Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-30

Lessons of the War.
The lessons of the war we're briefly
and the truth of Of the fact
that the men who wore the blue
we're eternally right, and those Of
the gray eternally wrong forcibly
demonstrated. Speaking in conclu-
sion OF Memorial day. he said:
"Herc we gather about the tomb
TO which each and all of us are fast
and here the wonderful
mystery of death comes upon the
mind, and the contempla-
ton Of which must OF necessity make
of as better men and women. To
pay homage to these honored dead,
these aged fathers and mothers have
come. For that same purpose these
middle aged gray-haired men and
women are here. For that purpose
those Of the younger generation are
here"
Memorial Day.
1T Is left to those alone. north
and south, who through cowardice,
want of patriotism, or treason. who
we're then living and took no part in
that great struggle, to find fault
with the observance OF this day, and
to intimate that the things of which
this day is commemorative should be
observed and that in its place there
should be forgetfulness-nay, even
Oblivion. We Of generations grown
up since the war should be reminded
on occasions Like these Of the suffer-
ings. of the privations and of the
hardshipsof those who died that we,
their children aud children's chill
dren, might have a country with
such untold and boundless opportu-
mites in which to live. I be-
lieve 1 give utterance to the wishes
of those generations when I say that
we do not want this day to go by I'M
observed, but that rather we do pre-
fer to have this day periodically OBJ
served. 1t IS no new custom for the
living to pay homage to the heroic
dead. Ancient history is replete
with evidences OF that fact. Artists
and sculptors in all ages have each
designed aud brought forth their
masterpiece In order to commemor-
ate brave deeds of brave men. The
poets have sung in their sweetest
and most heroic verso praises to
those who died that their country
might live.
Zach recurring Memorial day
lengthens rapidly the long roll of the
dead, and likewise rapidly lessons
the numbers of the living. Soon
there will be only a thousand left
then a hundred, then ten, then at
last one single, solitary. aged. feeble
and helpless survivor of the mighty
host of over 100000 brave and
heroic citizen soldiers who went
RMrth 81 years ago to do battle for
human rights and liberties and to
preserve inviolate the union. He
TOO, must answer the unerring call
which will come to each one, and
then the great army will be extinct.
Rapidly our soldiers are gathering
liver there. On the other side you
will see the face of the last loved
martyr OF the war, the noble COM
Emander-in-chief, whose care worn
face and kind eve many Of you have
SO often seen. His matchless spirit
looks out from the halo of undying
glory which surrounds it to greet
the gathering host of silent soldiery
on that other shore. Surrounding
HIN are your great leaders. Scott,
Mcclellan. Hooker. Meade. Thomas,
Grant, Hancock, Logan and Sheridan.
The immortal souls Of the soldiers in
whose memory this day is kept,
make up the mighty columns. They
have come up from Bull Run. Shiloh,
Antietam, Gettysburg, vicksburg,
from the tangled mazes of the wilder
ness, from Sherman's march to the
sea and from all the batt,efelds of
the war. They are there from Libbey
prison, Belle Isle, Andersonville and
ali the prison pens Of the south.
The rivers and the ocean have yielded
up their quota. The brave sailors
with their admirals are there; all
the cavalry and artillery and infan-
try are there. They are . mighty
host marking time before the great
white throne. They are waiting for
the last reveille, which breaking in
SHALL dWdkC
to the life immortal the bleached
bones and crumbGng ashes of the
soldier dead"
The Concluding Ceremonies
Miss Grace Bromley gave recita.
ton, and then Buford post, 243, G..
A. r.. repaired to the soldiers mon-
ument, and under the direction of
Commander Knox, Chaplain Bruner.
Adiutant Norris and Officer of the
Day Wilcher. conducted the rituals.
tic service of the order. The Rod
man Rifles fired the salute to the
dead, the audience sang America, 3
and with the benediction by Rev. G..
+. Taylor, the exercises closed.
This Afternoon.
This afternoon Buford post has
gone to Chippiannock to decorate
the graves of the soldier dead, while
Wentz post ofDavenport, and Graham
OF Moline have joined in the cere.
monies at Rock Island arsenal, where
Julius fischer, of Davenport, is
i1re speaker OF the day.