Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-31

personation OF all the best and noblest
qualities which can adorn the citizen,
told us when living that "there is
nothing in all the earth that we can do
for the dead; they are past our help and
past our praise. We can add to them
no glory, we can give to them no inn
mortality. They do not need US, but
forevermore we need them"
How delicate, how forcible, and vet
how strangely true is that beautiful
language today.
To properly instruct the living, how
ever, should be a coveted enjoyment
always; sometimes it is a toilsome
servitude. Two-thirds of the present
population of the United States were
unborn when that war closed; and l
have often been told that to many of
that number the story of that sanguinary
conflict is dull and uninteresting.
But to the enlightened, progressive
student of history, that great national
contest is of interest, for it had a right
side and wrong side to it. To that
man or woman, the right side of that
war was the side of union and liberty,
and it would be a commendable private
virtue, as well as good public policy, for
even the reconstructed to admit the fact
In the name of that cause for which
we fought, and for which our brothers
fell, allow me on this Memorial day, in
this magnificent presence, to say that
there should be no confusion in our
national morality, between right and
wrong, between patriotism and treason,
between loyalty and disloyalty between
an effort to preserve the national life
and an effort to destroy it.
Major Donnell's speech was received
with enthusiastic applause. 1t was fol-
lowed by the invocation of the divine
blessing on the ceremonies of the day by
Rev. Daniel Cobb. double quartette,
consisting of F. B. Tanning, ]. E. Sisson,
j. A. Osgood, G. E. Averill, James Booth,
w. e. Dunn, F. ]. Thomas, A. B. Whit
ney, F. w. Wallace and T.Weisendanger
next rendered a song, "Praise to the
Soldier" They were encored, and re-
sponded by singing ''The Soldiers Fare
WELL"
Miss Helen Mar Bennett delivered with
good effect an account of the battle of
Missionary Ridge. This was followed by
the Grafton of the day, by Colonel j. A.
Zabriskie, of Tucson.
Colonel Zabriskie's Grafton.
Comrades of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lic and FelloW Citizens:
The history of the world is written in
blood. War, conquest and subjugation
have been the ultima thule of mans ambi-
ton.
The brutal struggles for existence
among the primitive and savage races
of men begot spirit of contest, which,
under the influence of a later civiliza-
ton, became moulded into an aggres-
sive spirit, excited and stimulated by
an unconquerable desire to excel in
feats of arms. The organization of
tribes and subsequently nations in
creased this desire, and assimilated it
with religious zeal. The fervor of pious
conviction blended with the love of flame
and the inborn savagery of man, was di-
verted from the murderous instincts to-
ward classic conception of military
glory. Thus governments became es-
tabllshed by military power, and their
progress, grandeur and decay were
measured and controlled by the valor
of their troops and strength of their
legions. War and conquest became the
inspiring motive which actuated the
nations from the earliest period of time,
and the encouragement and nurture of
the warlike spirit became the cherished
object and design of all governments
and rulers.
The exercise of unlimited sway gradu-
ally merged into absolute despotism.
The enslavement of the people to regal
power became, through the selfishness
of rulers and the Vaccinations Of
ecclesiasticism, the highest duty of gov
ernments.
The people were taught absolute sub
mission to this dual authority, and, in
spired by the impassioned appeals and
brilliant displays of military grandeur,
became reconciled to their peculiar con-
dition. Under the dazzling glamour of
imperial magnifcence they gloried in
their own degradation and riveted more
closely the chains which bound them to
were taught blind obedience to the man.
dates of kings and emperors, and their
devotion to cause destructive of every
principle of human rights was dignifed
by the exalted name of patriotism
Plunged into the fiery ordeal of mortal
combat, melted by plunder and revenge,
frenzied by the vindictive animosities Of
envous rivals and led on by unfaltering
devotion to religious duty, poor frail
humanity has ever been engaged in a
relentless struggle for the accomplish
ment of its own destruction.
A people crushed beneath the iron
heel of tyranny and thrust into the
darkest abyss of ignorance are easily de-
ceived by the supercilious hypocrisy of
willy rulers.
Accustomed to tremble at the thun-
ders of royal mandates, they crouch in
abject fear at the feet of the throne and
smile in humble submission at the bitter
DEGREES of arbitrary authority. They
are cowed by the dread of punishment,
and lured into acquiescence by the gor-
geous pageantry of kingly power.
In all nations and at all periods igno-
rance, bigotry and superstition have
combined to lead man away from his
true interest, and under the tempting
delusion of a chaste ideal he has been
blinded to the miseries of the existing
reality.
sWhen fiction rises pleasing to the eye,
Men will believe because they love the lie
But Truth herself, if clouded with frown,
Must have some solid proof to pass her down.
Thus has man through countless ages
been sacrificed for the qualification OF
royal avarice. He has ever been the
willing victim of despotic sway. I'm
conscious of its own strength the human