The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03
The Day Better Observed
Than Before.
President Harrison and Cabi-
net at Philadelphia.
Confederates Participate at the
Tomb or Grant
Interesting Memorial Exercises at
Many Points

dren with baskets and bouquets OF MOWERS
trooped, while mothers followed more
decorously on their way to graves where
dear relatives had been laid away. The
custom Of observing Memorial day has so
broadened that a universal practice of
strewing flowers on graves of remembered
friends and relatives has grown out of it.
With it's majestic trees and shrubbery the
cemetery was not unlike flower garden,
90 general was the distribution of cut
roses, geraniums, carnations. bushy snow
balls and fresh blossoms OF the late spring.
The absence Of q street parade brought
people to the ground early in the day, and
long before noon cars on the electric line
were heavily freighted with people carry
ing tender tributes to the memory of
those who have gone before. There was
q liberal sprinkling of gray-haired men
wearing the little bronze button of the @.
A. X. In the morning cars, and toward the
middle of the day the old soldier had to
scramble with the crowds for passage to
the cemetery. The transportation facili-
ties were, as usual. inadequate to the oc-
casion and hundreds were unable to wit
ness the ceremonies. 1t was long after
dark before the last tired visitor was able
TO return TO the city. Express wagons did
q profitable business, making extortionate
charges, as they were able to do in view
OF the great crush.
The graves of the distinguished union
soldiers were covered with flowers, many
rich designs resting on the monuments.
White lilies and peoples were scattered
about the Morton bust, while offerings
were profusely distributed over the base
of Gen Jefferson @. Davis monument,
iust across the way.
At o'clock the grand army posts and
other organizations formed at the entrance
10 the lane east Of the cemetery and
awaited the coming of Governor James Z.
Campbell and escort.
When the carriage containing the dis
tinguished orator came in sight a rocket
from the crown of the hill burst in the air.
He spoke without manuscript, his ora
ton being we'll received. An excerpt of
the address is as follows:
FELLOW COMRADES AND CITIZRNs-It is
always a pleasure and unusual qualification to
meet the comrades of Indiana in the observ-
ance of these solemn memorial services. OF
all states that were eminsntly prominent dur
ing the war In the great galaxy OF states were
Indiana and Ohio. Both were free born
daughters of q mother of slavery and linked
together In common interests. As the states
stood shoulder TO shoulder did the sons
stand to preserve the integrity of their native
the soil was dyed with the blood from one
common stream.
Today is q day for both exultation and grief.
We are gathered, not alone TO mourn our CON-
rades, but also to rejoice in the great blessing
bought By their blood and suffering. A quar-
ter of a century ago there was no such day in
the calendar a Memorial day. Ii has now
grown until it is only second in calendar days
to the glorious American dsy-lndependenee
day.
As we get further away from the memorable
event that gave rise to this observance the in
terest in the day grows, and there will be
pageantry and flowers and oratory as long as
the word patriotism sounds in human ears.
To enshrine in memory those who have
fought for human liberty has been the sub
stance of this custom. No where in the classical
or in the modern age has anything approached
this universal outpourine the part and parcel
represented as it is here. Everywhere-from
the great cemeteries embellisbed by wealth il
goes down to the little hamlet which however
small. has its quota Of fallen heroes. Today
saw the Hottest monument TO the soldier have
ever seen. You may spread your bronze uDon
Il, bat there 10 no such monument TO the
soldier as In this growing Observance of Men,
Drial day. This is his monument About you
IL seen both the white haired father and
the young son. There is something
that shows q strain of human nature in all this
Written history has brought out but little that
IL not the result of war. When the little fell
lows grow up they play as soldiers. When they
guns on their shoulders to pay respect to the
soldier. When the millennium comes, we won't
have the soldier but the millennium is evidently
not close upon us. We may die off but the
country will be safe for the boys are growing
up and are a little better OF than We were.
There has not been q civilization put out and a
better one substituted, that has not been by
staining of the soil with blood. Mans wrath is
the instrument of God and with il he regulates
the social evils. Slavery was swallowed up in
o ses Of blood.
Let as on this historic day draw the lesson of
history. We cannot con it too often. When
the colonies severed their relations with the
mother country they had slavery within their
borders. When the constitution was formed
slavery was thought to be terminated but
when the states came to vote, seven voted no.
-Four were what's called today northern states
and three were southern states. BY their action
they planted seeds which fructiied in the great
civil war. Slavery became intertwined with
all the social institutions of the South. In the
North 1t wasn't possible. From frugality and
probably. bumanity's sake 10 was abolished in
gTesped the only true theory Of
our government and thirty-6ve years
ago, slavery became the perilous doctrine of
the South. IL was only question of time IN
I'll the two sections came In conflict, and il re-
sllted in attempt to establish another con-
tcderacy bound to perpetuate slavery. A
prominent Georgian confederate has confessed
what we all believed. that such doctrine
such advanced ideas Of civilization were be-
soming established.
Even in classical history and in the history Of
Rome what was inspiring the way 10000
boo people rushed to avenge the insulted flag
IT Sumter. Everybody wanted 10 fight but
ihey had nothing 70 fight with. The first bat
Gle was discouragiDg but like true Americans
they picked their fints and renewed the con.
6ict.
The confederates were our brethren-of the
same blood and bone. They fought with a
valor and desperation never known in the an
mails Of nations. Even after Father Sherman
bless his memoyl-had followed them to tas
sea they kept their spirit alive. 1t took some
time to come down to the basis Of peace. We
aftsrward found that the people below the
Ohio river were looking on the wrong side of
the scale. We at last stood ready TO forgive
those who went out 70 fight for what they
thought was right There is q new South
the South OF union and freedom, and that is
now living
The lessons Of this day are various and not
alone of patriotism. What can you tell Of free
dom to these old soldiers who waded through
blood for foar years? To the young who were
not born ct the time Of the war, this
observance 10 an object lesson. The strewing
of the graves shows that the soldiers are never
forgotten. The lesson to the older people IL q
broader one-one of unIon-that forty-four
states are more glorious than any one state.
u l.. a IL. f. IL