Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-06-04
DECORATION DAY
At Bradncr and Prairie Depot, Wood
County.


of the remarks by Fay, the orator Of the
day =:
Feitow Citisens and Comrades of Randall Post !:
We are proud to say that we live in
Northwestern Ohio, that sent ont as many
troops in the late war, according to the
number OF inhabitants, as any other por-
lion Of the State, and left az many dead on
the field as proof that they were brave.
Passing by the calamities Of the war you
will permit me TO speak OF its benefits.
We are better christians.
When the echoes OF, Fort Sumter called
our men to the front we did not make pro.
gresI, we prayed as those whom we loved
passed over the threshold and turned their
faces to the South and all along through
the tempest and rcourge OF war we used
no vain repetitions in our addresses to
heaven. We prayed in good earnest that
God would save the nation and bring those
back again who went away. Since the
war our people are better socially. We
stand together more intimately on the
platform of equality and accept the self
evident truth that all men were created
equal. We used to hear of "Mud Sills,
"Greasy Mechanics" "the best families Of
Virginia." "poor niggers,P damned yam
kees," and all that and great deal more.
But the battles Of Fort Waggoner, and
Gettysburg and Appomatox exploded the
| Al nl 10 nrI, iNna
We used to underrate the boys clothed IN
cotton blouses and Kentucky Jeans, who
hoed the corn and ding the potatoes. But
since the battles in the Wilderness when
we meet those boys who went in 10 the
death and drove out Lees invincibles, we
feel like taking off our hats.
Since Abraham Lincoln went to Wash
ington and Ulysses =. Grant on his tour
around the world, received the homage oil
Emp perors and Kings as the representative
OF American Soldiers who never surrender;
Since James A. Garfield run the gauntlet
amid the fire and smoke of sharp shooters
at Atlanta to meet Thomas and save the
day lost by Rosecrans, we have not heard
anybody speak in contemptuous way of
rail-splitters, OF tanners dressing cowhides
and sheepskins, OF mule drivers on the tow
path OF Il canal. The working m en- of
America, Europe Asia and Africa and the
Continent OF New Holland will ever bless
| the bows in blue for the dignity they have
put upon Labor.
When we come 10 the domestic circle we
| find the war has wrought great change
At the breakfast table the wife says.
"Husband, Pm afraid everything il spoil
ed. The baby cried and couldn't attend
to things." The reply ia something unus-
ual 'Never mind, dearie, Its all good
enough. I've seen the time when the beef
was hardly cooked at all, the coffee was
muddy, and the hard tack was full OF mag
gots. We shut our eyes and gulped IT
down the best way we could and in hur-
ry too, for the drum beat to arms. Don't
worry. I'll take the baby" Before the
war this lord of the soil might not
have been 20 gentle at the breakfast table.
But the war made him better man. Oil
it would have done those false-heared
fellows good, who go to Chicago TO get a
divorce, to smell gun=powder, and have a
spell in Libby. The war wrought very
gress before the war shareholders used to
break the skulls of and shoot down such
men as Cilby ana Sumner. Now when a
Southerner meets his peers in our egisla-
tive halls lie leaves his pistols and sword
cane at home. He has sort of respect
for Northern man. The boys in blue
have been giving him lesson. The pa
pers since the war are becoming more
truthful. There are still too many lies
told. But the editor who puts out lying
editorial goes home and looks in the glass
aud shakes his fist at his image aud says .
"You lied and you know it, and the people
will find it out" and lie feels ashamed of
himself and the people feel ashamed of
him too. Newspapers are better than they
used To be.
Since the war Northeners are invited to
settle down South and Northern teachers
are located in African schools and
the negro il not legally slave. 1t ia true
many political wrongs exist Mt the South.
IL is said that JEFF Davis with his COM
peers is still sowing the seed of treason aud
rebellion, Ii 30, he ought to be arrested
and take his place with Herr Most and
Riel and other riotous speakers who are in
citing the people to deeds of violence.
Treason, not even the ghost of it, ought TO
be tolerated North or South. Let the
ghost be caught and hanged by the neck,
If snch an appariton has neck, and be
buried with all the rags oil rebellion 80
deep that it will never rise again. Vigil
ance was the price of liberty, 1t will not
do to cry peace, peace, when there il no
peace. Treason In all ils stages mus: be
sqnelched by the sword or the strong arm
of the law. We trust that neither the vet-
Grams OF the Grand Army nor their sons
will ever be called for such a purpose
All over the land the signs Of peace and
good will greet our vision. In the recent
passage of the Blair Pension bill by the
SenaIe, Hon. Senators from South Caroli-
ma, Virginia, Louisiana and other South
ern States, voted in Its favor. Let us AT
cept this act for what it appears on the
face OF 1t, cheering sign OF returning al-
legiance. Al tins rate OF apparent pro-
gress we shall soon be able 10 give the
Grand Army OF the Republic national
ovation and reward them FULLY for the sac
ritces
Since the war foreigners from all lands
are fucking TO our shores as never before
We soon shall have the heather at our
door. Let them come. Under our instI-
tutons they will become patriots and yield
their mede OF honor to brave men. Our
country is better for having been baptised
in blood. We love 1t more than ever be-
fore. No other shore has such aluring
attractions, Go where you will you tread
on holy ground. Tis not alone at Bunker
Hill, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Shiloh and II
thousand other battle fields that we feel
the uplifting force of lofty spirits. Every
step We take we tread softly lest our foot
steps desecrate the grave of some unknown
soldier who died for Us. Heaven is dearel
10 us since the war. Hundreds of thous
ands have gone from earth through q
storm Of suffering Said the apostle Johr
in his apocalypuc vision of the heavenly
world, in answer To the question, ''who ar.
these which are arrayed in white robes
Thou knowest." "rhese are they who
came out Of great tribulations, having
washed their robes and made them whit,
in the blood OF the Lamb" There il NJ
lighting there, the smoke Of the battle fielt
has cleared away. Me thinks we see il
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