Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-06-25
their n's into awtu, exigency. wit.

'nclr nfs into awful exigency. wit.
ness the last scene at family pray.
ers up among the Green Mountains OF
Men do not sacrifice their all for fun. Mer
90 not eat uiouldy bread or 20 without
bread at all for fun. Men do no. sleep un.
sheltered in equinoctial storms for fun,
There were some no doubt on both sides
who enlisted for soldiers' pay or expecting
opportunity FOR violence and p.llage OF
burning with revenge, and thirst for human
blood, but such cases were SO rare many OF |
you who were In the war four years never
confronted such an instance OF dspravity.
Butwe must not detan the two garlands |
any longer from tho pillows Of those who |
for quarter OF century have been pros
trate in dream loss slumber. never oppre ssed |
by summer heats or chilled BY winters |
cold. Both garlands are fragrant. Both |
have In them the sunshine and the shower
were mixed by him who mixed the blue
Of the sky and the gold Of the
sunset and tile green OF the grass and tho
wilderness OF the snow crystal. And l do
no! care WHICH you put over the Northern
grave and which over tho Southern grave.
Does any one say: what is the use? None
Of them will know It; your Decoration
Days both sides Mason aud Dtxon's line are
great waste OF flowers" All! | see you
have carried too far my idea that praise for
parted. Who says that the dead do not
know OF the flowers! l think they do. Tho
dead are not dead. The body sleeps but
the soul lives and is unhindered. No two
cities on earth are in such rapid and con-
slant communication rs earth and heaven,
and tho two great Decoration Days Of North
and South are better known in realms celes.
tial than terrestrial. With what interest
we visit the place OF our birth and Of our
boyhooi or glrlhoou days! And have the de-
.rf> k,so ~ 4 h~r> tba,-
were born and ransom.d and where they
suffered and triumphed. My Bible does not
positively say sc, nor does my catechism teach
it. but my common sense declares 1t. The
departed do know. aud tho hammered pro-
cession that marched tho earth yesterday to
Northern graves and TIL hammered process
sion that marched month ago to South.
ern graves were accompanied by two
grander though invisible professions that
walked the air, professions OF the assembled.
professions Of tho martyred. PROFESSIONS Of
the sainted; and they heard the anthems Of
tho churches and the salvo Of the batteries,
and they stopped down to breathe the in.
cense Of the flowers. These august throngs
pews and aisles and corridors
and galleries are insignificant
compared with the mightier throngs Of
heaven who mingle In this service which
we render to God and our country while
We twist tho two garlsnds. hail spirits
|
martyred ones come down from the Kings
palaces! How glad we are that you have
come back again. Take this kiss Of well
come and these garlands Of "Reminiscences,
down under the thunders and the light.
nings Of Fredericksburg and Cold Harder
and MurfreesbOrO and Corinth and York.
town and above the clouds on Lookout
Among the thousands Of gatherings at
the North and at the South for Decoration
Days. | am conscious that this service Is
unique and that u 10 the only one In which
there has been twisted two garlxnds, one
for the grave Of the Northern dead aud til 9
other for the grave Of the Southern dead.
U, Lord God Of the American Union, is 1t
time that we bury forever our old grudRes:
My! My! Can we not be at peace on earth
when this moment in heaven dwell in per.
feet love, Ulysses $: Grant and Robert T.
Lee, William T. sherman and Stonew all
Jockson, and tens Of thousands Of Northern
aud Southern men who, though they once
looked Askance ut each other from the OPP.
posite banks OF the Potomac and the Chick.
1sS~ a. ' oa II 4, ? ..s ID. X:n ;s
keeping jubilee with some Of tnoss old
OIL gels who nor nineteen centuries az,
cum, down one Christmas night to chant
Eyer Ris'n!eh h1q . Glory !? G2d ia tAt
both Of Which 'n are 0 wet with wit '% many tear:
tears OF wdowhood and orphanage ant
childlessness, tears OF suffering and tears o
gratitude. and a. the ceremony must b,
performed in symbol. there not beinl
enough flowers to cover all the graves. taxi
the one garland to the tomb OF some North
ern soldier who NAV yesterday have beeI
omitted In the distribution OF the sacrsmen
OF flowers. and the other garland to tn
tomb Of some Southern soldier. who may
month ago, have been omitted In tn
distribution OF tho sacrament of the flow
. ers, and put both the wresths gently dow
over the hearts that have ceased to bsa
God bless tho two garlands! God save tn
United States Of America!