Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

grander In its simplicity, but colder in the
marble imbecllity than was ever erected by
predict that the day may dawn when q future
American people will wish that such a massive,
heartiess, dead symbol of living greatness had
never been erected.
The time will come when to the living,
breathing. loving heart of an honest patriotic
American people this simple ceremony, which
Is oeing today performed all over this great
,sho, VIII be more cherished, more be-
neVeo In, more venerated than the building
OF monuments. Here and else where, wherever
which has brought US here, there will be found
put little handful of the survivors Of that
Grand Army of the Republic of 1861 and 1865
Ihese throngs Of people were not there-knew
nothing OF that struggle which cost and gave
tne country so much: Very many of these have
come into life since those days. but to all these
TINS SIMPLE ceremony is an object lesson--to
teach to these little ones and to these of larger
growth certain truths that must be and will be
learned rs they go through life.
LESSONS OF THE DAY.
The first great lesson taught-perhaps the
greatest Of all-is that whenever a country is in
peril by invasion or instruction, whenever the
lives and liberties Of q people are endangered
or 1eopardized, there will always be found
brave, patriotic men who will freely offer their
services and give their lives If need be to save the
country, to protect its people and to shield the
ieeoie loved ones II ON dangers and devastations.
Inc other lesson is before US. and its teach
ing Is read OF all men. that the great loyal
beailng. generous heart of o grateful people
VIII go out In blessings toward those men who
defended and saved their country and their
MONIES and that same grateful heart will never
cease 10 remember and revere the names and
persons Of those who fell in line of duty.
Wnen the var WAS ended in 1865. when the
SURVIVORS OF the army of the United States,
after four years Of battle and blood and death,
returned TO homes OF peace and civil life they
ielt more than 100, 900 of the comrades who
went out with them, but who came not back,
upon the battle fields. A grateful country
gathered the remains Of those who lay where
they had fallen and buried them side by side in
appropriate cemeteries and placed beadstones
over their graves to mark their names, their
record and their resting place. These Gene
,eries are religiously preserved and protected
py The government. The army and navy OF the
United States from 1861 to 1865 enrolled z, 000,-
OOO OF loyal men; of these 800, 900 laid down
their lives The Grand Army Of the Republic
was called into existence to perpetuate in fra
ternity. charity and loyalty the memories Of
that grand army of the Union.
INSTITUTED By LOGAN. e.
twenty five years ago one Of the survivors, a
representative citizen-soldier Logan - then
commander-in-chief of the newly organized
Grand Army Of the Republic, introduced here
In Washington this custom Of assembling once
In each year on this day-at the end Of the
month Of roses-to pay tribute to the memories
OF our comrades dead by strewing flowers
above their graves. Every year this custom
has been repeated
My comrades, it is ours to perpetuate this
anniversary. The legislatures of the states and
the Congress Of the United States have made it
'our Memorial day." All over this land some
one today is religiously observing it-for every
where Is found the grave of some soldier winch
Is being decked with flowers.
Let no comrade forget it and let no soldiers
grave ever be forgotten. Let the ceremonies of
this day be ushered in by the booming of can
non-symbol that it was through the baptism
OF war that the nation was restored to peace
undivided. Let strains of martial music be re-
mlnders Of the days when our armies were led
by music to battle and victory. Let orators
proclaim In trumpet tongues how our nation
was brought through fire and blood and war to
glorious peace and let poets repeat the story
In song and rhyme. Let divines invoke the
blessings of heaven upon this day. its memo
ries, its motives and its consequences Let
anthem which shall proclaim Peace on earth"
Millions of loyal hearts all over this great land
will beat in unison with these songs and cere-
monies. Millions of helping hands will join in
our services. Millions of little hands today and
in the coming years. like these around u.s. will
and gently, lovingly, reverently lay them as
their tributes of LOYALTY and veneration upon
the graves Of their fathers and our comrades
If tears shall sometimes fall among these roses
let them not be tears of lamentation and
mourning. but tears of gratitude and love.
Again. comrades, the roll book of the
Grand Army of the Republic is our record, our
history. The names engraved upon these
headstones here and elsewhere, where our flag
In miniature waves today and where We scatter
roses. is our roll of honor.
On this roll or on that, whether it bears the
name of Farragut or Porter or Grant or Sher-
man or Logan-or whether it bears the name
of the private soldier, who bore the musket
and barred his bosom to death by the bullet
or whether there be found there only that sad
word Unknown" on this roll or on that, is
found no mark of distinction Of rank or con-
dition. As year by year the roll is called for
volunteers to perform the work Of this ami
versary fewer and fewer OF the comrades will
answer to their names; but if search be made
those missing names will be found transferred
to our roll of honor. Not one of them will be
lost, till by and by, not many years hence,
the last comrade will answer "Herep'
to the roll of honor, and you and 1
will sleep on and on till the assembly call shall
summon us to the grand army beyond the
picket line of time. Then. citizens Of the re-
public, then, sons and daughters Of these dead
heroes, the trust will be yours which today is
ours By your loyalty, by your generation for
your nations dead, by your love of your
fathers, / charge you, keep it.
Could last farewell word of comradeship
and love reach the ears sleeping in these graves
it would be
Sleep. soldier, sleepi
No more the battle cry,
Call you TO conquer or in battle die.
Sleep. soldier. sleepi
Heed not the cannons roar
Wars dread alarm is DER,
Your country calls her sons to die moro.
Sleep, soldier. sleep!
Rest. cOmrade. resti
Life tolls for you donet
Your battles fought. your country's victries won!
Rest, comrade, rest.
With solemn silent tread,
BY sacred mem rles led,
We scatter flowers above your honored head;
Rest. coInrade, rest
Wake, heroes wake!
When the last trump shall sound
To call the nations sleeping under ground,
Wake heroes. wake.
Triumphant DER Your
Your nations flag shall wave
To honor-death-your nations life did save!
Wake, heroes, wake.
G.