St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-27
THE GOD OF BATTLES.
Veterans Gather in His Tenn
pies and Listen to Pam
egyrics.
Eloquent Divines Laud the
Heroism and Patriotism
of Citizen Soldiery.
The Memories Of Those Who
Fought and Fell Kept
Green.
A Fitting Prelude to the Pub
lie Observance Of Deco
ration Day.

4lV OUSCI V Q11OO Va OSOV
ration Day.
Yesterday was Memorial Sunday; a
day set apart by common consent for
special services under the auspices OF
the various Grand Army posts and for
visits to the cemeteries by those unable
to go on Decoration day. The various
&. A. r. posts attended service at the
different churches in st. Paul and
sought by their action to keep green the
memory of their former comrades. The
services, as rule, had reference to the
dead heroes, and many were the
thoughts of gratitude to those whose
lives were sacrificed in preservation OF
the Union, and praise to the God OF
Battles for permitting in His wisdom
the eagle of victory to perch upon the
banners of free and united country.
At the cemeteries, while here and there
the gold-laced hat of G. A. K. veteran
might be seen among the trees,
there were no more visitors than
any fine Sunday afternoon might
be expected to call forth. The usual
crowd of people out walking and driv-
ing patroled the beautiful ground under
the Shade of the spreading trees and sat
upon the grass basklng in the sun.
Here and there were ladies clothed in
grape, fondly tending the last rest
ing place of some lost loved one, plant
ing gay flowers around the marble mOn-
uments aud evincing their love for the
dead by decorating the tomb. But there
seemed to be no special attention paid
to the plats of ground, beneath which lie
the bones of those who fought and died
in the cause of their country and. the
freedom of its citizens. This is evident
ly to be left for Thursday, which is set
apart as a day for special attention TO
the graves of the old soldiers. None OF
them are to be left unmarked IN st.
Paul this year, and those of the con-
quering army who are left will meet
again for a grand field day spent in the
work of love for their old comrades. Year
by year the graves are multiplying.
Year by year the ranks of those who eS-
capped Southern bullets are being
thinned by the fell reaper, Death.
Year by year comrades who fought and
bled together meath the trees OF the
Wilderness or under the blazing sun of
Georgia are meeting in that still,
shadowy realm beyond the river. As
the Grand Army reunions on earth
grow thinner. the reunions beyond the
grave are growing greater, and "a few
more years shall rOlf' when the regl-
ments of the Union will be able to stand
shoulder to shoulder again in the spirit
land which knows no death.
First Methodist Church.
The memorial services at the First
Me thodist church yesterday morning
were participated in by congregation
that completely filled the church.
Among the first to arrive were the mem
bers of Acker post, G. A. R., who, re-
spending to special invitation to be
present on the occasion, marched to the
church at the tap of the drum, the choir
singing Coward Christian Soldiers"
with great effect as the battle-scarred
veterans marched up the aisle and filed
into their seats in military order. The
sermon, preached by Rev. e. 0. Hol-
man, was of engrossiDg interest to all
present and was listened to throughout
with earnest attention. The text chosen
was from John w., So; 81 sent you
to reap that whereon ye be-
slowed no labor; other men
labored and We entered into their
Iabors." 'It is a beautiful CUSTOM"
said the speaker, (which annually calls
the people of the republic to scatter
flowers on the graves OF our heroic
dead. It is fitting that on the Sabbath
preceding this civic celebration men
should assemble in the house of God to
think in the presence Of the immensities
and eternities suggested by the places
of the issues concerned in our great ma
tional struggle. For what was all the
struggle and bloodshed of the war?
Why the immense expenditure Of hui
man life and treasure? What was it all
about? First, you went to the front in
defense of the
UNITY OF THIS NATION.
You believed that we were not a mere
temporary association of principalities,
but nation-a lasting and indeStruct-
ible union of great states. 10 establish
our sovereignty and defend this urion,
you passed through the perils, despera-
ton and suffering of the war. Your
labors were not in vain. We are to-day
one nation. In spite of the foolish ut
the yet more unwise utteranceS of some
classes of newspapers. the sentiment of
the whole country, North and South, is
loyal to the idea of national unity.
During an eight weeks stay in the
South, conversing with men from
all classes and conditions of
society upon every phase of our
political life. I heard absolutely no
word, but of unwaverlng loyalty to our
common flag, and earnest gratitude to
the Almighty God, that we are one ma
ton and not two. You have labOred
and we have entered into your iaborS.
Secondly-You fought in defense of the
brotherhood of man. The Declaration
of Independence declared all men free
and equal, and the holy scriptures de-
clare all men to be Of one blood, but for
$50 years slavery gave the lie in this
country to the doctrine. You and your
comrades fought for the recognition of
vain. You ask: is the negro received
as man and brother in the South?'
Two things are sure; the negro vote
is not freely cast nor fairly
counted, and the negro has not
equal social recognition with the
white. Two other things are also sure
the negro as class is totally unfit for
the ballot, and, speaking broadly, is
neither mentally or morally fit for rec
ognition by the best white society.
Certain great educational, political and
social influences are at work, slowly
but surely undermining the caste of the
South. The great foe of the colored
race to-day is not political oppression or
social ostracism. but their own intem-
perance. ignorance and unchastity.
Against these the better part of the
race is fighting splendid battle, and
will conquer, and conquering. win polit-
ical freedom and social equality. You
have labored, and me, and more than
me-the rising generation will enter
into your labors. In broader sense
than all this, it is true that we enter