The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-13
A GLOWING TRIBUTE.

President Harrison's Memorial Day Adj
dress at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Phila-
delphiR.
Following is the address delivered by
President Harrison at Laurel Hill Gene
terry, Decoration day:
COMMANDER, COMRADES OF THE GRAND
ARMY OF THB RERUBLIc, AND FELL W CrTI-
ZENS-I have neither the strength nor the voice
adequate to any extended speech today. 1
come to you as o comrade to take part in the
interesting exercises OF this memorial day. II
gives me special pleasure to combine with that
tribute, which l have usually been able TO pay
since this day was instituted, to the dead OF all
our armies, special mark of respect and to
that great soldier who won Gettysburg 1t Is
impossible 10 separate some Impressions
bring to memory comrades who have
gone from us How vividly there comes to
my memory many battle scenes: not the Inn.
pc eCuous rush OF conflict but the hour of sad
sad duty to gather from the fields the bodies Of
those who had given the last pledge OF loyalty.
There Is open to my vision more than one
the old brigade. We laid them elbow touching
elbow in the order in which they had stood in
the line of battle We left them in the hasty
sepulchers and marched on. We rejoice that q
grateful government has gathered together the
scattered dust OF oil those comrades and placed
them in beautiful and safe places OF honor and
repose. cannot but feel that II they could
speak to us to-day they would say put the flag
at the top OF athe mast. / have recently re.
turned from an extended tour of the states,
and nothing 80 impressed and refreshed
me as the universal display OF this banner
of beauty and glory. 1t waved over every
schoolhouse it was in the hands Of the school
children. AS we sped across the sandy
wastes, at some solitary house man, woman,
a child would come to the door and wave IT in
loyal greeting Two years ago saw sight
that has ever been present In my memory AS
we were going out the harbor Of Newport about
midnight on q dark night, some OF the officers
OF the torpedo station had prepared for US q
beautiful surprise. The flag at the top OF the
station was unseen in the darkness of the
night, when suddenly electric search lights
were turned on II, bathing it in flood OF light
All below the flag was hidden and IL seemed to
have no touch with earth, but to hang from the
battlements of heaven. 1t was as II heaven was
approving the human liberty and human equal
ity typihed by that flag. Let us take on this
occasion a new draught of courage, make
trymen, it was not because it was in
convenient that the rebel states should
go, not that it spoiled the autonomy o.
the country, but because IL was unlawful, thai
all this sacrifice had to be made and to bring
them back to their allegiance. Let us not for
get that as good citizens and good patriots 1t i
our duty always to obey tho law and to give i,
our loyal support, and insist that every one else
shall do SO. There Is no more nischevtous sug
gestion made than that the soldiers OF the
Union army desire to lay any yoke on those
who fought against us other than the yoke O
the law. We can not ask less than that in al
relations they shall obey the law, and that the!
shall yield to every other man his full rights
under the law. Thank you for the pleasure o
participating in these exercises with you to'da!
and give you " comrades best wishes and {
Comrlde's good-bye.