Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-05-31


of this afternoon about the tomb of Gen
eral Grant included an Grafton by Gen
eral John A. Logan. who spoke as
follows:
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen: A
great poet and marvellous delineator of
human character and impulses, a
dramatist to whom posteriy ilas con-
ceded the first rank, has placed IN the
mouth of one of his characters the
words:
"Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unklnd
AS mans ingratitude."
For three hundred years thie verdict
of the bard of Avon has been silently
accepted by the readers of his epohant-
Ing works, until the structure it rep.
| resents has come to be considered in
the light of a truism.
The sentiment it expresses has foun
| frequent and varied repetition by
pesaimistic writers. weeping deelaim-
ers, superficial observers and turgid
orators bewaiiing the imperfections of
human nature.
Standing at the commencing end of
three hundred years, Shakespeare has
passed sentiment down the line of the
centuries, which has been amplifed by
sorrowing mentor of our own time,
into the broad declaration that "repub-
| hcans are ungrateful." And thus. upon
the one hand, we are confronted by the
allegation of the inspired poet, and upon
| the other, we are met by its corollary !;
the full proposition being reduced to the
statement, men and republics are alike
ungrateful.
Friends, upon this closing day of the
budding spring, when "hoary frosts
have fallen IN the fresh lap of tine
crimson rose," our smiling land pres
ents scene that should forever blot
from the record the slander Of the poet
and the silly carping OF the politician.
Millions of people have gathered to,
day to sing paens OF gratitude to their
sleeping benefactors, and with one loud
voice to chant anthems of sweet ap.
probation, that may rise from earth to
heaven alike
'Saboan odors from the spicy shore
| OF kraby the blest."
| We have come to claim our share in
this beautiful and grateful service, and
to perform our parts in the act that
possesses no quality of a task. To be
an American citizen officiating In G
service of gratitude to the fallen defen-
ders of his country is but second to be
ing numbered among those to whom
! this homage is rendered. No more
lofty acts are to be found in the records
of authentic history than the noble
sacrifices of the American soldiers upor
the field OF battle and tho votlve otier.
ings of his countrymen upon the holy
altar of his memory.
You have deyolyed upon me the duty
of voicing your sentiments of fellow
shlp, of gratitude, ard of affection upor
q day that has been consecrated to the
American soidiers-one that will con-
| time to be observed by our countrymer
as long as the republic shall last OF
patriotism ehed its beams across ou
happy hoaes.
Kind indulgence alone has prompted
you to thus honor one that had the goot
fortune to closely follow leader who
since your tribute to our departed com
rades, has taken his place beside the
pale aleepers that now here rests b,
tho murm uring waters of the histori
| Hudson, and about whose tomb requiem
are sung by gentle voices swelling from
the tree tops and mountain sides OF th
mystic Catskills.
/ realization of my inability to meas
ure up to the full requirements of suc
an occasion starea me in the face, bu
one owing everything to the indu]genc
of his oountrymen must ever feel relian
under their support.
Assembled countrymen! A quarter O
a century has fallen into the abyss o
eternity since the vernal air Of an Apri
morning rang out the announcement
that swar, horrid war" was full upo
our people. Men and women are no
before me in the full growth and estat
of maturity, who have come upon tie
stage of life and action since that appal
ling event occurred.
But they know, as well as the actor
[ IN it, the sad story of that blightin
; conflict, when men OF the same nation
, ality met in opposing ranks upon th
. field of battle. Their hearts swell wit
: tie same pride of country and palpitat
{ with the same beat of gratitude as q
. those of the men and women who live
. through the crucial test, whereby th
strengta Of the republic was tried i
G dred and thirty-fiye thousand nine hui
!; dred and ffty-one patriots voluntaril
lett their homes. their families, and ths
plain and over the swelling wave IL
principle then submitted to decisio
Z under the dHad arbitramsnt of war. {
! this vast number, as We learn from a r
= port of the adjutant general, three hui
' dred and sixty thousand graves in th
/ national cemeteries mark the nnmb
= of those killed in battle, and dying,
hospitals, upon roadsides, in prisons,
the result of woapds, of disease, OF har
ships, OF exposure. or of maltreatmen
We are not here to talk of causes thl
y demanded the sacrifices represented /
n these figures. nor yet to narrate thri
o ling incidents of battle with fascinatir
= stories OF gallant patriotism. But, NJ
!, friends, nearly one half million youn
:, brave, useful lives have suffered untim
= ly extingaishment through the cru
:; circumstances of war, and within q
+ close circle of that excrutIating fact
= to be found the moving causes OF &
. remarkable scenes this day enacted
our oountry.Ly
1t is no neNe custom to offer oblatio
: in memory OF the dead. In every n
:. Of intelligent man, the struggles of Ii
Q, have been sustained by belief in anG
a longing after Immortality" There
at no existing record of the human ra
ID that does not tSattest this interesting IA
1T Monuments, mounds, and sepnlche
lie that have survived the names OF indiyi
ss nails and outiaRted their most perishat
It. bodies, alike bear witness of it, Hon
ar declares that Fall FOLKS yearn after 4
igods;" and this observation is NO L
1 d rI44 49,