The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-22

participated in that great contest will have
| its services thus properly commemorated.
October was Massachusetts Day" at
Gettysburg. At . o'clock Post band
marched to the hotel, and, taking in escort
the excursion party, with many Of the ladies
who preferred to walk, proceeded to the Ma
tional Cemetery, where the graves Of all
Massachusetts, soldiers were decorated with
flowers furnished by the ladies of Gettys-
burg At p. M. Comrade Cruff called the
meeting to order in the County Courthouse.
| On the platform were James II. Cruff, 18th
Mass, chairman; Col. E. ]. Russell, Comrade
Baker, of the 9th battery, Chaplain of the
day; Comrade George ii. Patch, the orator.
Comrade Baker opened the proceedings with
prayer, and then the following telegram from
Gov. Robinson was read, it being a response
to message sent by the association to his
Excellency the day before:
| To Col EDw l. RUSSELL, Gettysburg.
Massachusetts, will never fail to appreciate the
on the field of Gettysburg She offers now her ten
derest tribute Of reverence to the memory of her
sons who fell there in defense of liberty and union.
(Signed) GEO. D. ROBINSON.
Comrade Cruff called the meeting to order
in brief speech, in which he alluded to the
memories which chung around the hearts of
those Massachusetts, men present who had
| Just returned from the beautiful city Of the
dead It was fitting that the day should
| thus be set apart as Massachusetts Day, and
| thus respect should be shown not only for
the good old Commonwealth, their home,
but also to the hospitable State in which
they were assembled. The GAR band then
played "Home, Sweet Home" Col. Bachel-
der then gave a description of the work of
the Massachusetts regiments on the field of
Gettysburg. Twenty-Five organizations took
part, and in an hour he gave brief history
of the work of each. The band played
Marching Through Georgia." after which
the Grafton of Comrade George H. Patch fol-
lowed.
The Grafton of Comrade Patch was most
eloquent, and was greeted with enthusiastic
applause. We append the following extract:
On this field the old Bay States best blood was
| shed, and here to-day by the silent granite and
1 sculptured marble does she honor their devotion.
! To you my comrades, the old Commonwealth
| gives her benediction she places in your hands
l herr le6pe of remembrance and asks by the
| comradeship of days of peril to dedicate in her
| name these monuments which in grateful recogni-
| ton are placed on this historic field. From the
hearts of loyal people this testimonial comes to
the living and the dead, indicative that even in this
day aud generation the force of that saying is not
| forgotten, The safety Of free Republic depends
upon the vaior of its sons" These monuments are
not erected exalt the dead glorify the living
neither they placed here if in exultation over
| a fallen foe. They placed here by the people
| of Massachusetts to show what Massachusetts did
on this field made sacred by the blood of her sons
| and they are rededicated by men who to- day are
| living representatives of the commands whose
sacrifices made possible such gatherings as these.
And as Massachusetts honors her soldiers in thus
remembering their services, she coRsecrates herself
to the great principles for which they fought
| Here, in the Keystone State Commonwealth
noted for its grand Inequalities and its consistent
loyalty we leave these memorials Of our dead, side
by side with those of sister States, typifying by
their association the union of the States May they
stand for ages to come, symbolizing the endurance
| and fortitude of the sons of Massachusetts.
| Comrades from the old Bay State, long years have
| elapsed since stood on this shot plowed field.
Seed-tme and harvest the early and later rains,
have descended on friend and foe alike, Confed-
crate and Loyalist. To-day all is peace and plenty,
| where once the whirlwnd of death made sad havoc
| in our ranks.
In the spirit and sentiment of this perfect union,
| let US place among the myrtle and cypress we lay
on the graves of our dead heroes the olive branch
of loyal peace. Through suffering if not through
| punishment the of the South have been edu-
| Gated to the apprehension of common country,
! and some of our bravest foes are now our truest
friends. The dead whose lives were laid down on
| this and other fields at rest but the living
! main, and, with us, citizens of one undivided
| country. We cannot expect them to level the
mounds Of their dead, nor condemn their own ac-
tons in the past, while we may hope they are con-
WINGED they were mistaken.
The old wounds nearly cured, the old scars
are fast disappearing and in this fact rejoices
more than the veterans who secured the victory
And as God in His mercy, covers the last resting
place of the dead of both armies with Natures
green mantle, and causes the rose and lily to bloom
on the battIefelds of the past go let us, while hon.
oring our dead for their loyalty and devotion, bury
r.
/ yield no judgment of public men. j surrender nc
conviction of right and duty. Neither do abandon
any principle, but this day do plead for unior
in fact as well in NAME and on the graves of on,
dead heroes would place among our loyal tributes
the votive Offering Of peace and brotherly kindness
We are one in name and destiny let US in the fu
ture be one in hope and purpose, in aim and effort
and the time will not be long delayed before oul
whole country, honored not more for IFS vast re
sources than its intelligent people and grand insti
tutions, will realize in n stronger and more human,
Government, in broader laws and universal peace
the fulfilment of its grand destiny Nation.
Massachusetts honors and will care for all hei
heroes officer private living and dead and these
y monuments just dedicated will be perpetual me
, MORALS OF her gratitude and affection for soldier
sons. Standing here on this great battlefield, des
tined i'm the future to be a Mecca toward which
pilgrims with loyal hearts shall turn their footsteps
they will teach lessons of loyalty for all time. Ii
the future as our children and children's children
visit this sacred spot and gather inspiration from
the memories of the past, as they countr,
safe. prosperous, happy, powerful and protected
our flag honored wherever it floats may they, ami,
all the power and glory Of that age turn their eye
Heavcnward and their thoughts backward ant
2 thank God that in days of great peril there wer
men grand enough to protect the Nation and saw
its flag.