The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-31
AT FISHERS HALL.

Long before the appointed hour crowds
| of people assembled in the evening al
Fishers Hall until the auditorium wal
| full to overlooking. Standing room could
not be had, and fully two houndred people
men, women and children, gatNered tc
commemorate the day by appropriate ex.
.rcises. Upon the platform were Senator
Dolph, the orator of the evening, the Rev
Mr.. Short, DR.. L. P. Mullinix, F. d. Win
ton, the Rev. Mr.. Bushong, and members
of the committee. .--el,.
The exercises were opened with PRAYER
and the singing OF Columbia, Gem OF
the Ocean." Little Josie Hibbs recited
Our Veterans, Dead" and then the
spoaker of the evening was introduced,
the Hon. j. N. Dolph. Mr.. Dolph said:
Members of the Grand Army. La
dies and gentlemen: On this historic
spot associated with the earliest history
or civilization upon the North Pacific
Coast, on this oQy set apart to commem-
oraIte with filling ceremonies and the
tributes of affection the lives and services
Of the patriotic dead who saved tn
Union when the hordes of treason, Were
marshalled for its destruction. All a lime
when nature Is awakening to new life
obliterating the scars of Winter and
decorating the face of the elrh with
verdue and flowers, we have met togeth, r
FOR the purpose of acknNwIedeing with
gratitude our obli7ations to the men who
fought in the armies of the Union to pre-
serve the Republic.
To the silent cities of the dead from the
green hills of New Ensllud where the
first rays of the morning sun gildad the
Continent, to this city by the sea, which
washes the western confines of the con-
hnent, the citizens of the great republic.
without distinction of party, In grateful
remembrance of the services Of the men
who bore the brunt of the battle to save
the union, have marched to dep0s their
ttoral tributes upon the graves of the SOL
dfirs of the union who have RESPONDED TO
the tattoo of death and laid down to their
eternal rest.
OF the more than 100000 of men who
were mustered into the union armiea
during the war 1t is probable that mora
than 100000 are today tenting on the
amp grounds of the dead. Many of these
lie in unmarked and undistinguishabie
graves. Sixty Thousand lie in grav
round the prison stockades of the south.
Though no stone reared by the hands OF
affection marks their last resting place,
Ind no flowers have today been scattered
1pon their graves, their memories are
every community and in almost every
household throughout the north, ana
their brave deeds, their courage, their
suferings and their fortitude will ever b
held in grateful remembrance by the re-
public.
We viii not forget them today as W
recall the memories of the vast army
who laid their lives on the altar of their
country and who went down in the great
conflict.
-Four hundred thousand men,
The brave, the good, the true,
In tanglewood, in mountain glen,
On battlefield, in prison pen,
Lie dead for me and you.
-Four hundred thousand Of the brave
Have made our ransomed soil their grave
For me and you,
Good friend, for me and you.''
The long columns Of the nations de-
tenders who responded to the nations
call and who survived the fierce conflict
to return to the pursuits of peace are
being rapidly shortened.
The enemy whom no courage can van
quish has invaded alike the ranks and the
field and the staff. Thomas, Grant, Sher-
idan, Sherman, Logan and many otherS
have answered the summons Of death and
passed to the other side. OF the grand
army that marched in review along the
streets of the national capital at the close
OF the war. how few could now be mus
tered. Should the nation be threatened
by foreign invasion or torn by domestic
strife and again call her sons 20 arms,
how few OF that vast and then uncon,
querable army would be able TO respond.
Not only are the actors in the great
struggle for the preservation OF the union
passing away, but the memories Of the
war are growing less bitter. The trent
ment Of the men VINO conspired and
fought 10 destroy the union mas been
without parallel in history.
But we should not with nragnaniniity
to the offenders become tolerant Of ths
offenss.
While ! would not on such an occasion
do or say anything 70 renew the bitter
ness engendered by the war. 70 array