Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-05

Citizens on foot
Citizens, ia carriages.
At 1870 the procession started and
moved along Pinckney to Main, along
Main to Carroll, down Carroll to
State, and down State to Gilman,
where every body took seats in yehi-
cles, and went to Forest Hill.
/ Reaching the cemetery exercises
were as follows: Reading orders,
vocal music, prayer by post chaplain,
IG. A. r. ceremonies, vocal music.
The orator of the day, Mr.. r. NJ.
La Toilette, was introduced, who ad-
dressed the multitude amid the grand
est applause. The following are his
words
Members Of the Groud d,my-Ludies and Gen
hemen:-
Standing here in the camp Of the dead, where
no sentinel PAGES his solitary beat, where the
only countersgn is Natures eternal silence
where the wind whispers the hours day or nigh
as it creeps through the grass from grave grave
telling the seepers beneath as of Old: "An's well!
| ANS well standing here in the camp Of the
dead, we break this solemn and mysterious musk
with sounds made holy only by their purpose
And though these graves and your heroic faces
are eloquent of that time when this sure earth
shook like a thing uufun;' and though they woo
my thoughts 20 an illustrous and majestic past,
royal with the valor OF your deeds the glory of
your arms at which a world hath marveled-stiIl
impressed with the serious Importance OF these
exercises to those soon to be charged with therre
sponsibiities turn the thought il another course
and speak TO you of this day and it's future And
/ ask you what is the meaning of this music.
| Why have you gathered these fowersg What
thought is there back of all this preparation
which We are going to preserves
! This assembage viii dispense, this iousjc will
die within the ear, these flowers viii wither and
! turn to dust and this day win fade from your
recollection. Why then, have you come from
field aud forge turned from the toll of hand and
brain TO bring these sweet and tender expressions
Of naturee Are you come with music and with
I flowers to deck ont gala day: The dead for
whom we hold this service give no heed TO It's
/ offerings they are indifferent TO our praise, in
1 sensible 20 our tears.
] IL is day for the living as well as for the deld
and 10 is wise to set it apart for thought,-Hot 30
much upon this sacred dust, a upon that which
made 10 SO.
Whether the American holiday as the American
spends &c. makes most for good or for evil, is
subject Of much interest, and though hardly per-
/ tiucut now, yet the day may come when the sus-
| gestou will apply even here for many changes
wait on time go back down the years o. the
earliest celebration of this peoples independence
and how profoundly significant the occasion must
have been Tire day was not carnival of hois
ferrous reyelty. Fathers aud mothers, sons and
daughters were there whose hearts had been
buried at Bunker Hin aJ Valley Forge, at White
/ Plains 1t was Il day fun Of sacred personal
I gr.efs. But tho organization of the human mind
is such that time softeus all our sorrows. AT the
open grave of one we love, we feel tnat the coffin
holds all there is of life and hope. The Chill Of
1 death is ON everything; we are conscious Of moth
/ ing living about MS. The ending flood of
( years bears all before it" The months come and
sgo, each duHng little and little more the
harpuess Of the pain The Night is mother of
Tine Day" Again we note the singing of
the birds and feel the generous warmth of tfesun,
aud by and 10y the dead drift ont of our daily life
SO with the generation who first kept the day of
this Nations birth And with the generations that
followed has the character Of that day been mod
flied So too is this day Of necessity, and through
neglect, showing the touch of time
The members Of this Post can scarcely realize
that the generation whose earliest war reeollec.
tious are, OF reaching mp papa's empty sleeve to
find his missing arm. or, of a mothers crying
/ again and again over some strange paper and
then folding it tenderly away, answering the won.
derug child only with kisses and tears n say you
can scarcely realize that Che generation to whom
these and kindred incidents are childish dreams,
find Whitening hairs upon their temples to-day.
Ah how short the time when men can oHiy say.
mot my father, but my grandfather fought in the
war OF The rebehon
lido not complain Of these changes which are
natural and necessary but protest against.
those born of our seldshness, cur
neglect and our policy True ia Dos
peculiar and beautiful rites, this day stil &c.
tains much Of its original character; but in the
brtvity of IFS services, In omissions public and
pryate-oue VINO reflects must have asked him-
self cre this, "What is its futwel'
Years ago, when first a single gun spoke the
sacred purpose of this day, every heart responded
To the salute. Men, women and children moved
bya common sentiment. with full hands and
hearts gathered reverently and lovingly around
the graves of our dead soldiers. Then the turf
was hardly green en- the freshly turned earth
then the wounds were scarcely healed and the
sacrifice seemed 30 great; then, secession dark
power just broken. the Nations destiny just de
teunual every soldier living was plumed Ma
varrt. every soldier dead a martyred hero,
How is itwIth us to-day. Twenty years eff
prosperity and thrift Farms in
creased fl va,es ana size the