Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-31

were literally displayed about town. The
various c. \. X. detachments went 10 the
cemeteries in which soldiers are buried and
decorated the graves, not one known grave
being missed. The flowers We're rather
scarce, but evergreen was used plentifully
There were several picnicS in and about
the city and some Of the picnickers who
failed 10 get home till late got pretty well
scared and wet by the storm of last night.
At the Monument.
The Ladies' Aid Society No. , and L. 5.
Grant Camp. :. of V, decorated the Sol
diers' Monument very handsomely, Thurs
dav evening, with evergreen and flags, and
il certainly presented handsome APP
pearance. Yesterday morning at
10 o'clock the Patriotic Sons Of America
marched to the monument, and also decora-
ted il, and Rev ID. l.. Ash, pastor OF IVES
lev NJ r. Chapel. delivered an interesting
address. which was listened 10 by large
audience. \ synopsis of his remarks fol-
lows:
This is a day when every true born Amer
lean and every true adopted American has
a right 20 be patriotic IL matters not what
political sentiments he may cherish, or on
which side of the dividing line he stood ana
fought twenty-five years ago, or whether
he fought al all. IL matters not whether
he lived in the sunny South or the breezy
North: whether he sang the reaper's song
amid the gathered sheaves of the Eastern
harvests or dug the shining ore from the
rich mine at the golden gate OF the Paclnc.
This day belongs exclusively to no creed,
sect. party or individual, for the simple
reason we are not divided nation, but
united people having been bound together
bv the shining clasp Of friendship and love.
On the Fourth Of July we may speak Of the
heroes Of 10 and recount their deeds OF
yalor and the wonderful triumphs CT liber-
" over tyranny and oppression. We may
speak of Washington as the Father OF his
Country and the trainers and SignerS OF
the Declaration of Independence, but on the
3Oth of May we may speak of the immortal
Lincoln and that immortal document, the
Emancipation Proclamation, which broke
the chains of four million slaves and left
them standing for the first time in all their
lives the owners Of themselves.
We may speak of Grant as the foremost
soldier of the world; Of Sheridan's daShing
ride: Of Sherman'S famous march, and OF
an the living and the dead who dared and
gave to chance the keeping of their lives.
This is day for memory and for tears,
time for weeping and for JOY. ] think Of
the dark days Of lS6l-5, when the awful
war-clOuds, surcharged with blood, rolled
up and OvershadOwed the fairest land under
the sun. / think of the husbands who broke
the clasp Of loving wives and of the fathers
who tore loose from loving, innocent chill
dren. and Of the boys who said affectiOnate
farewells to mothers, and who went forth
10 preserve the flag and Union. And when
/ think Of the thousands who were left
sleeping their last long sleep on distant
battle fields and many in unknown graves,
am sad and feel like weeping with those
that weep. When | look out
over this great, grand and grow
ing nation and hear the hum of the
countless wheels of prosperity and see over
sixty millions Of the happiest and most
prosperous people in the world, and so
firmly bound together by the cords OF love.
am exceedingly glad and rejoice that not
a single star was lost from tho galaxy. oil
our nation.
| am proud of America because IL Is the
home OF the free and the brave; because it
affords equal chances for all, the rich and
the poor. the black and the white. The av-
enues of wealth and honor are alike, open
TO all Every father may be king and
every mother a queen and every boy and
girl prince and princess. / like America
because Of the free school system. do not
saw that il is perfect, but | believe next 10
the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ II has
been the greatest blessing TO the people OF
this land.
IL brings an education within reach OF
the poor mans child rs well as the rich
mans II is the ladder by which thou
sands Of poor boys and girls have climbed
up TO the top, and from its lofty height they
have viewed the world of science and Of
arts. and have given to the world around
them shining examples of noble lives.
And while would forever divorce church
and State. would have them 90 hand in
hand, and on the desk of every school house
would spread the banner of the cross, and
from the belfry would unfurl the stars
and stripes and let them float out over a
great nation Of wise, patriotic and God
loving and fearing people.