The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-26

be the instinct of lore, and to perpetuate the
record Of their trials, struggles and sacrifices
will be among the chief delights of every lover
of his country. The Ieverent and holy service
of next Friday will be, in an important
sense, a confirmation of the righteous
ness and justice of the cause for which they
died, while it will at the same time.
attest our appreciation of those things which
they wrought for us. The fire of patriotism
which burns in our hearts to-day casts a light
upon the unmarked but not forgotten graves of
the heroes of '76. Peace to their ashes and eter
nal honor to their names
But what shall we say of those men whose
graves we are now making ready to decorated
Their deeds are of yesterday. They stand closer
to us in time association, affection They were
ojr sons, husbands, brothers It IS difficult to
speak of them as we ought to speak. The wives,
mothers, sisters of those sleeping heroes are
with us. They recall that morning when
they placed the sword or musket in the
hands of their beloved and babe them
go forth in obedience to the call of duty. The
remembrance of the last fond kiss is fresh and
vivid at this moment. With breaking hearts
and streaming eyes you witnessed their depart
ure from the homes they loved so well, and like
the Spartan mothers of old, YOU babe them return
with their shields upon them. They went out
in the name of God to a saeri6cial altar
wheron lay bound their own flesh and blood
All, cruel necessity Not in anger not in mad
hate but as the awful priests of the Most High
did they execute Judgment and truth in the
earth. Sad and fearful was the work, but there
was no alternative. Had it been alien
foe that opposed Them the task had been
comparatively easy; but aasl it mime
own familiar friend in whom / trusted, who did
eat my bread, IL was even he who lifted up his
heel against me-" 1t was indeed in thousands of
instances the literal lifting up of the hand of
brother against brother. It was this circunn-
stance that rendered doubly sorrowful the grim
werk to which these heroes were called. But
they wrought well. They did not yield their
lives for nought. The grand principle which
ed To VlOiDtpd.
Their honOred graves are eloquent with this
message: I'VE died to maintain the integrity of
the union of these States: we died to assert and
defend the law; we died to assert the doctrine of
the equality of all men before the
law; we died that we might forever
destroy the doctrine that any State can. at its
pleasure, withdraw from the confederaey of
States, and establish an independent govern
mentH In one word, these graves mean that this
is nation The liberation of the millions in
bondage was but an incident of the late unhappy
strife the indivisibility and integrity of the
union of these States is the one great and over
whelnling fact established for ever.
And what beautiful custom it is-this strew-
ing Of flowers upon the graves of our gallant
dead Old age and childhood meet, animated
with common purpose. The wreath of the
modest maiden. Each heart recalls a
different object but a single motive i'm
pels every hand. The name of
John or Charles or William may tremble
upOii YOUR IlS, VI Io IOEih may pass OiCS AiOlS
before your mental vision, but in your garlands
are woven the names Of all the heroic dead
And now, We sleeping warriors once more we
take leave of you. Decoration Day is eonse-
Grated to your memory; but having left the pure,
white immortelle upon your graves, we pass ON
to mingle in the sober, solemn concerns of life,
and to rghteously administer the inheritance
which your valor has anew bequeathed to u.s.
We leave your ashes here in the loving embrace
of mother earth. We consgn you tenderly and
lovingly to the dreamless slumber of
the tomb. The soft rays of the summer
sun shall play sportively upon the green
sward above you, and the flowers which our af
lection casts upon your grave shall be refreshed
with the dews Of the restful and soothing night
The gorgeous banners of the autumn time shall
wave over your serried and unbroken ranks,
while the unpolluted SHOWS Of the oncorning win
tiers shall not be whittier and cleaner than the
spotless fame which you have so Rloriously won.
Your sleep shah be sweet and undisturbed, while
we, your brothers and eompatriOts, push on the
car of human right and human progress until
all the nations OF the earth shall rejoice in the
blessings of liberty, fraternity, and equality.