The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-03
DECORATION DAY.

the patriotism and honors the memory
Of the heroes who went forth to battle for the
Nations liberties and vindicate its high name
among the people of the earth. 1t is a privilege
sacred and dear to every American to conseerate
one day of each year to the memory of the loyal
hearts now stilled in death. and to ftly acknow-
ledge the great sacrifices made for all who live
under the folds of the Stars and Stripes.
1t is a strong and noble trait of Americans to
love peace, shun the horrors of war. and depre-
cate the maintenance of large armies merely for
the sake of scientific butchery. Americans new
er appeal to the god of battles save for liberty
and the protection of home. A war of conquest
is an abomination to them.
As we differ in this particular from all other
nations. so is our love Cor the brave defenders
stronger and more abiding than is felt by those
people who look upon as profession of
arms" in which men engage solely to kill and be
killed. AS is the difference between the motives |
and courage of the professional pugilist. or the
soldier constrained to an unwilling service. and |
the willing enlistment of the patriot who brave
ly endures every hardship and danger, for prin- |
ciple. so is the one between the estimation in
which Americans hold their soldiers and the in
difference and contempt manifested in other
countries toward their automaton warriors. In
every portion of our broad land the sentiment is
the same. and whether it be the blue or the gray.
the reverence and love is equally sincere. for all
fought for the right as they saw it.
The exercises at the Opera House were impress
sive and will linger long in the minds of those
present. George F. Douthitt. Esq, delivered
the address, which print below. 1t is well
worthy careful reading.
The procession was the largest seen in Raven
ma for years. 1t was headed by the Atwater
Band, which was secured for the occasion. Fol-
lowing it came Mcintosh Post and the uniformed
rank K. of P. and large concourse of buggies
and vehicles. The sidewalk from Main street to
the cemetery was an almost continuous line OF
moving humanity. and when all had reached the
burial ground, they formed one of the largest
| assemblages ever seen inside its gates.
The grave of each defender was lovingly deco
rated, and the people returned to their homes
subdued in mind at the gentle remembrance of
| the dead, yet exalted in spirit and rejoiced in
heart over the grand testimonial of peoples
love. and proud in the realization of nations
glory in giving birth to such heroes.
| Mr.. Douthitt's address was as follows:
| The history of nation is the history of mil
| lions of human lives: as man is but boy full
| grown. so is nation but the perfection of the
| growth of manhood. Reared in ignorance, sur
rounded by vices and impure influences, the boy
makes only what you could expect of him. an
| imperfect citizen; so a nation brought into ex-
istence without an object in view. with no motive
or purpose by which to improve the government
or society of man. will become a nation of dark
ness where anarchy will reign supreme.
In the moral as well as the physical world.
nothing is anomalous; symmetry and law per-
vades the existence of things and makes incon-
sistency impossible; and like the growth of hu
man lives. the growth and Importance of nation
depends upon the antecedent power and judg'
ment that precedes it
One of the greatest problems we attempt to
solve is the problem of mans capabilities and
destiny. .and the nearer we come to the final solu-
tion of the problem. do we find that virtue is in
dissolubly connected with happiness. vice with
misery, and industry with thrift and content; sc
in the problem of nations. the nearer we ap'
proach the accurate result do we find that the
spirit of liberty is eternal principle. and ma
tions are best by its presence: that nations gov
erned by wisdom must prosper. and those rulec
by disregard to justice must fall.
Life is but warfare between the elements o
good and evil, and from the cradle to the grave
this silent battle for supremacy continues. unit
by its mighty teachings we become ennobled ant
better. or sink into insignicance and squalor b.
not giving heed to its warnings.
No great principle or truth is ever permitted
| to find favor without opposition, or credenc
without contest; truth is passed through th
conflict of opinion as the oaks of the forest ar
. nursed by the tempests and whirlwind, ever.
storm extending its root and adding vigor to it
branches. To oppose truth is to challenge atten
, tion and to denounce it is to unfold its beaut!
l and establish its power.
Happy is he indeed. who has worked out
bright destiny in the face of opposition, and be
, come ennosled and purified by overcoming trial
| and withstanding temptations, and happy AM
prosperous is that nation which has stood tn
tempests of bigotry. and the wrongs of oppressiV
, government. and become elevated and enlarge
in the face of the accumulated wrongs of the past
ri We may feel proud that we are the blest sub
. jects of such a nation. It is not our purpose
review the past.and count the fearful cost.for W
are students of history. and know the story al
too well suffice it to say that after all the might
, conquests of the earlier days. and after we ha
emerged from the wilderness. and begun ou
greatest era of prosperity. we had yet to lear
the greatest lesson of ancient or modern times
, and that in the defense Of American liberty
Liberty, the great watchword of American indie
pendence. for whose sacred name many live
, had been sacrificed. had grown to have broade
q meaning. and wider significance than the Garlic
patriots had ever known. because it had bee
q nurtured and sustained in the light of intelli
gence and Christian zeal. 1t become to mea
that all men are created equal. and that whic
, best subserves the interests of the entire natio
is for the best interests of the individual mar
In this. as in all great and important question:
E there was a wide divergence of opinion, and
became necessary to resort to the highest tribu
nal known to man to maintain the right, an
proclaim to the nations of the world this grea
truth that had slumbered already too long.
Many of you who are gathered here toda
know. alas too well. how you struggled with tn
problem; you know how at last it was inall
solved. but at such fearful cost. You can nev
er forget the long marches the sufferings fror
hunger and thirst, the deprivations from tn
home freside and all its sacred scenes. the slen
watches of the night, the struggles for master
on the morrow. the sutferings from wounds an
disease, and no wife or mother near to comfoI
or relieve. But. thank God. the conflict at las
4 ended. and the happy messenger of peace pro
e claimed the victory won. and that right ha
pr syailed; and now thankful that when you 81
together and tell your stories that never grO'
old. you sit in the light of a happy. united an
prosperous country, bound together by the tie
of your common blood.
While we remember and retell the stories c
these still living heroes. let us also remember tina
the brave men in whose name we meet today
added to all these other tolls the loss of life
They have fallen in the contest. some in the Ion
laborious march. some by the fever of the camT
= some have fallen. when marching to meet tn
enemy they received the bayonet in the breast
S and others high in hope and anxious of victory
=, were laid low by the cannon or the musket bal
n On every battlefield were left some of the bra
vest and truest boys who ever risked their live
in defense of a just cause Some are laid away il
the wilderness. where none but angels know thei
t last resting place; some sleep upon the hills c
Lookout Mountain. and others find refuge i
the soil of Gettysburg, and nearly every strear
! and rivulet in the vast South can chant the re
QUEEN dirge of thousands of brave sons VIII
3 bseathed their last of earth upon their borders
1t is our happy privilege to meet today in hon
or of these brave souls. that we may perpetual
their memory upon earth and that your children
and your children's children may know that tn
names of those who risked their lives in defens
of just cause sweet in the mouths of men
and every age should know their actions.
These brave men were not bred to arms. wer