Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-30
COL. GRosvENon's GRAFTON.

After briefly outlining the origin and incep
ton Of the G. A. r and telling why it is and
for what purpose it exists, Col. Grosvenor re.
ferred to the terrible scenes that were being
enacted on the grounds where the National Gem.
etery now is thirty years ago. He drew q vivid
and thrilling picture Of the theater OF war in
and around Culpeper thirty years since. Broth.
ers' hands were red with the blood Of brothers
and the death roll Of either the blue or the gray
was being mourned in both northern and south.
ern households. The war Of the rebellion hsd
| to be; the curse Of human slavery had 90 fas
tened its poisonous fangs into the nations vital
that nothing but bloody war could eradicate the
poison. He claimed that the results were IL
| accord with the will Of God, who ever over
ruled the destiny Of nations.
The speaker also said that Il mattered LITTLE
| to the passing. generation how the war and il
causes we're viewed by them. but IL does max;
! a material difference how the events Of thos.
stirring times from 81 to IS are viewed by the
youth and rising generation Of our land. 1t II
| important that lasting lessons Of Loyalty to one
country ard one flag should be taught from
ocean to oc can and from the lakes to the gulf
He said the future historian must award to thu
Union soldier praise above his enemy becaus.
he was on the right side.
He accorded praise and honor to the south.
ern soldiers for their bravery and endurance
but the Union soldiers must be honored for al
this and the further fact that they saved the
Union and made self-government an assured
fact.
The speaker claimed the right on this day
(Memorial day. to speak plainly and say ali
that was in his mind for the dead, the living
and our country. To his mind there had never
since the war been reason to question the in.
dividual motives Of those who faced each other
in that strife. the fact that they risked their
lives for their cause put an end to discussion as
to the sincerity of that purpose.
no los OF 90
perity of the country since the war. and the
rapid advance Of prosperity in the southern
states and the great strides of education. in
vention and moral advancement brought about
by the war. Col Grosvenor forcibly con-
trasted the condition Of the country in 1861
with 1898. claiming the better condition Of our
country from every standpoint, and, of course
claiming it all from the results of the war
brought abou: by the Union soldier
He admonished his comrades that the love
of country and duty to the government of the
Union must rise above party, and asked tina,
the Union soldier demand that the touchstone
of poitical preferment should be honesty and
capacity, and asked his comrades to stand by
each other and place civil service on the high
plane that they had placed loyalty and union in
the education and purity Of heart and the love
of the people.
He closed with beautiful eulogy to the
commonwealth Of Virginia. and touchingly re.
grandly she stood by the cradle of liberty and
proudly claimed her great men as belonging to
the whole country, and in beautiful language
admonished them that we cannot live in the
memories OF the past, but must take fast hold
of the car Of progress and march to the music
OF united and prosperous country.
RETURN TO WASHINGTON.
The party will return 10 Washington this
evening about 7:3O o'clock.