Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-23
A GRAND WORD PAINTING.
Rev. William N. Channing's Description of
the Great Review

the Great Review
The following il taken from the Washington
Duiiy Chroniols of Monday. May %. 1865:
The Rev. William II. Claiming of the Uni
tartan Church IN this city gave utteranee. in his
discourse yesterday morning. TO the following
eloquent and graphic description of the grand
review:
AL thAt can hope to give is general i'm
Preston Of this wonderful scene the like of
which none expect or wish 70 see again;
Tor God grant that our warfare is accomplished
FOR ages. forever. within this nation But
sublims beyond power Of e1 ,ression was the
Manifestation thus given. for once, OF the
heFoIsm Of free people. Rome in her era of
Inn perial grandeur, France and Germany in
the medisval ages. Paris in the most splendid
days of Napoleon. London in the nooatide of
Wellington. never looked on such a triunlphsl
procession rolled through the broad avenues
Of the capital of this republic for twelve hours.
10000 strong. and thirty miles. a: least in
length. More snowy displays have been often
made; for these veterans were returning from
the longest marches. the severest exposures
and the sternest contests which any armies IN
modern times have passed through, AID,
though neat and trIm as circumstances per-
mitted. yet their uniforms were weather
Stained and faded. and their tattered banners
told the tale OF their prolonged hardships
But u was this very evidence OF terrible toll
anu struggle. so UncOnsciOusly given. that
made the chief charm o: the spectacle. This
was no holiday par De OF pre- !essional soldiers.
Here were our Lrothers. men of the people,
fellow citizens. who had for four long weary.
voful wears LETT home and all that makes
home dear. left peaceful pursuits OF industry
and pleasant paths OF peace. and rlsked all,
sacrificed al. for The laws and liberty OF the
commonwealth. Tor u nd iDr our children.
for all our privileges and immunities. tor our
free churcTcs. free courts. free legislative
halls. free farmers h. Ids and mechanics
workshops, free sr.Ju-- AID free presses had
they fought and poured out their lies blood.
anu borne tn Il:Iiess peitIngs Of the storm
and pare n TX heats. oh, God bless anu reward
then AMI there, How from the heart and to
tic her; % The whole nation came aud went
the meaning a.. the motto inscribed that day
OF the Capitol. y he oalv national debt we
can never pay - tie debt We owe to our vic
toriou- Union soldiers.
To one who looked eastward from the gate %
The Treasury building. up Pennsylvania avenue
20 the t-pitOl more tHau mile. the vast host
OF MOVING heroes. united into one. the surface
OF the mas, uudulaung with the calenced
marcel. bavC1rt-. and gun barrels. and sabers.
and spar heads gils.cnlaS with Immune rable
lets AMI -paTklcs of light. like the rapids OF
Niagarn flashing ia the -aHsEiue-a flood for
ever Nv AZ down an on. from cvcr-ful foGn-
tains. UNDERWRITING. continually renewed;
inmeuse IN volume. ma cs;ic in sweep, resist
less - NOM tIfll. graceful IN mlSAt-seemrQ
Ike river o. li,-a very Missouri OF manhood.
Eve. hcari. imaa, nation were filed with this
sublime VISION OF the giant stream, so steadily
pour NJ uLI ever on, tLrOGgh GaIly enam-
eled foNcry banks OF crowded sideways,
packed wIn.lyw-. tATouged roofs all ablaZe with
banners AID flowers aad many-hued dresses;
and the -reae % wonder grew deeper and
de- ~ 90 the fascinated eve watched the mex
haGstIuIe current OF vital vlSOr. beautiful in
ordered vi IN manifold one ness in harmoniZed
snTrrn NJ Nc Ia hey he.
waves on waves OF athletes. So upright and
firm "a front. 20 bTonze1 and ruddy IN tinI,
witt mattel beard and clOse-lipped hair, with
muse - P.-ant. strong and elastic like steel.
and steady. springy step, and CAV cheer
fumes Of ooh and carriage? And are these
the exhausted resources of nation deci-
mated by four wears Of bloody strife! And are
thee thirty miles Of indomitable sons of Anak
only two-dfths Of the army OF the republic
with countless heet and another of seamen
n guard their TANKS? Oh. thank. ever fresh
thanks. u the Lord God OmnIpotent that RE
has thus demonstrated before the on looking
nations that free Institutions gOvernmen.
