The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-31
IN MEMORY OF HEROES
INDIANAPOLIS sTREwS FLOWERS
on THE GRAVES OF SOLDIERS.
Commander Marsh, of the State G. A.
X. Delivers an Orntion-Crowds
mt the Cemetery.

ASIDE from the chill or a rather unSeaSon-
able atmosphere. yesterday was an ideal
Memorial day. The heavy clouds that
poured forth rain at dawn began to lighteh
during the morning. and by noon gave indi-
cation of a fair afternoon. At 130 o'clock
and almost simultaneous with the first re
verberat.ng cannon salute the sun burst
forth radiant. The day was generally OBJ
served by the business men and manufac-
turers. The large dry-goods stores dis
missed their forces at / o'clock in the
afternoon. and the manufacturing establish
ments gave their employees an entire holi-
day. All of the county and State offices
were closed during the day. and the court
rooms were deserted.
A noticeable feature of the day was the
fact that. while the streets presented a
Sabbath-like appearance and all other lines
OF business were suspended, the saloons
were open the entire day. The law affect
ing the date did not include the liquor ele-
ment, and the saloon proprietors took adj
vantage Of the fact. The day passed with
out unusual incident. The cemeteries were
beautiful in verdure and foliage.
At Tomlinson Hall last night the me-
mortal address was delivered by Hon. A.
o. Marsh. Of Winchester. department COM
mander of the Grand Army of the State.
The hall vas appropriately decorated.
Pictures of famous war generals orna-
mented the stage and on each side of the
gallery the portraits of Washington and
Lincoln looked down upon the scene.
Many OF the arrangements were original
and unique. At the rear of the stage a
white tent represented the camp fire, and
In the center of the hall an altar had been
constructed to remind the veterans of the
solemnity which attends the ritualistic
work of the order. On the stage sat Mrs.
Nettie Ransford, Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Hit
and Mrs. Mcbride. prominent in G.. A. R..
relief work, and Rev. A. B. Whitney, r.
NJ. Smock. O.. r. Weaver, DR.. c. s. Boyn-
ton, George w. Spahr. H. B. Snyder, G.
H.. Shower, Fl. P. Pontius ard other
gentlemen well known in Grand Army
circles. Col. /. n. Walker presided over
the exercises. which were opened with a
song. "Strew Beautiful Flowers by the
large memorial chorus. Rev. A. B. Whit
ney, the officiating chaplain, offered an
eloquent prayer and the chorus followed
with the song 1.-The Vacant Chair Miss
Mabel Glenn, a sweet-voiced young lady.
rendered the solo waiting and respond
ed to a hearty encore.
The address of Mr.. Marsh occupied over
an hour. but was listened to with the
closest attention. He was introduced by
Colonel Walker in a few well-timed re-
marks concerning the patriotism of the
American people, which does not seem to
wane.
Mr.. Marsh felt sure that questions per-
tanning to government must always pos
sesS absorbing interest to the intelligent
and conscientious citizen of the Republic.
As a mQmhar of On nruo ntzntfDr 49,.
of men who have had something to do with
the preservation OF the government in it's
purity, he asked the indulgence of the au-
dience to speak in simple words of the
practical lessons to be drawn from the past
history Of the race. He began with the
early history Of men and referred to the
revolutions and struggles for liberty that
have marked the pages of history for near
ly twenty centuries. Coming down to the
history of the American rebellion, he spoke
substantially as follows:
But the great issue decided by Shrek
ing shell and whistling ball in the smoke
and roar of conflict was not a question of
national unity for us or for liberty for
one race alone. but that of constitutional
for the people and by the people might not
perish from the earth; that there might
the free air of heaven. Should be- bSS recog-
nized as an emblem OF liberty and of the
universal brotherhood of man. The heroic
dead, whose memory we honor to-day, gave
their services and their lives TO perpetuate
this principle in government and to keep
theso " comT S1dHas'' from oDm QUIET lei homes Se Of peace Muse
TO make our Offering with them 10 the i'm
perial public. To-day we touch elbows
with them and drink from the same cam
teen. You see them again as through
smoke and flame they climb giddy heights
and breast the terrible stream OF leaden
rain and iron hail. Again We see the
manTled bodies as the life current SLOWLY
ebbs from gaping wounds and the merci-
full kiss OF earth touches the pallid lips.
The legacy left by the valor of these COM
rades 10 this generation is not only an
untarnished flag, but a Nation, strong, en-
during. respected-a Nation whose solution
OF the problem of life has brought its peo-
pie better opportunities TO enjoy prosperity
and happiness than is enjoyed by any other
race that now does or has ever inhabited
the globe. Shall the fruits of their vic
tories be preserved? . . 1t is a sacred
duty resting upon us that We keep our
American institutions under the control
OF men loyal to American institutions and
principles We honor ourselves in honoring
our heroes.
DESTITUTE OLD SOLDIERS.
"As a representative of the remnant of
that Grand Army. the purpose of which is
to keep alive the memories of the war, to
preserve with jealous care the fruits of our
victories, TO provide for the wants of the
needy and destitute among our comrades,
L feel that 1 should be recreant TO my duty
did i not, on this occasion, call attention
to what seems to me TO be a disgrace to
this great State, and to plead for your as
sistance in aiding our comrades in remov-
ing ii. / bow my head in shame when / am
compelled TO tell you that there are to-day
within the borders of the State, a State
the blood of whose sons Redeemed every
battlefield of the Union, a State which gave
TO the Nation as brave. grand and true a
body OF defenders as ever marched under
her bannerS-that in this State there are
of these old comrades who aided in keep
ing the flag of liberty in the sky nearly
seven hundred who are inmates of aims
houses or who are being supported in whole
or in part by public charity. The Grand
removing this disgrace from the State, has
set on foot a plan for providing homes for
the destitute comrades, where they and
their wives may pass the closing days of
life In a home provided especially for their
use. l appeal TO you as patriotic fellow
citizens OF this State to join with my COM
rades in urging upon the members of our
General Assembly an Appropriation for the
establishment Of this home
I'VE are at this time menaced by dangers
that seriously threaten our peace Nothing
less than the highest degree OF wisdom,
patriotism. courage and firmness can pre-
vent serious results. We have opened wide
our doors to the world, gladly welcoming
all who might come TO US and become law-
abiding citizens, believing in American
ideas and principles. AS a nation we have
been greatly benefited by the many sucn
who have come. But while access has been
easy the Anarchist, Socialist and Com
munist of the old world has sought refuge
here. bringing with him infamous doc
trineS, murderouS weapons. We shall be