The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-02

taries Whitney, EnOicott- Lamar and Villas
Mr. Cleveland's appearance was greeted
with loud applause. Prayer was said by
Very Rev Monsignor Thomas S. Preston;
Miss Annie Montague sang, "Colum bia, the
Gem of the Ocean," as a solo. Mrs. George
Gayvan recited the Revolutionary Upris-
ing" General Logan entered late in the
evening and was roundly cheered.
Mayor Grace introduced the orator of the
evening, General Villas, who paid glowing
tribute to the dead heroes. He dwelt at
leugth upon the three Generals who have
died since last memorial day-Gene-als
Grant. Mcclellan and Hancock.
ADDELss or Mr.. Villas
Mr. President, Comrades of the War, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
rOr the future to testify our reverence for the
past. IN decOTOus parades with music aud with
Ianne ), with solemn pomp and show, amid
every Circumstance OF honor, the people OF the
Nation have repaired 70 hallowed graves and
celebIsted with the tender rite of flowers the
memory OF the Nations saviOrs. And now that
we are gathered by prayer. by song and speech,
TO fiuingly finish our share in the houored ceIe-
mo nial, the spirit OF the day rules the thought
aud points the theme. quarter OF century
has sunk into the grave Of time since the dread
slarum of civil war rang through laud. A
era has begun. new generation is upon the
stage OF life. You see now everywhere in all
your daily walks active men, whose hands are
on the levers OF affairs who carry useful
memory OF the events of those direful years. BY
mRny q iileSide, amid circles of blooming
great war but as a trOublous affrigh tment
81 their childhood. OF our present population,
more. by millions, were in that period not exist
ent here or possess 70 remembrance OF its scenes,
than all. OF every class and age, then within the
compass OF the Union. History has foreclosct
upon vOur great achievements. com mrades, and to
the Nation of today they are as tale to be told.
swiftly, oh. how swiftly, do the actors of that
mighty drama now fall from the column OF living
men Yet a few years more, and none shall be
L bear personal witness to the children OF the
great Republic Of the trying hours OF her deliver
ance.
Itisa duty and privilege of two-fold value to
recount and emphasize the features of the patriot
Union soldiers gained their title to the venera-
tion OF their cOuntrymen and tina world: fist, TO
them, in the keeping OF their righful glory bright
and pure: and then TO living men and 10 our
children, by emulOus quickening and better un-
derstanding of the love and duty due our cOun-
try.
It is not from their soldiershIp alone that the
sheen of their renown is so bright their labOrs,
privatiOns and dreadful suferings, their valorous
courage and gallant deeds in arms; for these were
not distinctive in their ennoblement. These they
shared with their adversares whose sOldiership,
approved on many a hard fought and bloody
field, worthiy cOmpetes for its equal place on the
page of military tame. Beyond the soldiers
qualities, though unsurpassed IN them, the men
eminent raise nobler claim to gratitude and re-
membrance in the unselfish. chivalrie spirit of
their sacrifice for the liberty and progress OF
man. and in the vast, far-reaching benefits be-
slowed by them on their countrymen. Their
need of praise rests on their acceptance of con
/ ditions never before imposed in human affairs;
conditions exigent of more generous selt-forget-
ting national and personal sacrifce-for fruits to
be gathered chiefly by other men in after times
than liberty or philanthropy ever demanded. or
il had entered into the heart of man to conceive
could be offered by any numerous, widespread
people TO such cause alone. In the calm of his
tory, now that the clouds OF cOntempOrane0us
turmoil have disappeared, we may distinguish. in
TO which their souls responded.
1t is easy to give reasons which demand patriotic
devotion in sacred duty from every citizen; an
other noble
passion mounts 10 the cold heights OF self-sacri-
tce. Patriotism aud piety are kindred elements
and obligations of manhood, both the souls HON
age to the great givers of happiness Life and all
the bountless provisions OF nature for its joys,
man takes from Heaven; from his country the
peace and care OF law with which to possess them
But for his cOuntry's law nature is barbarism and
man savage, lnls gives iaOOr lts returns-tne
body's pleasures, the minds enlightenment and
the souls joys; gives home and fresides,
| wreathed in the blossoms and perfumed with the
| fragrance oil love. All-sufhclent nature asks TO
| her power no human aid; with force incompre-
hensible her laws proceed to irresistible results.