OF people BY a people and for people is the
most stable while most progressive
the most loyal while most liberal
form OF government earth. Thanks, ever
fresh thanks This young giant OF a republic,
IN the grand Olympic games o. the ages has
proved it, powe-s and won Its crown. Hence
forth let Us have peace. Here our peace
makers and our peace keepers-men who prize
freedom the law Of heavenly order. and
who. 90 guard this sacred birtbrIgbt. ART ready
az the instant to give their lives-their all
When somewhat satisfied with the grand gen
sral impression one was free 70 note particu-
lars. What tr-t attracted the eye, perhaps.
the protusion o. flowers for this Is the
season Of roses in this District, and the rose
tint seemed TO light up with festive brightness
the dlngy and dust powdered uniforms There
were garlands OF flowers on the shoulders
breasts and arms OF the mounted officers,
~. ~
chargers. bouquets OF flowers a; the saddle bow
or In the bride hand: spTigs of flowers pro-
jecting from the gun barrels of the soldiers:
spr q OF flowers we're badges on the breasts Of
the officers heading the ranks. and. above ALL
vresth- and gar.snis Of flowers. and. sew
eral instances civic crowns OF .aUrrl. were
pendent from the spearheais o. the torn BAT
tie fags and bul.et-rIGiled guilons. The
fresh beauty OF these floral ornaments seemed
90 overspread the sh;y host with the atmos-
phere OF Paradise regaineG Of peace And
neat the gaze rivetcd upon the ban ners-
some gistening bright. with sIlkeu folds unfair
ni-hvd. their blue grounI biazOned all over
with gOldsn lctters recording the desperate
fghta through which the brigades and regi-
ment- who proudly bJ-c them had proved their
patriot ardDr and won their fame.
And beside tLrm-their comranions-were
the old banners. first blessed at home. and
cOnsecra;ei with the PRAYERS OF wives and
mothers. nov shrlvelei aad shOrn 10 futter-
ing -Lreis. scarce abb 20 clin- 70 the flagstaff
The -;lf itself often shattered and bound and
strapped 20 hold together. How those pierced
sc.rcAcd aud Taye.ci rags told of the fierce
thun Ter storms aud iron hail and sheet, of
fam % many and MANY a battlefield, How
proudly. vet with what almost reverent &c nder-
mes. the sturdy standard bearers dropped
thsir treasured trophies IN answering salute to
the cheers and hand LAT pings. and 'kerchief
waving 30 the multitude and how eye answered
eye a, tasy grlm.y smiled, memoir re-
cal. the terrif cO1n5Ats Of the past. And
thsn rom the battle fags are turned ~ study
the rank and Tie Of other regiments and
brigade. who 9TH company front o. twenty
deep and msss"d. swept by. so stately in
ms, -tic strength living organisms whose
Iulsa.iug heart thTOas we've numbered by the
rkythInIc tread. What stalwart forms-what
brouxed and rugged faces. How swinging the
strids how tC1ytnt the bearing. How youth
ful thc-e veterans % scores and hundreds OF
desperat. combats, How CAV and glad
with LtLysom- hearts. their TRIALS ended
thar work well done. their victory fairly
earned their homes secure. their nation saved
an then our mobiles marching % their humble
homes. Alas, alas. And where are they their
wcii-lOvet. trusted comrades. who left shoulder
10 sAo1lteE years ago the quiet village far
Avav among the em5Osoming hills or on the
fOssTv prairIesl These wasted ranks are their
Wines. They sleep their soldiers rest under
the green mounds Of the bloud-dycd Wilder
ness AMID IA" signing pines and henlocks OF