The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-02
An Ex.coufederate Delivers the Grafton
ut Annapolis.

NJ AnhhpHbNs
Special Dispatck to ne Baltimore Ameriean.
ANNAPOLIS, May 3O.-The observance Of
Decoration Day here this afternoon was an
event in the history ofthe city. Excepting
the carnival, no occasion has ever attracted
so large crowd or awakened more gen
eraI interest. Federals and Confederates
united In the condemnation oil the day, a
Confederate orator delivered the Grafton,
and men Of both sides strived together with
heartfelt zeal to do the most lifting honors
10 the heroes who had worn the gray, as
well as to those who had worn the blue.
After music Hon. s. T. Mccullough, the
orator OF the day, was presented 70 the
large audience amidst very hearty applause.
He spoke for over an hour and received the
unbroken attention oil those assembled
during the whole time. At the start he
said that he did not come to revive the
bitter memories ofthe war, but to draw the
veil OF oblivion over the unhappy past and
place upon The closed grave OF buried
enmities and animosities the poppy and
the evergreen, 80 beautifully emblematic OF
forgetiulness and worth. hi.
The history OF the world, luminous as 1t
Ia with the heroic deeds Of those who have
offered up their lives In defence OF their
solemn and honest convictions OF right and
duty, furnishes no fountains Of inspiration
purer or more unlailing than these opened
on the fatal field Of our civil struggle: But
the golden streaks Of the morning broad
hammered upon our national horizon tell
us that the long, dark night OF our SORROWS
is passing away, and the long.looked for
day Is dawning when the glorious traditions
OF the Union are to be revived. The dit.
ierenees OF the war are in the past The
friendly reunions OF the blue and the gray
and their generous rivalry In paying the
most tender and touching tributes OF re.
epect TO the memories oil their fallen foe
men elcquenlly proclaim that they have
forgotten the past and joined the right
hand OF fellowship and love. The soldiers
OF both armies can but respect each other.
Alike they were honest, earnest and true
10 their convictions; alike they endured
the fatigue and tedium Of the march, the
priyations OF the camp and the Loneliness
Of The picket; alike thsy felt the chagrin Of
defeat and the glory, Of victory,
and to-day the soldiers OF the
war, in writing the epitaph Of the dead Of
both armies, will say they fell In, the dis
charge Of duty. When the Contederates,
he continued, furled the glories OF their
flag amid the gloom and disaster oil
Appomattox, they at the same time took
up with the true hand OF Southern honor
aud faith the staff that held the stars and
Stripes. Let US hope that the flag that
waved VIGOROUSLY at Appomaitox over The
unterriitd remnant Of our living braves
will forever hereafter speak, as It floats the
ensign Of our nationality. Of a glorious sis
terhood Of free, separate, sovereign aud in,
dependent States, each the peer and equaI
OF the other, oil States no longer kept asun
der by conflicting interests and hostile
laws, but bound indlssoIuhly together by
mutual affection and love, and Of one com
mon hope aud destiny. May its broad
and ample folds, untalnted by aught tc
remind us Of eur sacrifices Of tears and
blood, but radiant with the brighter gloriel
OF peace % they float over the land and sea