graves Of the colored soldiers inferred at Ar
lington. Mr.. w. X. Davis, jr., read the poem
entitled "Our Patriot Dead" written by Mr..
Samuel Adams Wiggin.
"OUR PATRIOTIC DEAD"
How peacefully they sleep at last at rest,
Our well beloved comrades gone before,
About their placid form the stripes and stars,
The bonny flag they gave their lives to save,
They do so quiet lie with folded hands,
DER hearts that ever beat ali wsrm and true,
Waiting the summons 20 the life immortal,
Tho golden trumpets GALL the victor's crown,
The patriot soldiers glorious welcome home.
To-day we gather by their green and houored
graves,
To-day our floral tributes, fresh and fair,
To-day sacred festival we keep,
A holy day for loving memories dear
a time when comrades from their daily TOLL
Come forth with sounds of martial musio sweet,
Aud starry, silken banners wide unfurled,
Come forth with garlands in their loving hands,
The spoteSs offerings of Il loyal comrades heart,
For hallowed shrlnes OF honored patriot dead.
To day n nation ransomed from the lonely grave,
Ofslayory's night aud pail of dark despair,
Lifts up her stainless hands unto the skies,
Her blood-staiRed robes washed whittier than the
snow
Her starry mantle radiant as the dawn,