The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-06-06


less attention by every one within
hearing of the howery speakers voice.
The exercises we're interspersed with
the choicest musical selections by the
Methodist and Presbyterian choirs,
who had prepared themselves with
some entirely new airs for this occa.
sion, while the band music was ren.
dered with fine effect. After the cere.
monies we're completed the lines were
formed for the homeward march, aud
at the Post hall ranks we're broken
and the veterans dispersed, feeling
thankful, no doubt, that they had been
permitted to once more perform a sa.
cred duty to their comrades gone be.
fore. And thus ended, by far the most
successful Memorial Day ever cele.
brated in this place.
MR.. AGNEw's ADDRESS.
COMRADES AND FRIENDS -
The "reminiscences of twenty-seven
years ago are again recalled in our me
mortal of to-day, reminding us OF the
brave and patriotic defenders who stood
sentry over a nation aud upheld the glor-
ious symbols of our country in its drest
peril.
There is no day that should be more
beautiful or sacred than that of the me-
mortal of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie; no occasion that should be shrouded
in solemnity greater than this on which
we lay aside the employments of life to
render homage to our honored comrades,
who have gone before. 1t is typical of
their memory in our hearts.
The ceremony of decorating tho mounds
| of the Soldiers of the Union with the most
beautiful flowers of Spring, gathered by
the fairest hands and sweetest innocence
of childhood, is that there may be kept
alive the fires of patriotism, and that there
may be transmitted to those who may
come after us love of country and of
| liberty. These ceremonies cannot revive
antagonisms of the past; they should stir
up in our hearts not only tender recol-
lections of the memories of our dead, but
also a more exalted patriotism and devo-
ton to country in the future.
This day will be observed by our people
so long as our flag floats over united
Nation, and it is our duty as the surviv-
| ors of the Armies and Navies, whose
deeds of valor on land and sea shed lus-
| tire upon the annals of our country, to at
tend to these ceremonies.
While some went North you went South,
| fighting for God and your Nation, aud if
our Government, now so firmly establish
ed by the Soldiers of the Union, redeems
the world, we will divide the honors with
the heroes of 1776. Our fallen comrades
are only sleeping, waiting to greet us at
the final roll call. Only a few of our
Grand Armies remain-as in the vision,
in the dream of the roll call of the dead
in the poem of Comrade Bauder of the 9TH
Ohio:
They halted for roll call, and for each name
A ready there" was said;
l listened with awe, for the Sergeants there
Were calling the roll of our dead.
All present or accounted for;
A detail is still on earth
To guard our flags, to mark olir1eraves,
To let men know our worth.
l awakened startled from my Sleep:
And called my comrades near
"Our regiment, boys, is with the dead,
'Tis the rear guard only here"
Here Mr.. Agnew gave an interesting
statistical report of the soldiers buried in
the different national cemeteries.l
There is public document called the
roll of honor, made soon after Appomat-
tox, at the War Department, and publish
ed by the GovenRnsaht, which was intend
ed to give the name of every soldier who
died in defence of the Union, so far as it
was possible to get them; it gives the
name, rank, regiment, companp, date of
| burial of those who are known to be bur-
! led as well as those whose bones bleach
| upon the plains, and in the marshes of the
| South; also the names as far as known of
those who sleep beneath the rivers and
lakes and in the deep, blue sea. 1t is
composed of 81 volumes; no one can look
through it without being appalled, at the
magnitude of the struggle that cost them
their lives. Over two thousand battles
were fought for the preservation of the
| Union the cemeteries in which the dead
lie as far as known are designated as Ma
tional cemeteries throughout the Union.
Go TO the National cemetery at Arlington,
one of these beautiful spring days and
there look upon the army of the dead, and
read upon the marble slabs and monu-
ments the many inscriptions. In many
places the simple and unutterably sad
word unknown" upon hundreds the title
page is the old verse:
On fame's eternal camping ground their
silent tents are spread.
And glory guards with solemn round the
bivouac of the dead.
On others this verse;
Whether on the scaffold high or in the
battles van,
The noblest place for man TO die, is where
lie dies for man.
On another these significant words:
strangers, go tell the American people
who died that they might be free"
These are among the thousands of in
scripuons there.
Comrades, wo are growing fewer.