National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-12

The following Ia the eloquent grafton de-
livered by Hon. j. d. Long at Arlington,
Va, on Decoration Day last:
gratefully acknowledge your courtesy,
veterans and members OF the Potomac Posts
Of the Grand Army, in inviting me, q civil
ian, to speak for you this day. | should
shrink from the task, however, did not
know that In so doing l, civilian, pay to
you, the soldiers Of the republic, the tribute
which the state owes its defenders. Irejolce
with you in this sacred hour on which the
heavens smile through their tears, teaching
us the true lesson of this observance-the
lesson Of that enlarglng life which In our
poverty Of language, and, / fear, In our
poverty OF courage and faith, we call
death. IL is q day dedicated to patriotism
and education. The green leaves are in
their full bursting to give IL welcome. In
this beautiful resting place OF the dead,
whom we thought sleeping under the
springing turf, they are not there, but with
us. They throng these forest aisles and
blessed faith Of immortality unltes
the historic past the living present, aud the
expanding hereafter In one common univer-
cal heartbeat thrilling In all our breasts
and answering back to God, the fountain OF
life. 1t were poor day, were 1t but the
blast Of horn, the chatter OF sword, the
pageantry OF an hour. IL Is q great day be-
cause IL stirs the soul to higher life and
blends II with the poets fire, the patriots
service, the mans true conservation. In
that spirit, rather than In any formula OF
show or meaRer word OF mine, let us
observe It. II 10 a day sacred indeed to the
memory OF the dead, but quite as much
to the inspiration Of patriotism In the liv-
- ing. Henceforward IL 10 emblazoned upon
the calendar Of the year with the conse-
Grated days that have come down to us
from the Pilgrim and the Puritan, with
Christmas, and with the birthdays Of Wash
ipgton and American Independence. So It
commits US afresh TO the eternal founda-
tions which the fathers laid, OF plety, edu-
cation, freedom. justice, law, and
love OF country. The time will
come, indeed, and speedily, when
none Of you shall remain to observe
Il and when the last survivor, shouldering
his crutch no more, shall lie down with
these his comrades around him, almost
touching elbows again, but with no comrade
left In the upper air TO shed q tear or place
flower upon his grave. But the service
you did, the sacrifice you made, the exam
pie you taught, more immortal than your
crumbling dust, will forever live and illume
the world, as IN the heavens, speeding so
far from us that the eye sees not the vapor
that enshrouds them, the stars shine only In
purer and eternal glory. can understand
that, when the war closed, the same dlsin-
terested and single loyalty which compelled
the true citizen to arms made many
soldier shrink from even the appearance of
further display, either by Joining your
organization or by publicly engaging In the
decoration OF graves. But with the lapse OF
time, with the inroads on the ranks, with
the general, and in some states statutory,
recognition of its observance, Memorial
Day will hereafter gather around II, not
only the love and tears and pride OF the
generations Of the people, but more and
mr. In fta fnnar 0trQta nf tpnlnrnaRa the
linking memories Of every comrade, 80 long
as one survives. AS the dawn ushers 1t In,
tinged already with the exquisite flush Of
Fastening June and sweet with the burst
ing fragrance Of her roses, the wheels OF
time will each year roll back, and lol Abra-
ham Lincoln, wise and patient and honest
and tender and true, is at the nations helm;
the North Is one broad blaze; the boys in
blue are marching TO the front; the fife and
drum are on every breeze; the very air is
patriotism. Phil Sheridan. forty miles
away, dashes back to turn defeat into VIC
tory; Farragut, dashed to the masthead, Is
steaming into Mobile harbor; Hooker 4,
above the clouds, aye, now forever above
the clouds; Sherman marches through
Georgia to the sea; Grant has throttled Lee
with the grip that never let's go either Its
duty or its magnanimity. Richmond FALLS
the armies Of the republic pass In that last
great review at Washington; Custer's
plume is there, but Kearney's saddle Is
empty; and now again our veterans come
marching home to receive the welcome OF a
grateful people and to stack the tattered
flags which the republic forever hence shall
wear above her heart.
In memory of the dead, In honor OF the
living, for inspiration to our children, we
gather to-day to deck the graves Of our pa
triots with flowers, TO pledge nation and
town and citizen all to fresh recognition Of
the surviving soldier, and to picture yet
again the romance, the reality, the glory,
the sacrifice of his service. As II 1t were
but yesterday you recall him. He had but
turned twenty. The exquisite tint OF youth
full health was In his cheek. His pure heart
shone from frank, outspeaking eyes. His
fair hair clustered from beneath mis- cap. He
had pulled q stout oar In the college race,
or walked the most graceful athlete on the
village green. He had just entered on the
vocation of his life. The doorway Of his
liant In the dewy morn with the clambering
vine and fragrant flower, as In and out ht
went, the beloved OF mothers and sisters
ana the ideal Of an American youth.
In face and shoulders like god he was,
For DER him had the goddess breathed the
OF youthful locks, the rudy glow Of youth,
A generous gladness in his eyes such grace
As carver's hand to ivory gives, or when
Silver or Parian stone in yellow gold
Is set.
The unreckoned influence Of the great
discussions OF human rights had insensibly
nodded him into champion OF freedom
He had passed no solitary and sleeplesi
night watching the armor which he was u
wear when dubbed next day with the &C
colade Of knighthood. But over thu
Students lamp or at the freside's blaze hi
had passed the nobler initiate of hear
and mind trained TO fine sense Of justice
and to resolution equal to the sacrifice O
life itself In behalf Of right and duty. II,
knew nothing of the web and wool OF poll
tics, hut he knew, instinctively, the need
of his country. His ideal was Philip Sid
ney, not Napoleon. And when the drum
beat-when the first martyrs blood sprln
killed. the stones Of Baltlmore-he took hi
place In the ranks and went for
ward. You remember his ingenious an,
glowing letters to his mother, written as 1
his pen was dipped In his very heart. How
the life Of camp and march How cage
his wish to meet the enemy, and strike hi
first blow for the good cause What prld
at the promotion that came, and put 1t
chevron on his arm, or its strap upon hi
shoulder How graphically he describe
his sensation In the first battle, the pallo
that he felt creeping up his face; the thrill
ing along every nerve, and then the ute
fearlessness when once the charge bega
and his blood was up Later on, hoy
gratefully he wrote Of the days In hospital
of the opening of the box from home; G
the generous distribution Of delicacles tina
loving ones had sent, and Of the never-tc
be-forgotten comfort Of the gentle nurse
whose eyes and hands seemed to bring I
his bedside the summer freshness an
health Of the open windows OF his and he
northern homestead No Amazon wa
she, with callous half-breast; bu
her whole woman's heart was dc
voted, as were the hearts of all he
sisters at the north, to tightening tn
hardships and pain OF war Let her prais
never iail 10 mingie with Tue soldier