The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-29

IS. Societies of Moline.
II. Societies OF Davenport
IS. Societies Of Rock Island.
10. School children.
90. Citizens.
At the cemetery Bleuer's band played
a dirge. Rev. l. W. Read. chaplain Of the
day, offered up prayer, and Miss Julia A.
Richardson of Davenport gave an in
teresting.recitation on Decoration Day.
Then Col. Clark E. Carr of Galesburg,
delivered the
GRAFTON OF THE DAY.
Col. Carr began his Grafton by stating
that there was never real nation 10 this
country; the fathers of the republic,
united states. and achieved an indepen-
dence from England. and united the
colonies together. They thought they
had mode perfect union, because they
said SO in their constitution. The fact
was, that before the ink was dry with
| which the constitution was written, the
theory of secession. of the right of seces-
sion, commenced to be inculcated. In all
the state. papers from Washington to
to Lincoln, the right OF secession
and disunion was denied, still the con-
slant menace of disunion appeared. This
danger of disunion was the skeleton in
the closet of the republic, a phantom
spectre that was constantly appearing.
1t stalked into every county house, into
every place of business. paralyzlng trade,
industry and commerce; il rose
in legislative assembly, and appeared
before every pulpit and made towards
of ALL"
The speaker said that this danger of
disunion and secession, not only affected
us at home, but abroad. 1t was believed
by many of the best minds of Europe
that the Republic of the United States,
could not permanently exist. McCaully
declared that it could not survive
the nineteenth century. Detoqueville
said that if state should at
tempt to secede from the general govern
ment there was no power that could put
it down. Indeed he claimed that it
would not be attempted. They were all
mistaken. There was a sentiment of
union permeating the masses of the
people which had not been observed
or properly estimated. Though smoul-
dering at times, it had never expired. II
had been famed and kept alive 10y Wash
ington, Jefferson. jackson, Webster,
Clay. Douglas and Lincoln.
Il At the first flash of a hostile gun. this
sentiment was aroused. This sentiment
of union was older than the constitutions
older than the revolutionary war. Men
who had been peaceable all their lives
became heroes; they took their places in
the ranks and marched away They new
faltered until rebellion and secession were
overthrown forever. The perfect union
OF the constitution was achieved The
'4iberty and union, now and forayer
one and inseparable," dreamed of BY
Webster. was accomplished The nation
was completed, the states, the national
government. The world was given to
L
understand, tina. if an attempt be made
to sever state, county, or schoo
, district from The nation, a million of men
were ready to spring to arms and fight to
their death, to put it down.
1t is remarkable fact that while the
nation is thus completely established,
state rights are also established upon fir
mer foundations than was possible when
there was constant dread of dissolu-
ton of the union. When there was con-
slant danger that South Carolina or some
other state would secede, it was imposs
IDLE for each state to carry on
lis functions of government with
ont creating distrust and anxiety on the
part of the general government. The
questions of what were the rights of the
states, of what was state sovereignty
were constantly creating difficulty. Now
that it is impossible for state to secede,
there can be none of this kind of jealou,
: sy and uncertainty
One who reads the decisions of u
federal courts and of the state cQkrts
must observe that all questions between
the state and the general govern TENT SC
perplexing and dangerous before the wal
of the rebellion are now being complete
ly adjusted. We have attaij "a to full
realization of the hope y the fathers
of the republic. "a ptffea union OF
free and independent Hate
Col. Carr then procs seded TO give some
brief statistics shoEng the wonderful
; advancement and posperity of the gov
eminent of the Y flied States since thi
perfect union d been accomplished
, and closed wiz y glowing tribute to tn
, soldiers throE fin whose valor and sacri
i, fees these I |sults had been accomplished
and whosGpemory is revered today.
ell DfgoRATIoK OF THE GRAVES.
folloN@, the benediction was pronounce,
r andShe assemblage dispersed.
n STRAY FLOWERS.
o The flowers were the handsomest tina
d have been offered for memorial day pur
v poses in Rock Island. Among the tribute
r was beautiful shield composed of soil
masses of red and white flowers formin
=. the stripes and the solid blue flowers tn