Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1885-08-21
MEMORIAL ADDRESS.

udy, aug. fbH. AhVuBu suutt IL ooh-
tains volumes and will bear careful
reading many times.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: | shall not attempt
to'pronounce eulogy on the life and
public services Of that illustrious hero
and statesman whose deaih this nation
now denlores, and in honor Of whose
memory we have to-day assem- bled.
Suitably to perform that task, ten
fold higher eioquence than | possess
might try in vain. The silent tears Of
the nation, the deep and unfeigned
griet of more than fifty millions of peo-
pie is more eloquent eulogium on the
life of that silent, brilliant and mag
unanimous soldier, than the most elo-
quent and gifted orator Of the age
could pronounce. would ask no
higher distinction than to be able at
this time to offer suitable memorial
to that subject and that affection. Yet
fellow soldiers, Notwithstanding, | fol-
lowed the destiny of the Southern
Cross" / am more that gratified that l
am permitted to offer tribute, though
small and insignificant it be, to that
memory which will deserve and receive
tributes as long as heart can be found
to beat in the bosom of civilized man.
Even if had no heartfelt sympathy to
offer here, or tear of sorrow to drop on
his coffin, | would do injustice to that
unprecedented magnanimity, shown
such as /, on the historic plains of
Appomattox, if | did not raise nv voice
to swell the accents of the profoundest
public sorrow.
1t is the teaching OF inspiration that
no man liveth or dieth to himself
That we all share in the good or evil
resulting from the lives of others es-
pecialy of those occupying pro.ninen
and public positions.
Who will answer the question, in
what have we been benefited through
the life and public services of U. S.
Grant? 1t is not for such as l to an
swer that question, but ii 1t were left
for me to do and l had the power, /
would answer it by writing this SEN
tence in letters so large and brilliant
that the world might read:
"7He Union, the Asylum of tile eb-
Pressed of all nations, exists in absolute
inkguty."
Soldiers your hearts can best tell
what you have lost in his death. |, as
soldier, appreciate your feeling and
to-day extend you my sympathy, grow
ing out of this last sad, sile mt contest
with the grim leveler of all flesh, and
our common enemy. Together as cne
common family at his grave, will lie
broken down the last vestige of a bar
to that fraternal feeling which should
characterize the citizens OF our coun-
try. Is not this enough? What more
fruit can one life bear? Then around
his beir should not only be heard the
dirge, wailing his loss, but the jubilant
anthem proclaiming that on earth's
great battlefield another victory has
been won.
And now fellow soldiers | am ready
with bowed head to meet you around
the dead body OF your grand old COM
mander, where we will again renew
our allegiance to the glorious old flag,
and in the issue of those great battles
which shook the continent to its foun-
dations, and proclaimed the hitherto
unwritten definition of the law and
policy of sthe only truly free govern
ment on earth, prononce hearty
Amen.
Let these clasped hands bear witness
that we have that peace and conf
dence, for which he prayed years ago,
and which. l believe and hope, will this
day be answered ana recorded in the
courts of Heaven, and lived up to by
all truly brave soldiers.