The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-03
DECORATION DAY.
A SPEECH THAT DID NOT SUIT
THOSE PRESENT.
Comrade Edgington Talks From the
Shoulder and Insists That Negro
Domination Must be Averted by APP
propriate Legislation-He is Kissed.

Domination Must be Averted by APP
propriate Legislation-He is Kissed.
The memorial services Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic under the auspices
Of Memphis Post No. 3, took place as per
announcement yesterday at the National
Cemetery. About 1900 negroes and per-
haps 100 white people, including few
ladies, were present and spent the early
part of the day in visiting the various
graves and bestowing upon each slight
though eloquent floral tribute.
The program as published was followed
out with fidelity, and everything passed
off smoothly until after the Grafton by
Comrade I. B. Edgington was delivered.
Mr.. Edgington is Northern Democrat,
an ex.Union soldier, a member Of the
Grand Army OF the Republic who has
lived South since the war. His speech was
something new on occasions Of this char
acter.
The orator was introduced by Mr.. John
c. Hook, commander of the post, in a few
fitting remarks.
Mr.. Edgington said:
Comrades OF the Grand Army and Citi-
zens-We have met here to decorate the
graves OF our comrades with flowers.
WE HAVE COME
to beautify for one brief day small frag-
ment Of our Nations heroes whom our
mother earth has so tenderly pressed to
her bosom, covered with this mantle OF
green. Small as this fragment OF the
Grand Army is that lies within these walls,
yet il is twice as large rs the white male
population OF this entire county capable
OF bearing arms IL is more than one
third the size OF the grand army which
Alexander the Great marched out with to
conquer the world. The custom Of floral
decorations is one OF great antiquity.
During the first years oil these floral
decorations they were occasions OF out
bursts OF heartrending sorrow. In those
days fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
daughters, sweethearts and widows liter
ally bathed the flowers in their tears.
Time has wrought some changes. The
weeds OF wailing have been east aside and
bleeding hearts have been healed, and the
real has somewhat taken the form of the
ideal. II, therefore, becomes necessary
that the celebration should respect and
conform 10 these changes. What would
have been appropriate for an address then
would DO
OUT or PLACE
now. Moreover, II can hardly be ex
pected Of one who participated with then
in the struggle. when they were full o.
lusty life, 10 especially dwell upon theil
heroic achievements. To one thus stu
ated II Is moro agreeable to hear, or i'm
agine he hears, the voices that come from
these graves, as they are waited to hin
on the breath Of these flowers Listening
to these voices, many OF which he rccog
nizcd us the voices Of old comrades, II Il
more congcnial to the speaker {,
endeayor 10 give fair repor
OF their words OF hope Of
warning. A comade who occupies thii
stand on occasions like this speaks for the
! dead rs well as the living. There is n,
place more appropriate for the discussion
OF the patriotic purposes that animated on
comrades than among their graves. 70
twenty-five years the noise and tumult o
the politician has filed tho land, and tn,
voice OF the soldier has been drowned
There Is, fortunately, lull at present il
this believing OF windy politicians Of tn
land and the opportunity is now afforded
Us, comrades, for the first time.
TO CALMLY REASON
together Of the fruits. not only OF the hard
ships aud priyaiions in the field, but also OF
the fruits Of the sacrifice OF the hundred
OF thousands OF lives OF our comrades
They gave up their lives that the freedom
which was beQueathed TO US by the iathe
OF the Republic might be transmitted b,
us through our children TO remote genera
tons. As we reason together let u
unite our voices with the voice
that como from these tombs an,
let us see what the harvest shall b
from the blood and treasure that va
poured during the war. The first fruits o
spring came in the shape Of a restores
Union aud freedom for the slave. Iii
shacklcs fell Oh and he becamea free man
lie then became invested with all III
rights OF white man, including the RICH
20 vote. Nature reserves herself 70
autumn, TO yield the greatest abundance
Ii IN not OF the spring crop or first fruits Z
this sccd-soNing that wish 10 speak
you. Tho past Is secure. IL Il concern
Ing the future or
AuruNSAL cnoP,
or the crop not vet harvested, but ripcr
ing, that | wish TO address you. This lal
ter crop docs not come directly from th
seeds sown In war. IL comes rather froi
tho iarcs and thistles that were sown
the politicians while YOU were of guard
II politicians have rccklessly sown th
wind, II will require timely vigilance I
avoid harvest OF the whirlwind. tn
territory which was once dedicated
slavery became rs a result Of III
war dedicated TO freedom. Fifteen gre.
States were within this territory. IL con
priscs the most genial and salubriot
climo over which our flag hoals. IL
pcoplcd by brave aud cultivated pcopl
Of the Caucasian race, true 10 their lin,
age back TO this early settlement OF IA
continent by Europeans who sought in III
new world the freedom that was dcnic
them In the old. Tho ancestors OF th
people served under George Washingto
10 secure the independence Of this couf
try. They served through the war OF 1871
the Indian war aud the war with Mcxic
The immigrant who came 10 our shores |
way Of Castle Garden, or the Code
Gate, avoided this
SLAVE Ridden SECTION,
because he refused 10 compete with slaS
labor. Tho consequence has been thl
the white people who inhabit the form
slave territory are almost exclusively n
descendants Of the fathers OF the Rcpul
lie. While the blood Of our comrades nj
Z broupht freedom 10 the slave LET us O.