The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-31
How the Day Was Observed in Other
Places in Indiana and Illinois.
The President Reviews q Parade Of Grand
Army and Other Organizations at New
'York-Celebrations Elsewhere.


at the cemetery were largely attended, and were
pronounced by many of the veterans present
the most beautiful and impressive ever
held in this city. The day was other
wise quite generally observed by .
closing Of stores and public Offices. The parade
down town was quite imposing, and, contrary &C
all precedent, It got started on time, shortly be-
fore Q o'clock. The order and line of march
were observed rs given in yesterdays Journal
ALI along tho streets through which the process
sion moved great crowds were on the sidewalks.
the outpouring. in this respect, being almost
without precedent Even as far a. North street
the crowd Of observers still continued. From
this street the procession took . train for Crown
Hill Cemetery, arriving there about 2:3o o'clock
The decorations at the cemetery were besuti-
ful, and the scene wonderfully impressive. The
exercises at the stand preceded the decorating
Of the graves Comrade James B. Black acted
as master of ceremonies. the When Band and
Butler Glse Club furnished music. The address
was by Gen. John Coburn.
The General, after referring briefly to the
fact that the soldiers who lost their lives in the
war did not seem to fade in the memories OF the
people as years passed by, said:
4QlS - y Gay Oh exQlC8blCu over L8 llu&ITlouS OK
amples of the departed, an e~xultation that over all the
gigantic efforts to destroy the life of the Nation, sue
cess has been complete, permanent and glorious.
This IS the day the objects of whose worship are the
sacred dead. whose temples are their green graves.
whose religion IL patriotism. Let us pause q moment
and inquire what is patriotism. Is 1t only exhibited
in warf Is IL only illustrated on rare occasions Of
national dangerf In tia virtue that is only developed
by special causes and under great emergenoiesl Does
y, 1is spG for ss en- rnsSs snI1' fsi S0's sss offspring aT@i ra' of strife and
danger or 10 1t also the child Of peace and crderi A list
of the worlds patriots would seem to indicate that
that, when the reign of peace began. then the race
disappeared or lost their force and dignity. Nothing
srSy and public spirit that can resist the aegressions
of the corrupt and the ambitious who would steal the
peoples treasures or rights are az necessary IN peace
same courage and devotion are developed and should
be recognized. No siumbsr ever comes safely to the
faithful lover of the public welfare, for the founda-
tons OF prosperity are more i. danger when no open
threat is heard than when violent hands are laid upon
the life of Q nation. Looking back twenty eight years,
We find that we had not learned this lesson when the
rebellion began. We could not believe it possible We
could not, until too late to avert the evils of civil ws<, be
brought to get ready for the struggle. We would not
mountains before rs. We saw them - if in q dream.
We believed that they were clouds; we thought they
would float away and be seen no mora We had gone
long in the everyday matters of life until they
seemed to be the only things probable In the future.
To pillow. TO SOW, to reap. to attend 70 the shop. 10.
run the mill, to manage the store, TO keep open the
Office. these seemed to be al that was TO be done.
But the day suddenly came when they were all laid
aside and the smooth currehts of life became raging
torrents rushing onward to destruction. No prepa-
ration, no study, no resolutions, no argument, no
persuadon, but the dropping of business, the volun-
the country in her danger; these were the miraculous
changes that again surprised all men,. How could
the man who had never dreamed of ~blccdshed or
military service ever be transformed into q soldieri
How could he let all business. all work. all contracts
be neglected and forgotten and go of into a direful
warl These were problems that no calculator, no
4,1,<,<s~p M afoHnnon M oororal &uor eo1vAi until
experience did the work.
We do not commemorate these dead because We
would cultivate . warlike spirit in our people. We
look the other way. We hope for perpetual peace.