But mans law finds all ST. ength in his obedience;
the State is great only in the LOYAL devotion OF its
/ people, and government benefcent but as allie
glance strengthens wisdom. All States are but
aggregated men; peculiarly the Republic sums
In lts character only the qualities OF its people,
and It's wisdom and power rise no higher than
their in the best and truestof her freemen.
Their patriotism is the barometer of her vitality.
Let him who can. pitch his prophetic vision
through the coming years over the prosperity, the
grandeur OF this land teeming with multiDlied
millions OF treemen, rich in resources. enlighten
/ ed by welldihuSed knowledge, and happy in de
velOped life: and as he cOntemp plates the safely
| moving train of human happiness, weigh the
lnlquity that would east an obstruction on its
sIaLL
Along the paths of nations as often in the lives
OF men, periods are instructivey marked by coin
c1dence OF events, significant and fateful. By
many signs in recent years the rounded finish OF
our era OF regeneration has been signalized. Most
! impTessiyely death has marked with his mOnu-
| ments the year which has passed. No battle of
/ the war slew so many OF our comrades as resist
hp 1nr1tl
/ past, an army OF noole men. Among them have
| departed some whose i1ustrious names are i'm
mortally inseparable from the great events of our
| national rescue.
! Rash with enthusiasm and inexperience, we
sent out earliest body of troops If victories
| in war required only feverish desire. They soon
returned in panic, a disheveled mass, and the
t ~ ~ a ~ VI suu
fear. Mcclellan took the mob; decentralization
! was subdued to order, enthusiasm to discipline;
| citizens became soldiers, and an army came into
being never surpassed in all the ages of war That
] splendid corps was his the Army of the Potomac.
he created II, and breathed into il the spirit OF
his glorious life. The first 10 put on the form Of
disciplined valor, il to the last the conspicu
1 Gus champion of the Union cause From the be
i ginning to the end 1t eoped in constant struggle
/ with the best trained and best led enemy. From
4 the gates of Richmond to the field of Gettysburg
back and forth, il toiled and wrestled with It's
great an tagonist as the tide OF battle swayed. In
eheckered fortune, II bore the direst shocks and
blows OF war, but none could break its spirit or
its fern Relentless in its iron purpose at last il
/ gained the crowning triumph OF the age and took
| the sword of Lee. Never more magnificent than
when he led it, through all its renowned career ii
remained McClellan's army and loved him its
/ father TO the end. And though erEel fate denied
him but TO look upon the glittering capital prom
ised To its prowess the glory of his army that won
\ IL viii forever irradiate his name.
| And Hancock 5 name was also called by that
dread constable who summons to the grave. The
! superb Hancock The beau ideal OF manhoOd's
splendor. Fancy's figure of the fighting Generall
Bred in all the learning OF the martial art, prac
teed IN its exercises, in stature port and speech
the soldier and the gent leman in lustrous perfec
tion; he was corps commander who welded the
thunderbolt % battle with the dextro1s but dead
i ly grace which guided the lance of a paladin OF
old. His brilliant star shines in the galaxy OF the
heroes OF the battlefield, whom, from both sizes,
history has chosen for the Ornament of military
/ fame. And fortune gave to him peculiar glory
/ IN that great combat on. which, more than any
/ single one beside, the nations safety hung, the
| supreme moment of decision committed to
| his conduct. His eOmmand sustained the desper
/ ate assault which Pickett led stalking the battle
on the issue; with bloody penalty. drove hiE1
back and won the momentous day. And there
/ stricken with grevOus wound. his own blood
poured upon the earth. But il fell upon the roots
I of his TenOwn; and among the laurels of the
/ field O1 Gettysburg, HaucOcks springs immortal
Upon the rocky side OF your majestic Hudson
another sepulchre has been builded, an urn OF
mortality enclosed within it.
And thither. Though coming ages far beyond
/ the stretch of human ken to tell, the patriots OF