Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-06-01

son, L. ;. navy, and veterans. The ser
vices opened with the hymn FLUSHED DER
this Sacred field of Mounds" which was
finely rendered by the Delta Psi glee
club. Prayer was then offered by Rev.
Dr. Eaton and the glee club sang the hymn
"How they so Safely Rest" Then fol
lowed the address by Rev. DR.. Halves,
who was introduced by Commander Trick
and received an enthusiastic reception.
The oration was n spirited, interesting anu
eloquent discourse, and commanded the
closest attention of the audience, VINO
manifested their appreciation by cordial
applause. The address was as follows
REV. DIR. HAwEs's ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, Gentlemen Of the Grand
Army Of the RcDublic ana FcioW Ctu-
Gems.
A part of a somewhat varied personal
experience within the lines of the army
was gained during the winter mouths
spent in n great permanent camp near
| Washington, where 1t was my privilege
to render such service as | could To the
defenders of their country. The place was
u city by itself, with jewellers in il, rang
ing in number from 5000 to 10000 men.
There were long rows of barracks form
ing different and well kept streets. There
were attractive quarters occupied by OIL
GERS and buildings for more pubic uses,
ship, occupied sometimes by thousand
soldiers, called together by a sweet-tOned
bell that swung in its tower 1t would
not have occurred to one standing there
that it would be easy i'll II short time to
obliterate all the marks of such .popu.
lous and busy place. a few years later
stood there in the early spring time. The
buildings were gone. The dusty roads
had disappeared. The whole region was
covered with green, untrodden grass, and
no sound was to be heard but the song of
birds in the boughs OF tree- laden with
apple blossoms. The transformation was
complete Could 1t be possible that there,
and SO re gently, strains of martial music
had been heard, and the tramp of regl-
meuts and battallons that in the same
place was gathered so much OF the en-
emery of war? All signs Of such things
were gone. Now the tendency is to have
the impression made by events erased
from the memory in like manner. Posi-
tive effort is needed for retaining the pic
tire of the past in its freshness. There
must be II desire and purpose to do 1t :;
and having in mind the great struggle for
the nations life, there is no duty more I'M
questionable than that OF keeping the re
membrance of it vivid. The grounds for
The observance Of this Memorial Day are
lch. that to tail to have it marked by APP
proprlate speech and ceremonies would
be almost a crime. We who heard the
sound of war, and knew something about
the meaning of it as present fact terri
bic ana vet glorious, owe 1t to ourselves
to make the most of these commemora-
tive occasions And since that period of
our national history which has furnished
the magnificent reason for them, Will have
an instructive voice for generations yet
unborn we owe il also to our children in
! whose hearts we would have lmbedded
the truth that one OF the finest instincts
of our nature is patriotism, and that he i
}, lana -
the free, who is not willing, if need be, to
die that it may remain such. My task to-
day as | apprehend the scope of it, is to
retrace with You some part OF the way III
which we as a people have been led by the
God of nations, to make mention OF some
events that eliminated in deadly strife,
ami to utter again some words of praise
tor our noble dead, and of hope Tor the
future of our common country.
Civil wars have been Waled at different
points in the worlds history from the be
ginning in ancient as well as modern
times. Their justification has sometimes
been uncomfortable oppression of despotlc
, government and they have sometimes
been the result of the plOttingS of mel
: VINO were mastered by AN unholy ambl
I ton The war within our own borders
2 if put in either class, would belong to the
< latter though it was in many respect,
characterized as no other has been. II
was unique by reason of the extent of ter
l Tory over which the red waves Of 1t roll
! ed and by reason of the number of mer
who fought because of the fact also tina
; 1t was emphatiCally the soldiers OWL
war" Their personal well being and tina
| of those dearest to them were involved il
the issue of the strife. The one thing
aimed at was the maintenance OF the au
| thorily of the national goVernment-noth
| ing else and nothing more. Denial o
4 that authority, and resistance OF the ap
\ pliCatiOn of ii followed causes which il i
not difficult to trace. Properly speaking
y open rebellion was not at first the act o
o the people of the south. They were il
: truth COerced by political leaders, who to-
j. successfully sought to awaken in then
= the fear of being coerced by the dul.
5 chosen ruler and lawmakers of the land
y Let it always be remembered for Wha
t reason these men raised their hand
d against the life Of the nation not be
S cause one Of their constitutional right
4 was touched or threatened but becauS
they knew that the limitation of slav
It territory, meant in time an end of slavery
p and because they were inflamed with lls
e of power
l. The history of these days ought neve
5 to be other than familiar to every Amer
+ can citizen. And no one can fifty speak
r on with much profit hear, Of those VIII
e. offered life itself for the preservation {
lie the Union, who does not have some Of
e repeated facts clearly in mind. On tn
u part or some or tnt sworn defenders 1
ne the government, the declaration of reVo
was made when Abraham Lincoln b,
came president. His election was not TN
cause of IA disowning of allegiance, but
IL. furnished an occasion for it, Such word
as these are on record, uttered by prom
II nent men of the South at this time On
declared II have been engaged in tn
ut movement ever since entered politics
l. life" And another at is matte
r. which has been gathering head for
ar years" SO sure were some, that they ha
or but to speak, and dissolution would be a
,o accomplished fact, that they said "W
Of have carried the body of tins Union to il
10y last resting place, and now we will dire
IN the flag over It's grave"
no But in some cases reason was still sup
" ror tC passion, and there were dread for
hne Dodin2s as men faced the future. III
secession OF one state called forth the pr
test "posterity will censure an a
or which has madly, yea bindly precipit
re ted a revolution" And even he who b
Gu came the vice-President of the Confede
er ate States said; 81 look upon this cou
IT. try as the Eden of the world the paradl