Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-30
L H r S H E RIDAN MEMORIAL

N M II M y II l A L..
Day as fixed and permanent institution. This
Is what the day must mean to the young and
to those who shall come after us, if it shall
nave any meaning at all worthy of the glorious
future OF the Republic. But to the old veterans
themselves, those Of US who still march abreast
OF these calm days Of peace and thrift; to all
those who saw the cloud no larger than mans
hand on the southern horizon gather to its
bosom the fateful lightnings and the heaven
descending bolts; to those of us who saw the
storm gather, burst and spend its fury, there
Is In the day and its rites what no tongue can
utter and what no other generation will ever
ind: This is our exclusive heritage, which we
shall carry down to the grave with US, sacred
ana lnvlolable forever; and as the returning
years bring us round and round again to this
day, with ever thinning ranks and failing
strength, may we always come better prepared
and more willing to go over to the great ma
jority,' never doubling Him, in the hollow OF
whose hand lightly lies the secure universe"
The exercises were concluded with the bene-
diction and then the committee, visitors and
inmates OF the Home decorated the graves.
THE DECORATION COMMITTEE
was composed of the following: Mrs. Gen. o.
B. Wilcox, Lieut.. Col. C. c. Byrne, Major B.
F. Rittenhouse, Capt Robert Catlin, Comrades
Z. NJ. Truell, George J. P. Wood, A. ]. Eaton
Henry ]. Kehr, Sergeant-Major Thomas Evans
Com. Sergt Alex. Campbell, @. NJ Sergt r. S.
Tolson, Sergt. A. Piedfort, Sergt. NJ. Glynn,
superintendent cemetery; First Sergts Francis
Bland, A. P: Drost, James O'Brien, Sergt. JAS
Clark, Mesdames j. E. McCabe, Amos J. Gum
ming. Z. NJ. Truell, Benjamin Swan, John A.
Van Doren, II. H. Martin, George j. P. Wood
Misses Lavania Chase, Pearl II. Pipes, Berthe
Odell, Mamie Macauley, Marian Dimmick, Cora
G. Curry, Sergts. Patrick DAWN, r. b. Dickin-
son, Henry Collins, Francis Doyle, VIM. Ell
wood Ind lob
Stauffer, John Corcoran. Among those seated
on the platform were Senator Beck and Col. G.
W. Atkinson, the member-elect from the first
district Of West Virginia.
At Congressional Cemetery.
Shortly after o'clock East Washington
people were on the way to Congressional ceme-
terry, that time-honored city of the dead on the
banks Of the Anacostia. At the gate of the
cemetery delegation Of Farragut Post, No. 10,
G. A. r., was on hand to receive those who
were expected to take part in the decoration
exercises. Many persons came by carriages
and herdics, and by $50 O'Clock, when the
formal exercises were to take place. there were
perhaps 1,5OOpeople in and about the grounds.
At that hour, with Weber's band playing a
dlrge, the company present, comprising mem
bers OF the Grand Army, relatives of the
honored dead, members of the Mozart
Musical association and others, formed a
of Farragut Post, G. A. r., and, headed
by the band, marched to the stand.
which was in the western part of the grounds,
near the monument over Gen. Rawlins' grave
Here the members Of the band with the vocal
lists, took seats, and Weber's band opened the
exercises by the dirge, THE Honored Dead"
Commander Dinsmore called the assembIage
to order in a brief address, stating that this
was one OF the occasions when all should renew
the pledge OF loyalty and welcome their
friends In commemorating the memory of the
fallen brave.
Rev. Mr.. Wilson, chaplain of Farragut Post.
offered the invocation and the Mozart associa-
ton sang ''Sleep, Sacred Dust"
Comrade George B. Reynolds recited an
original Original ;, poem, The Soldiers Wife and
Mother, and the Mozart association sang
Hon. W. W. Curry, Of Indiana, then delivered
the Grafton.
THE GRAFTON.
Mr.. Curry began by referring to the events
in our national history which the centennial
year commentaries, and gave a brief but in
teresting review of the political changes in
parties and opinions up to the late war;
Slavery was not the cause of the civil war he
said, only its occasion. The real issue was be-
hind the immediate interest and was evolved
In the question us the United States nation
or confederacy of nations?" If it was a vol
untary confederation of sovereign states. then
these sovereignties had a right to withdraw
from the confederation, however inconyenient
the dissolution might be, and to establish such
other associations as they might see proper.
II the united states was nation he asserted,
then it was in duty bound to preserve the ma,
tional life and to cOerce whoever sought its
dissolution. Slavery gave to this controversy
a local and sectional character. And so it came
about that the doctrine OF state sovereignty in
the interest Of
THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY
arrayed the south on the side of disunion.
while the doctrine Of national sovereignty in the
interests OF human freedom and industrial de-
velopment arrayed the north on the side of
union. Inc speaker said that to assert that
The Union soldier died that the nation might
live is not to indulge in the rhetoric of oratory
but to state the sober fact of history, 1--WE re-
joice," exclaimed the orator. sin our victory
over our brethren of the south because by
that victory we continue to be brethren, citi-
zens OF one country, participants in its COM
mon greatness and glory" He spoke of the
significance of the day which is observed by
paying a simple tribute to the memory of the
heroic dead, and said that its observance
evnced the national appreciation of the ad-
Vaniages enjoyed by reason Of the self-sacrifce
of those who gave their lives for the common
veal. He deprecated any Interpretation Of the
meaning OF this celebration which would as
'ert that it was intended to revive the bitter
ness OF personal strife or to prolong the con-
SECTION AGAINST SECTION.
The object is not to excite ill feeling toward
he living, but to recall tender memories of
he dead. The union soldier entertains no ami |
mostly toward the soldiers Of the confederacy
he can go further" asserted the speaker; she |
IAN think that the time has come when the |
Manned and dependant soldiers of the lost |
,ause can not only be forgiven their errors, and
Dc accorded the equal privileges Of American |
,itizenshiP, but also can have some provision |
made for helplessness at the public expense. II |
'hey may not be placed on the pension rolls of |
me government, II that shall be held sacred az |
ne privilege OF the soldiers of the Republic, |
Fet rich and generous nation can well afford |
o ouiid them comfortable homes and TO care |
or them in their declining years."
Az the end OF the grafton the band rendered |
Nearer, MY God, To Thee" and Rev. Mr.. wiz |
ION pronounced the benediction and the as |
emblsss dispersed, the band playing the ''Star |
3pangled Banner"
TIE DECORATED GRAVES.
The decoration was done BY the committee
'rior TO these exercises, nearly 400 graves hsv-
ng nag and flowers placed ON them. Among
ne honored dead were many naval heroes nom /
ne OLD families Of East Warrington, e wen e. /
lome historical characteu. included in the |
raves decorated we're those OF Gen Ravlins |
whose monument IVES euvelopsd in large