Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-31
THE IDOLS OF THE PAST.
General Bussey's Grafton Before Wilson
Post, q. A. X, in Baltimore.

At Wilson post memorial services held in
Fords theatre, Baltimore. last night. General
Cyrus Bussey. first assistant Secretary of the
Interior was the orator, and after asserting
that he had no feeling Of antagonism for the
men who wore the gray. he said: Il am willing
for them to glorify the men who died for the
cause the south fought for. but when il comes
to clarifying the cause for which they fought,
as their surviving comrades did the other day
at Alexandria. Va. when they unveiled a mon
ument on which was inscribed TO the men
who died in the consciousness of their duty,
we have right to inquire into their motive.
Those who put mp that monument knew that
men died in the southern armies who did
not do so IN the consciousness Of having done
their duty. TCheers and some hisses.l There
were thousands who fought in the southern
armies who couldn't lie under that monu-
ment, for they went into the army under
conscriptiOn and against their convictions. /
know l am talking to some men who are not
in sympathy with me. | know 1 appeal to
some who, when they fought for the south,
knew they were not following duty. knew of
seventy-seven men (arrested for being sus-
pected of d-loyalty to the Union) who were
marched 100 miles with log chains OH them. to
Arkansas to Gov. Rector. who gave them the
choice to go into the southern army or into
prison. They were put into the front rank of
Marmaduke's army. Ten were left before the
battle of Shiloh came. There they were put
IN the front rank, and only two survived One
was John ". MOrri;. He told me afterward
that he had continue / as loyal to the Union as
was. Could any on of those seventy-seven
sleep under the monument at Alexandria?
lCheers.l
THE PRISONERS IN ANDERSONvIILE,
in the winter of 1864, were like hogs waiting
for slaughter. They had to walk all night to
keep from freezing. One of my comrades saw
one of them reading a letter from his wife.
When he passed him a short time later he
found him stiff frozen, with the letter in his
hand.
The scoundrels who made that prison know
they could not sleep under that monument
IN the consciousness of having done their
duty. There was much difference between
the cause of the Union and that of the south
as between heaven and hell. ICheers and
hissesl. If l had been south. / suppose 1
should have been in the southern army but
that would not have made it right. Their
cause was one of dishOnOr. 1t is 4 crime to
teach the rising generation that there any
thing in II worthy of fighting for. II re put
down anarchy, 1t Is because We Worship one
flag.
II We ALLOW CoNFSo ;"ATE FLAGS
TO be brought out and wor ped. We had Just
as well allow Ghs anarchists to bring out theirs
Every man who comes to US should prove that
ho Is in love 18th our flag fore he is given the
elective franchise. We ha e been liberal to
Others. but We must put safeguards around our
institutions to protect ourselves Everywhere
throughout the land we ought to hold up to the
rising generation Just such object lessons as
this here tonight. We see that the south is
blooming under the influence of "a reconstructed
and restored Union. There is but one thing
that checks her pr 'perlty. time will come
when she will accept as true all the issues for
which We fought. Ii will be when she accords
10 all her citizens Their tie RICH: to vote and to
have their votes counted. If they cannot con-
troll the colOred man, and direct his vote they
had better JOIN his party. There are men who
are building up the south especially in Vir-
ginia. North Carolina and Georgia. who are
outside Of politics. 1t is time for the south to
stop worshIping the idols of the past and look
20 the future. Let the past take care of itself.
Let rs look TO the future and honor the men
who saved the nation"
At Gen. Grants Tomb.
The L. 5. Grant Post, No. 237. department of
New York, G. \ r., arranged the memorial
services at Gen. Grants tomb in Riverside
park. At the entrance to the tomb floral
arch was erected be- g the inscription: En-
shrir,d in the hearts OF his countrymen."
Above that a shield with tle national
eoiors. made also of flowers. and this was sur
mounted by fl raj cross with the Grand ARMY
motto. IF. c. l." The interior of the tomb
was mass of flowers and evergreens so great
as to comp stely hide the casket Chang Yen
i1ooh. tHc thiDtSt HitnlDOtfHtiafy at
Washington. sen. floral device bearing
his name. W lde Post. No. /. sent a fine
imitation of tbs liberty bell in flowers and
many other organizations also made floral con-
tributlons. On the left side of the tomb
Platform was erected. on which the exercises
were held About 5000 people surrounded and
occupied the enclosure. Commander George
Prince opened the proceedings with a short
speech, and Rev. j. NJ. Buckley made the ora
ton.
"A Kansan on Arkansas.
Yesterday the ladies of Fort Smith. Ark.
wives and daughters of Federals and confeder-
ates. were out in large numbers laden with
flowers with which To decorate the graves of
the heroic dead wE) 1t dead in the National
cemetery. irrespecti of the side OH which they
fought. Hon. Thorn ) II. Barnes was orator o;
the day. After l. lad finished speaking Hon.
Mr.. Nelly, of X ssas. was introduc ed and said:
The state of Arkansas is in disrepute Com
rades Benjamin and Clayton were assassinated
IN this state because they were loyal to the flag
OF their country. The eyes of the entire
country are upon Arkansas" He said his state
legislature had passed resolutions denouncinp
Arkansas, and calling upon the national gov
eminent TO protect Its people. even if il had to
put II under martial law. and then continued:
Il am Congressman. and. comrades / will
see that you are protected if my influence and
power can effect 1t, even if We have to resort te
martial law
An Indignation meeting of citizens was after
Naru htId protesting against the statements of
MIR. Kelly.
At Other Places.
At Jacksonville and st. Augustine. Fla, the
soldiers graves were decorated yesterday under
the auspices of the G. a. r. Citizens partici-
Pated. and the graves of both Federal and con-
federate dead alike were strewn with flowers.
Al IT. Augustine. during the night some one
mad placed Federal flag on the monument to
the confederate dead of the town and the flag
was removed by direction Of the Memorial as.
soeiatlon and the monument garlanded with
flowers
Memorial Day was celebrated at Chalmette.
near New Orleans. by the Grand Army of the
Republic with the usual ceremonies. The
graves OF Union soldiers were decorated with
Mowers. The COnfed, rate association. Army of
Tennessee, Northern Virginia. and cavalry men
TOOK part IN the ceremonies and made hand
some noral contributions.
Inc Gay was more generally observed in
Trenton. y. j.. and the procession to the ceme-
terles was larger than for many wears. Pater-
son post, James L. Page Memorial association.
and other organizations from Philadelphia
decorated the grave of Gen. Geo b. Mcclellan
In the cemetery orations were delivered bv
Moses Veil. of Philadelphia. and ex-Secretary
OF the Navy George VI. Robson.
There Was a little difficulty at lakewood ceme-
terry Chicago. yesterday between the q. A. X.
men who hadcharge of the decorations and two
brothers named MohOney who came with two