The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-31
TO OUR HONORED DEAD
The Statesmen at Washington
Unite in Tributes of Respect.
THE PREsIDENTsErT THE EXAMPLE

Tho Chief Magistrate Participated in the
Services on the Heights of Arlington,
Though He Made No Address = All
Government Departments Closed for
Decoration Day.
WASHINGTON, May 31.-Congress rested
yesterday, and all the government depart
ments were closed, while private business
also was generally suspended. Flags hung
at half mast on the public buildings and
the streets were crowded with uniformed
/. veterans and sightseers. President Cleve-
land set the example in observing the day,
which was generally followed by the citi-
zens Several members of congress took
part in the exercises at the different Gem
tteries as orators, while among the on
lockers were some statesmen who had
fought for the Confederacy.
Whatever of bitterness may have been
the inheritance from the war seemed to be
forgotten, and the few Confederate graves
at Arlington We're decorated with those of
their own one time enemies. Most of the
generals of the war are buried about
Washington, so that friends and former
camrades had many conspicuous monu-
ments to decorate. There was a long
parade up Pennsylvania avenue in the
morning, participated in by the district
militia, under the command of General
Albert Ordway, and the q. A. II. posts,
and the ceremonies Mt the cemeteries be-
gan at noon. Slight showers fell at inter
walls, but the rain was not sufficient to in
terfere with the programs announced.
The day was sunless and chilly, however.
Elaborate preparations had been made for
the observance of the day.
The most important ceremonies were
held on the Heights of Arlington, across
the Potomac and overlooking the city,
where 10000 Union soldiers are buried.
Every grave was marked with flag and
bouquet of roses. Some of the decora-
tions were elaborate, principally the trib-
utes from the Loyal Legion at the monu-
ment of General Sheridan. Thousands Of
people crowded the grounds, among them
many members of congress and some
representatives of the foreign legation
AT noon national salute was fired, and
the torlb of the unknown, where the
bones ole hundreds of soldiers taken from
battlefields are inferred, was decorated
with appropriate services by the Grand
Army posts, the Woman's Relief corps
aud the Sons of Veterans
In the ampitheatre, where religious SER
vices We're held on the Lee plantations on
Sundays, the bugle sounded assembly.
Music was given by the Marine band aud
the g. A, Il. Musical assembly.
President Cleveland arrived shortly
after 12 accompanied by Secretaries
Gresham and Morton. The party took
seats at thc front of the speakers stand,
and was nnplauded. General Black and
Corporal , uer, both ex-commssioners
of the pen Il bureau, were on the stand,
and later Secretaries Carlisle and Hoke
Smith arrived. Hon. Augustus n. Mar
tin, of Indiana, chairman of the house
committee on pensions, delivered an elo-
queut oratlon and Colonel John A. joyce
read poem
Representative Bryan, of Nebraska,
aroused great enthusiasm by his speech
He brgan: "rhe only excuse one Of NV
generation can offer for speaking here il
to assure the veterans that this day shall
not dis with you. When the nation has
forgotten the hattleflelds whore were won
it's greatest victories it will not forget the
burial places where rest its great dead"
Speaking of the results Of the war he said:
"lt would have been defeat to have held
together iu iron bands two estranged sec
tions but it is glorious victory to have
been able to bring back an unwilling
brother and make him happy brother.n
President Cleveland sat through the
entire program, which lasted three hours,
but did not speak. After the cere-
InoISes he drove back to the city with tho
members Of his cabinet, meeting thou
sands of people who were driving over to
Arlington after the dust of the day.