The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-06-06
DECORATION DAY!
A GENERAL OBSERVANCE
Throughout the COUNTY.
In This Locality.

N''N' 'ii'b-iiout WV HViNhs OiN III
many places in the south. Everywhere
were flowers strewn. upon the graves of
the fallen heroes, and the stirring times
of '6l-5 brought to mind by patriotic
utteranccs and deeds. In the larger
places large civic and military parades
added to the interest of the occasion.
In the smaller places The various Posts
of the q, A, II. were out in force. and
aided by citizens commcmorated the
day by sitting and appropriate excr-
cises.
In this town and Weston, Landgrove,
Peru, Winhall and Windham, the graves
were decorated by details from Hooker
and Sheridan Posts and citizens. After
which Sheridan Post of Weston and
Hooker Post of this town repaired to
Simonsville, by invitation of the citi-
zcns of Andovcr.
AT SMoNsvILLE.
Al about II O'Clock the procession
was formed in front Of the hotel. and
marched to the cemetery in the follow
ing order, A. G. Foster, commander of
Sheridan Post, acting as marshall:
/. Weston cornct band.
2. Orator of the day and invited
guests.
3. Sheridan Post.
4. Sons of veterans.
5. Sheridan Post Ladies Relief corpse.
6. Hooker Post.
I. Drum Corpse.
s. Citizens.
AT THE CEMETERY.
| The graves were decorated according
to the ritual of the G.. "A. II. after which
the procession marched to the lawn at
the residence of A. E. Stannard. where
a very bountiful dinner was provided
by the citizens of Andover. After dim
ner, owing to the cold, raw weather,
the only drawback to the occasion, the
procession was reformed and marched
to the church. At the church Com.
Foster called to order, and after sing
ing and prayer, a poem was read by
Mrs. Jerome Winship, of Weston, and
the orator of the day, Rev. II. c. Leav-
lit of this place was introduced, and
delivered a very admirable address,
which we shall publish in full next
week.
Col. II. O. Peabody was then intro
duced and spoke substantially as fol
lows:
Comrades and FellOU CitizenS.
We have met here today, as has been our
custom on the goth day of May since 1858,
to sprinkle springs precious flowers upon the
graves of our fallen comrades-those who
gave their lives that we might enjoy all the
blessings we do today.
Now comrades, and you, fellow citizens, is
there better time and a more appropriate
occasion than this, for us to pause and in
quire, when we have done this, if we have
done our whole duty. This war. for which
these comrades gave their lives established
the principle that this government of the peo-
pie, by the people, and for the people, was
just and right. One country, one people and
one flag; that secession, disunion and rebel
lion was wrong.
Now comrades, let us inquire what we have
done, and you. fellow citizens, what you have
done, to educate the youth of this country to
those great principles Of Union patriotism
and fidelity to the memory Of our fallen be-
roes.
Have you taught in your schools, in the
everyday pursuits of life, the fundamental prn-
ciples for which they gave their lives; or on
the other hand have VIC been supporting for
office men who have been making excuses for
this rebellion, or men who have been willing
to say and do anything to soothe and concil-
late the feelings of the rebels, for the purpose
of obtaining their votes or for delegates to
some convention to advance their own inter-
ests, thereby smothering and keeping from the
minds of the youth the real principles for
which we fought
Now there is one other thing for us to con-
and orphans of our dead heroes have been
properly cared for? I see in some of our
state papers that the soldier volunteered and
has been paid for it. This | deny, There
to volunteer. In the first place the men who
enlisted in 1862, enlisted for three years at
thirteen dollars per month, and this govern
ment at that time knew no currency but gold
and silver Government paid her soldiers in
script at one time when gold was worth $3.50,
which makes their real pay s4.s5 per month
Do you think that is paying the soldier? Now
to pay them according to the contract they
should make the payment in gold, as that was
the currency of the government at the time
of enlistment. We went into great political
campaign to see whether the government
should pay the men who loaned the govern
ment money to carry on the war; according
to contrgct Where was the soldier standing
then? as he ever has been, by the honor and
integrity of the government, and it was de-
creed that the government should pay its
debts to the last dollar; but we hear some
say, when will the soldier ever be paid? and
this appeal for pensions cease. When You
can return to the widow her husband. to the
orphan his father, to that man his arm, that
man his health, then and not till then will they
be paid.
Now comrades, hold no malice towards
our erring brothers, OF the ones vino sympl-
thize with them. am ever ready to forgive
them on the same terms they surrendered to
Gen. Grant, but to forget, never can. Now
comrades and fellow citizens, it is our duty to
see to it that not only this day, but every day
of our lives, that we teach the great principles
for which we fought. There is one thing |
object to. that is OF holding decoration servi-
ces withithe late rebels, they marching under