Our national spirit 10 not consonant with war. We
rejoice in silent and quiet progress; that is our his
have made but one conquest in war; that 10 the one
from Mexico. We bought FLORIDA. We bought Louisi-
bought Alaska. We yielded . part of Oregon; we re-
fused to buy St Thomas; we refused TO annex San
Domingo; we refused the Sandwich islands; we could
ct the close of the rebellion, uniting Union and rebel
forces, have conquered and held Canada; we could by
from Mexico, and annexed that republic. But we do
not love conquest, or war. or the rude glory of rob-
bing our neighbor nations We could have taken the
We have set a lofty example Of forbssrsncs' of
peaceable progress, of human development. We
stay at homo and run the mightiest asylum for
rowful and plundersd sons of despotism. We stay at
home and cultivate. educate, refine and humanize the
people r 2 .o End TO, to-day ::,, we hold .lo Of o the s sacrifice ,s.. II, h
this might continue; that IL may 60 on until mankind
shall be a great brotherhood Of the free, the happy
Some one has said that wars are Misunderstanding.
On our part this was not true. We knew very well
what we were about. We knew what we were fighting
for--what was in danger; what . priceless heritage we
were about to lose what an ignominious future
awaited rs if we failed; what q glorious development
were in the right; that our cause was Just; that We
only struck to maintain order, to- sustsin the law and
to restore peace; and that We would stop right there.
had not received any injuries, had no grounds for
treason. no excuse for attacking the national author
ity. There was no misunderstanding about 1t on our
We knew that the Union was established in perpe-
tuity; that the Nation was greater than . State; that
the Nation must be heard and obeyed above all; that
to yield TO the demand for dissolution would b the
beginning of woe, of civil wars-ofo other dissoiutions-
of inconceivabls disasters. We knew that the cause
OF free government would be endangered on earth,
and that the erection of q great empire Of slavery on
the southern half of our Republic would blight the
hopes Of mankind. We knew right well It was our
duty to stop that, 20 put the foot down firmly, to ar
rest this outlawry against the human race
And 90 the Nation arose. like shaf-swakened giant.
battle for life. for breath. for time TO look around and
gather strength, 70 get weapons, TO get money, 70 get
supplies. to fortify. 70 get ships. 70 get soldiers. and
Then came the questions Of protesting . frontier
OF fifteen hundred miles and bloe1sding =
the slavesl What with the rebelsl What with the
recaptured places and people, and what with the prop
ertyf We had no parallel. no precedent IN our own
history; the experiences of mankind furnished none.
AL the while military operations must 60 on, dlsasters
must DO repaired, losses made good vAss expenses
met. vast revenues raised, the loyal people encour-
aged. the hope of the Nation tept alive Over tbs
Cumberland and Ozark mountains. over the Iennes
see, the Mississippi, the Arkansas. the Chattanooenee,
the Rappanannock and the James ran the ploEshsres
| Of war: up from gulf. from the sounds, on the ATTAIN
TIC coast, rushed our fiery hearted men 70 the attach.
puahing and pushing through and beyond every OBJ
stable Of nature, and every impeachment OF the enemy.
4 While We look back to the past. let rs face the 9TH
or way. and look to the present-to the disposition 70
break law, TO overthrow order and peace In soc iety,
70 subvert the regular movements OF business. 20 an
raw classes of men, who ought TO be friends. against
Zach other; to nurture IL feelings. hatred. suspicion.
jealousy, envy. and ~malignity. In place Of manly con-
6dsncs and generous recognition Of the rights of 9th.
ers. On one side . blind fury. . striking in the dark,
Q ssnseless hostility 70 law and order; on the other. an
insane thirst for money and power, . shameless spirit
of intrigue and fraud, corrupting. and ~blghting. and
damaging its victims These elements of society now
appearing In vast prop ortions on al sides threaten out
lsvry and anarchy. But let there be no such fearful
Misunderstanding as there aas been. concerning
the strength Of the people TO overthrow
h There il too much at stake; zoo
expense involved In the destruction OF the gov
ent; there are too many business interests I'M
ed; there 10 too much OF q high hope in our future
mn slved 10 allow such . catastrophe. There can be
no more terrific and fatal misunderstAnding than an
other attempt upon the life Of the Nation by the
weapons OF civil war. II may possibly .pe under.
taken. but ten times ten more brave men viii die
than sleep IN thsse sacred cemeteries and on ell the
battle-helds OF the Union to prevent the suecsss q