The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
Decoration Day Speeches.

| Decoration Day speech that is historic was
| delivered by Col Ingersoll in Indianapolis
| 1t followed SO soon after the splendid and
instantaneous fame which he gained as an
orator by the speech in placing Mr.. Blaine in
nomination that 1t added greatly to that ora
torical repute Col IIgersol said to the writer
some years later that it was not true. as had
been reported. that the address was I'M
rromptu. The writing of it had required only
few moments. but tho composition OF it
had been a matter OF years. After his
service in the army Col. 1ngersoll used to
| recall. with poetic enthusia SIN. scenes which.
| when they occurred. had seemingly not made
| much impression on his mind. He remem-
| bered his comrades who had fallen and re-
| called some pathetic incidents of army
| life. Tho magnificent patriotism OF the time
| was revealed to him. after the battles had
been fought and the Union established. in the
light Of the poetic fancy that rs chalacterizes
Ingersolls best orations. and there came to
his mind now and then epigrams. kernels OF
thought EXPRESSED in the imagery Of the poet.
and he retained them in his memory Thus
little by little no composed that speech. 1t
was the work Of years. and when he was in
vited to deliver the address he found that the
address was ready to Le delivered and only
awaited the occasion.
Ono Of the most notable Of Decoration Day
addresses was delivered by Chauncey NJ. Do
pew in the Metropolitan Opera House on May
30. 1879. Depew had a magnificent audience.
He had accepted the invitation rather reuc-
family. but as he began preparing his address
he became fascinated with his subject Many
OF those who have heard Depew are of opinion
that it was the finest GRAFTON ever delivered by
him. 1t differed entirely from the address OF
!ngcrsoll. which was really Il prose poem.
S1sTs n sDSh Of
through the contemplation OF the heroes whose
achievements ho was to celebrate. Col lnger-
OF the finest specimens of eulogy every de-
livered by an American.
PERHAPS on. q the most Noteworthy Of Dec
Garfield ut Arlington. Many ,,t those who
heard it were familiar with Gari,eIds oratory:
nnh n he ArnSSn adreSi no
ment. ut least on subject not political.
After a .snrnS in mind the rsat Grntpns
or on the occasions of The dedications Of Fed.
eIal cemeteries. no effort can he ccomparc,l
with tho Irst Hre,S delivered II by rr.stcnt
ctery at Gettysnurg Decoration Day was I'M
known then. The war was not over, Grant
Ii vas intended to mako the gettysburg cere-
luoninl II conspicuous event, to llX tho eyes of
tho S9 W1 Wrs T. una Il rs Gnon ns Wiz
reason President Lincoln consented to 60 to
Appropriate e Tho occasion. The orator Of
tie ~ was Edward Everett. ono OF thu great;
est OF American orators. MIR. Everett prepared
accustomed to bestow vn his previous al
dresses. No orator ever took moro pains with
the composition Of his speeches or moro pa
iicnty drilled himse with respect " ne clio
cuIior and oratoriGal ,graces that should EN-
,,"ttrshurg address was to be tho grafton OF his
lie. and tho one. perhaps. by which he would
b. lost known 70 posterlty. " -, p,,
~ 10 writer. While chatting with Mr.. Edward
q; Mo"lh"rs"p; was told something Of ine manner
Mci'hnraon, as y, member Of Congress, repre-;
frni!ns tho Gettysburg, district. escorted
President Lincoln from Washington to Got
lyyfhurg Tho President seemed to be in one
OF MS mood; Of sorrow when they. entered the
fHlnisi and AlcPhcrson. who was familiar with
nnna iI"M yGryng eYnrnSSons "i h bonnts.
FL 81 Inn ,Hat day with sense Of mighty responsi.
,.hiIltleN, ana was saddened BY tho reflection
cost cost ' M SiruGg!s to maintain the Union naI
leaving ba a or ss o. s Seemed to
, p",,. or three shoots OF commercial note
pencil what seemed to 10 some fraGmentary |
comments, Mr.. Lincoln took out his glasses. |,
t trnH tne memoranda and made one or two
down a Tow things which had occurred to him !
RI haS. because it was expected Ito believed;
nat nc w ,p say something. lio was inclined
II, praise Of l.verett as a patriot and an orator
liv mneh tno Tine came for Mr. Lincoln to de-
Clos. took tho few sheets -" of note paper
rom ms p1cket, and read tho address in that
manner OF ms which at first sight seemed al
nc proceedod with his speech. Comparatively
hear II. Most Of those who did were not espe-
e'ailS Impressed by the speech; but few men