Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-31

this day Is to prevent that. 1t Is TO |
teach our rising generation and genera
tions yet to come, that America remem-
bers her dead heroesl
am not one Of those who would for
get the past aud wipe out the history OF
'6l to '65. Ii the war was worth fight |
ing, worth the sacrifice of the best blood |
OF the land, it is worth remembering. |
Nor am one Of those who would, on |
this day. decorate the graves OF the
Grey. The very spirit of the day itself |
is antagonistic to it, These boys in
blue fought for something; let us on to-
day remember them and them only. On |
some other day, II they desire II, we
will mingle our flowers. our tears and |
our sympathies over the mounds OF the |
grey.
Let me, Mr.. President, say in closing, |
that the tendency to deify the dead is |
too prevalent. We should also remem-
ber the living. England has at times
let her poets starve, and after death |
placed glittering monuments in West
Minister Abbey over their graves. We
OF America build ecomical monuments
over our soldiers dead, where in life
with empty sleeve and on crutches they
hobble past us unnoticed of all inen,
starving aud homeless. Most OF our
general officers have been abundantly
rewarded. They were the men Of
genius who, knowing that the eyes Of
the world were upon them, could find in
their victories reward enough; but to
get out of ones self. TO take out the
brain and lay it aside, to tear out the
heart and feel not, and become q ma.
chine, ah, that was bravery. Some have
said they only did their duty, and that
they were materially assisted BY the
prayers Of those who stayed at home
Boys, the best prayer that was offered in
those days was when, while the heart
turned to Almighty God, the eyes glared
unflinchingy into the mouths Of belch-
ing cannon, was found in the groans and
cries from the red aud slippery fields of
war. They prayed ami executed Gods
will on the field. These men are getting
old, they are folding their tents and 81
lenily stealing away one by one. 1t Is o
shame that the people do not find a
home for them that shall practically
demonstrate their gratitude.
After referring to Mother Bickerdyck,
and declaring it to be shame that no
provision was made for her. who earns
her living in old age at the wash tub,
aud for other of the brave nurses of the
field, the orator concluded as follows:
These are days of peace; our mills
hum, our ploughmen plow unalarmed by
sounds Of war. Our navy bobs mp and
down serenely, feared BY none and fear
| ing none. Oar army camps among the
handful OF redmen and whiles away the
time with whiskey and cards; but let
| the bugle sound, let the drum beat, let
this starry banner be endangered, let
some gauntlet be thrown down other
than that Of the bilious old man over
the seas, and inspired by just such days
as this, there shall arise like mighty
wind, as quickly as the sun drops at
night, an army from our school houses,
our colleges, our workshops, our farms
An army invincible against the world
for liberty and right.
II is impossible for us to give any
where near full report of the oration,
as Mr.. Cheney spoke extemporaneously
and rapidly, but we give brief synop-
sis Of II.
After the song and benediction at the
church, carriages were prepared for the
infirm and wounded soldiers, and the
long procession formed on Fort street
and marched in the following order, each
comrade carrying bouquet.
The head of the line was preceded by
a squad Of mounted police and platoon
OF police on foot, uader command Of
Sergeant Fletcher. These were followed
by
GRAND MARSHAL HORACE BELL, SUP.
PORTED BY MAJOR auIRADo AND MRS.
KATE HOMER CLAYTON.
The Eagle Corps band and drum corps
came next followed by the Eagle Corps ,
under command of Col. Russell, who
was accompanied by Major Geo. 8. Pat
ton of the staff OF Rrigadier-G General
Smith.
An old fashioned fife and drum certs
followed, preceding guard Of veter-
ans with muskets and the Frank Bart.
lett Post, under command Of Major G
H. Bonebrake, aud the Shileh Post No
go, of Compton. under command Of Col
Melvin Nudge. This young Post
turnod out twenty-five members with
their wives, daughters aud sweethearts.
Following the three posts were twenty.
Eve carriages containing Gen. Mansfield
and Miss Rosa Stannus, the Mexican
war veterans, disabled soldiers and their
wives, and the widows and mothers Of
the deceased soldiers.
Following the carriages came the
Union Band leading the Los Angeles
Fire Department, under command OF
Chief Walter s. Moore, in the following
order: The East Los Angeles Hose Com
pany. Vigilance Hook and Ladder Com
pany, Confidence Engine Company No.
2. the Thirty Fights Engine Company
No. l, Park Hose Company, and long
line Of carriages containing men, women
and children, with garlands of flowers.
The procession moved from the church
up Fort to Third, to Spring. to First. to
Main. to the Plaza, countermarching to
Temple street, to Buena Vista, to the
cemetery, where the following order Of
exercises was carried out:
Ritualistic memorial service of the G.
A. h. by officers.
Reading names Of soldiers whose graves
were to be decorated.
Decoration hymn. Choir.
Remarks. Kate Homer Clayton,
honorary member G.. A. r.
Address. Major Edward A. Weed,
Frank Bartlett Post.
Decoration Of graves by comrade and
Band OF Hope at firing Of cannon.
Firing over graves by Eagle Corps.
The procession was at least mile in
length, and after the detail of squad to
decorate the graves of the.soldiers in the
Evergreen Cemetery the various eompa.
nies marched to their headquarters and
were dismissed.
EVENING RECEPTION.
In the evening an immense number ol
citizens. members of the G. A. R. and
their families. and the Eagle Corps and
band, gathered at the st. Elmo Hotel to
pay their respects to Mrs. Clayton. who,
assisted by Miss Stannus. received thei,
greeting in the parlors. The band
played several airs, the Giee Club sung
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground,
and Miss Stannus recited the "Wounded
Soldier in a most admirable manner,
that was greeted with loud applause.
At the urgent request of the assembly
! Mrs. Clayton recited ''Sheridan's Ride