Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-31
FOR NATIONAL UNITY
earnest Appeal for tn. Nurture and De-
Velopmsut Of This Sentiment.
r,,r GREAT ARMY OF PATRIOTS.
or. Tent, In His Decoration-p"s.
address, Urges Reverence for the
law. pecries Partyism, and Pleads
for Principle I'm Government

long tourney on crowded sueei-S"'3'
With the thermometer ranging In the hihe-
les. one OF tho largest thronss IN many
FEARS left the city ye sterday morning 10
% honor 20 the dead comrades lying Ia
Code Acre" so picturesquely situated
n Seven Pines.
phn K.,rny Post. No 10 Grand Army
" the Republic. was there in full force
As also were the members Of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps and the Sons
of Union Veterans, who, with numerous
friends and sympathissrs, made up
party considerably in excess OF thSt "iio"
has assembled at the National Cemetery
On MemoriAl-Day for many anniversaries
There was no procession; no demons'ia-
lion Of any sort. and the solemn ana I'M
oressiye ceremonies. which were deco-
rously conducted beneath the nag s'a.
on which "Old Glory" drooped al nali
mast. were marked by heartfelt soiro"'
patriotism. and dignity
THE OPENING EXERCISES.
The assembly was called to order by
Commander Burgess promptly at ~
o'clock. and the large choir. composer Oh
members of the Woman's Relief corps
nncnGd
National Anthem. General orders were
then read. and the opening prayer was
offered by Rev. DR.. c. H. Corey. chaplain
az the post. followed by the ritual arrang
cd 10 be said on Memorial-Day each
wear by members Of the Grand Army oi
fhe Republic The service was followed
by a vocal solo given In most Impressive
manner by Miss Emma Lawton ana ae'
companied on a small portable organ
bv Miss Bessie Pattee. MISS Mayme
Leahy recited Cartoons beautiful piece
converse with the Slain" with fine dra-
matte effect
THE GRAFTON OF DIR. TEFFT.
The orator OF the day. Rev DIR. Lyman
y Tert was introduced IN eulogistic
terms by the commander. His address
was listened TO throughout with pro-
found attention and frequently interrupt
ed with applause Dir. Tent said
With mingled pleasure and apprehen-
sion | received your invitation 10 speak
on this occasion was glad 20 express
nv sympathy with the Grand Army OF the
Republic: my sympathy for tho sake OF
the sad days of the past; my sympathy
for the work now before them ana LOT
mat which awaits them In the days 20
come But / feared lest the best thought
which 1 could bring should fan below the
hirh shirt which must needs animate this
patriotic gathering.
The dust OF those who fell IN battie
Is mingled with the earth all around us.
Their bones rest beneath the green grass
on which we tread. Around TINS TAN
stah on which "Old Glory" is floating
are gathered the survivors OF the great
conflict This Is no picnic for mere
merrymaking. Your hearts are full or
great memories; your faces are thought
full Tears 6ll your hearts If not your
eyes. The experiences Of the past are
craven so deep upon your SOUS mat
they can never be effaced. And with sur
vivng veterans are gathered their chl-
dren-the sons and daughters Of those
who fel' or fought for their country.
And with these. with the veterans and
their sons and their daughters, have come
their friends who shared their pa
triotic impulses in the past, and are one
In their patriotic hopes for the future.
ENEMIES WERE NOT THERE.
The enemies Of the old flag-f enemies
10 this symbol of our national unity and
greatness can anywhere still be found
are not here And all over the land to-
day like assemblies are seen. In the East
and In the West, IA the North by the hun
bred thousands: In the South in smaller
bands, they assemble to keep alive the
memory Of the heroic dead; TO keep fresh
and green the patriotism OF the living
10 feed the altar-1ame which burns In
the hearts of all who love their country.
The ranks of the men who passed
through the baptism Of fire and blood
are being thiuned Every year the Pale
Reaper whose arm is never weary and
whose sickle Is never duh, gathers his
sheaves. Other granaries may be
empty, but the storehouse beneath the
sod never lacks its harvest. And so the
veterans miss their comrades one by ono.
But let US remember that the patriot
army Is not becoming thin and small.
The sons are standing in the places Of
their sires. And the sons are more in
number than the fathers. The sons will
never discredit their fathers memories.
They will never turn their backs upon
he record Of glory which the fathers
have written upon the pages OF history.
lf ever again danger comes TO the great
republic. their country Will not appeal
% the young men In vain. And beyond
hese is yet another patriot army-not
he sons Of those who fought. but whose
souls are full of fire. and their life ready
10 be offered. And from the sons of
hose who thought that they did well to
ight against the old flag there shall
arise myriads who will not count
themselves unfaithful TO their memories
IN standing In it's defence This great
and-the mother of us all-shall never
ack defenders
What is our work to-day? To keep for
ever green the memory OF the men who
gave their lives Cor us all.
WHEN SHALL THEIR GLORY FADE?
We meet to renew the friendships formed
and cemented I'm the dark. stern days OF
danger and death. They who have known
only the days Of peace can hardly under
stand the meaning Of those cad times.
And may they never know such days!
FACES TOWARD THE FUTURE.
But the Grand Army has other work
beside the chershng of great memories.
Our faces must be turned toward the
future, We must look ever, not TO the
setting, but 10 the rising sun. The
work Of the great army OF veterans and
of the younger army that is rising up is
not yet finished IL will not soon be
finished The great apostle gave the ring
ing motto, which ought 10 be our text to-
lay; Forgetting the things which are
behind, and stretching forward to the
things which are before, l press on to-
ward the goal' What Is the goal be-
fore the great patriotic army? There
are victories Of peace to be won. There
are problems Of craftsmanship which the
private citizen and the public man must
work together to solve. There ere dan
and wrongs 90 be destroyed. There are
yet institutions of right and righteous
ness 10 be built up on sure foundations.
l. There is need of nurturng end
developing a great sentiment of national
unity. We engrave upon our national
coat-of-arms the legend. "E Pluribt~
tnum." But In the minds Of too many
Pluribus is written large and Unum
Is written small. 1t is the work OF the
patriot army TO write Unum. the oneness
or the great republic, in glorious capital
letters In the hearts OF all the people.
The distinction OF statehood is framed
into our constitutional forms OF govern
ment. But does this mean that State
citizenship outranks American citizen
shipY Does this signify that IT is greater
10 De a Nirginian or a New Yorker than
to be an American? This does not mean
that local loyalty comes first and ma
uonal loyalty holds second place. II
is our work TO write American In
letters OF gold on the blue sky which
arches above all the States; to write Il in
glory among the stars. that In the night
OF danger ell may read the writing that
We are one. IL is our work 10
write II In the hearts OF all the citizens.
80 that the thought OF separation shall
never again arise; 10 write II in the hearts
OF the boys and girls. so that the senti-
ment or national unity shall grow with
their growth and strengthen with their
strength. Let the winds breathe tho
word "AmQrlcan Lot a.