The Arizona champion., 1888-06-02
MEMORIAL DAY.
Fiowers For The Graves of Our Dead Soldiers.--RRasom Post, ss- sisted by the woman's Relief Corps' Pay n Glorious Tribute to the Heroic Dead.

As the years roll swiftly on, here seems to be an increase of fervor on the part of those most interested in the occasion, and 1t is bef'tinsly proper, for the most ot the old "ve,s" have reached that pcrind of life which warns them that they must soon obey the imperative summons, and appear before the Great Commander.in- Chief.
 The occasion of Memorial Day was observed most appropriately in Flagstaff, with a unanimity and zeal that reflected creditably on the patriotism of our citizens. At Io:3o A. M. the inspiring cadence of martial music by the Flagstaff Band attracted large assembly to the Grand Army hall, where every preparation had been made for the accommodation of those attending and participating. A number of settees had heen rlaced in front of the hall, forming semlcircle around a monument beautifully wreathed and decorated by the ladies of the Relief Corps. In the background a platform had been erected for the convenience of officers and speakers.
 The services were commenced with the impressive memorial rit ual of the Grand Army which was accompanied at proper intervals by appropriate music. This portion of the exercises was extremely In- tercsting.
 At the conclusion of these exer cises Henry l.. Miller, Esq. was conducted to the speakers stand, and introduced by Rev N. L Guthrie Tn d pleasing address as orator of the day. Mir. Miller de ilvered a most eloquent speech, which is justly conceded to be the finest effort ever made on similar occasion before a Flagstaff audi ence. It contained so much of patriotic and poetic sentiment, as we'll as intrinsic merit in historic and literary sense, that we gladly accord it space in our columns Following is the text of the ad- dress in full:
 Vtterans of he grandesf army upon
 aUhifh he Sun eOe, sh0ne;; M.
 dies ana geatIemea:
 Are we asked, why call to mind this coufict between brothers, and set apart and observe these memor. isl occasions1 Why live over in thought those dark daysl We think it is right and our bounden duty to pay tribute of respect to those who gave their lives not for country alone, but for humanity. To die fer another, or for 3 cause dear to the heart of man, has ever been ftly regarded as the crowning sacrifice, sacrifice worthy especial remembrance and rommendation. In every breast where beats the heart of man, stro"g emotions are stirred by the mere mention of Thermopylse, Marathon, Blenhein, Bannockburn, Lexington and Bunker Hill, but quicker and stronger throb our hearts at the mention of Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg. Antietam. Gettysburg and Mission Ridge. Emmet upon the scaffold bequeath. ing hIs body to the grave without an epitaph until his native land had conquered its tyrdnts, and Winkelreid, the captain, who courted death on Austrian spears that the serried ranks of his coun. try's oppressors might be broken, will never want eulogIsts, nor will their heroism ever perish from the memory of man.
 But higher in our roll of honor than those ,honored names worthy more glowing eulogy to- day. stand those composing the citizen soldiery of the North, who in heroic self sacrifice went yon. der to suffer and die, that our na- ton might be saved from disintc gration sought by the Southern Confederacy. Halleck, writing of death, says: "Thou art terrible. The tear, The groan, the knell, the pail, the bier
 And all we know, or dream ot fear,
 of agony are thine.
 But to the hero, when his sword,
 Has won the battles for the free,
 Thy voice sounds like the prophets word;
 And in its hallow tones are heard
 The tones of millions yet to be-"
 Veterans, the gratitude of millions that are and that are yet to be is to be stimulated by the contempla. ton of the fact that the drawing of the swords of our heroes, their sacrifice of home, their mained bodies and shattered health, those graves here in every city and vii lage cemetery, and wonder in the South, was their loss for theIr coun Ty's gain, was necessary that this, "the foremost republic of all tune" might have an existence---not as a federation of soverign and inde. pendent states, but as one nation. We do we'll to day to pause a mo. ment to consider this fact, now apt to be passed by much too