Thomas County cat., 1890-06-05

ercises, With an Address
by Hon. J. E. Camp.
bell.
Last Friday was Decoration Day, and
with it came hundreds from their farms.
and many arrived by the morning trains
from distant counties. to witness the
grand parade and exercises of the day.
By noon our streets were thronged with
men, women, and children. Half an
hour later found the procession forming
on Franklin avenue, under command of
Rovohl post No. 302, G. A. R., with H.
II. Miller as commander The commit
tee of arrangements, Messrs. j. E. Lesh,
chairman; J. P. Bayha secretary, and F..
G. Laubach. had completed every detail.
and Chief Marshal j. B. Morrison with
Assistant Marshal R. K. Beymer, found
no difficulty in forming the line and pro-
ceeding to the cemetery. The line was
fully one mile long, and the number of
persons was nearly if not quite 1000. In
the procession were the G. A. R., Sons of
Veterans, w. r. c., school children, fir
ing squad under command of Capt. j. E..
Meglemre, city council and citizens in
carriages and wagons
At the cemetery square was formed
surrounding the monument erected to the
unknown dead, and the post ritual ser
vices were held. The choir. consisting
of Prof. r. K. Beymer, Alber: Garfield,
Ed Hovey, E. Van Metre and - Baird,
of Lincoln, Nebr.. furnished excellent
and appropriate music. A number were
detailed from the Post, w. r c.. Sons
of Veterans, and school children to dec
crate the soldiers graves scattered
throughout the cemetery. While this
was being done, Comrade j. P. Bayha
deposited wreath of flowers and ever
green, centered with the national flag, on
the monument, delivering the following
address:
"A nations flag represents its sever
eighty. 1t Is adopted by its supreme
authority as symbol or sign of itself,
and wherever the fact of the substantial
control Of that authority, at that point,
is thereby asserted. If there is struggle
between two powers for control, the
presence of the flag proves that the auth
Ority it represents still maintains itself,
and its subjurgation is declared by low
ering its flag and by the substitution of
another in its place. The flag is. there
fore, an expression to the eye of the con-
dition of things; and attracts the sympa-
thies and antipathies, the joys and sor-
rows, the hopes and fears of those inter-
ested in the sovereignty it represents. 1t
is the rallying point of sentiment and en-
ergy. The affection and reverence be-
slowed on our country will light up into
q patriotic fame at sight of its flag. 1t
is associated with all the heroic deeds
and achievements that adorn our nation
al history. and with the less of all those
we honored and loved, who followed and
fought for it and gave their lives in its
defense. Our "Star Spangled Banner"
has been a thousand times baptised in
blood dearer to us than our own, and the
sight of it recalls all these sacrifices so
cheerfully made to establish or preserve
our institutions. The flag of the United
States may well call forth more enthusi-
astic affection, pride. and hope than any
other in the world; for it symbolizes not
only home, country. and associations
dear to Americans, but the justice, lber-
ty, and right of self government that are
dear to all mankind. deposit this beau
tiful emblem, a wreath of flowers, con-
tanning the Nations Flag within its cir
Gle, in honor of the flag under which the
Nations Heros fought and died"
Comrade B Gurwell, in behalf of Ro-
vohl Post, stepped forward with wreath
Of flowers lettered with the name of
Chas. o. Royohl. and said:
Il deposit this wreath of flowers in
memory of him who, when his country
md flag was in peril by treason and war,
enlisted in the 9Th Kansas regiment of
infantry, served his country well and
during the dark days of the re-
,elIion, and met his death as color bearer
If his regiment, while leading a charge
lpon the rebel Notifications at Chica
nauga. Peace be to the memory of
Charles o. Rovohl.'
Capt. R. NJ. McGonigal, s. of ", in
behalf of that order, deposited a wreath
,entered with the name of U. S. Grant,
md said:
Il deposit this wreath of flowers in |
of the Great Commander who |
vas the hero of Donelson, Shiloh, Vicks- |
,urg, and the War of the Rebellion.
Surrender and I will |
light it out on this line if it takes all |
SUMNER was his motto, and by his ami
Ible yet firm and unwavering disposition |
Won for him the applause and honors of |
he world, Long may the name of Cen
raj q. S. Grant live in the memory of |
II comrades and the people of this na-
ion."
Mrs. b. H. Miller, in behalf of the
Tomen's Relief Corps. came forward
With beautiful evergreen wreath in her