, 1891-05-31
DECORATION DAY.
The Nations Soldier Dead Re-
membered.
President Harrison Speaks at
Philadelphia.
Memorial Services in Other
Cities of the Union.

ing is President Harrison's response to
Mayor Stuart's address of welcome: MIR.
Mayor. comrades of the Grand Army of
the Republic and fellow eitizens-I esteem
it a great pleasure to stand in this historic
edifice 10 this historic city, to take part
today as a comrade Of the Grand Army of
the Republic IN these most instructive
and interesting exercises, which have
been instituted to keep alive iu our hearts
the memories of patriotic devotion and
sacrifice. II is eminently appropriate
that we should stand for a little time. be
fore we 90 to the graves of our dead, in
this edilice where the foundation of the
Declaration of Independence and of civil
government we're made and put into that
course of development which has brought
our nation to its present position of nros-
perity and Of influence among the nations
OF the earth. | have recently, in an extended
trip, been able to see what the flower is of
the seeds that were planted here. We
are here in Philadelphia, a community in
stituted upon the principles of peace and
good will among men, and yet, in a COM
munity that has given conspicuous illus
tration of the tact that the fruits of peace
may sometimes be made to be defended
by the valor OF soldiers. You did not at
all depart from the great lessons which
were taught by the founders of this great
colony when, uniting with your comrades
from all states, you went into the field to
hold up this banner, to maintain peace
which should be perpetual and all pervad-
ing in all states. Obedience to the law is
the first element of domestic peace aud So
cial order. You went out tn maintain
that and Rave established. as | believe,
again in the affections of all our
people, the old flag of our fathers, and
rave settled perpetually the question of
loyal submission to the constitution and
law in all states. 1t has been settled to
the great contentment aud happiness of
all our people. | appreciate most highly
the generous welcome which you extend
TO me, and shall take part in the exer-
cises OF the day with a sense of their fit
ness and of the great events which they
commemorate. have never been able
to think OF the day rs one of mourning.
| have never quite been able to feel that
halt-masted flags were appropriate on
. Decoration day. [ have rather felt that
the flag should be at the peak, because
those whose dying we commemorate re-
joiced in seeing it where their valor placed
it. We honor them in Joyous. thankful
aud triumphant commemoration of what
they did.
At Laurel Hill cemetery, as the presi-
lent passed between the lines of posts
and under the battle flags, he reYerently
removed his hat aud bowed his head in
honor of the memories theY represented.
Along the entire line of march to the
stand immense crowds of people greeted
the president with silent demonstration
of respect. After the usual Memorial
day exercises Commander Sanger stepped
forward and introduced Comrade Har-
risOn as the honored guest Of the day. As
the president stepped to the front of the
stand he WIS greeted with cheers by the
assembled multitude. In his speech be
said, in part:
ave rejoice now that a grateful govern
mcnt has gathered together the scattered
dust of all these comrades aud placed
them in beautiful and safe places Of honor
and repose. | cannot but feel that ifthey
could speak to us todsy they would saw
Put the flig at the top Of the mast |
recently returned from an extended tour
of the states, and nothing so impressed
and refreshed me as the universal display
OF this banner of beauty and glory. Ii
waved over every school house; was in the
hands OF children ind, ss we sped across
the sandy wastes. at some solitary house
some one would come to the door and
wave 1t in royal greeting.
Two years ago | saw a sight that has
ever been present in my memory. AS we
were going out OF the harbor OF Newport,
about midnight on q dark night, some of
the officers of the torpedo station had
prepared for us a beautiful surprise. The
flag at the top of the station was unseen
Ia the darkness of the night, when sud
denly electric search lights we're turned on
it, bathing it in a food of light. All be-
low the flag was hidden and 1t seemed to
have no touch with the earth, but to hang
from the battlements of heaven. 1t was
as if heaven was approving the human
liberty and human equality enjoyed by
hat flag.
Let us take on this occasion a new
draught OF courage. make new VOWS OF
conservation. Let us not forget that. as
good children aud good patriots, it is our
duty always to obey the law and give it
our loyal support and insist that everyone
else shall do so. There is no more mis-,
chievous suggestion made than that the
soldiers of the Union army desire tn lay
any yoke on those who fought against us
other than the yoke of law. We cannot
ask less than hat in all relations they
shall obey the law and that they shall
yield to every other man his full rights
under the law. ! thank you for the pleas
ure of participating in these exercises
with you TODAY and give you a comrades
best wishes and n comrades good bye"
At the conclusion Of the presidents