The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-06-06


former enemies. AS long as til
column points to heaven, as long
one stone Of its foundation remain
future generations OF American
should look upon it with pride a.
silent though noble emblem of
restored union and re- e-united pes
pie. In the name of his comrade
dead and living, and in his ow
name he gave grateful thanks to II
brave men of Chicago, who hdv
done honor to the southern dead, No
as confederate soldiers, but as brkv
men who preferred imprisonme
and death rather than freedom OF
tanned by a dishonorable sacrifice O
the principles for which they wer
willing to die.
OF the 5000 confederate soldier
buried here not one was an officer
all were privates. And yet thes,
private soldiers, any one of whom
could have gained liberty by taking
the oath of allegiance to the fedora
government, preferred death to the
sacrifice Of their principles. Coult
any possible dishonor attach to the
brave men of Chicago because they
were willing to recognize the cour.
age aud the devotion to duty of these
dead confederates? They were true
men, and say If you please that they
were mistaken, that they were wrong,
no brave man on earth could fail to
do honor to their courage and their
steadfast adherence to what they
conceived to be their duty.
Said Gen. Hampton: care any
federal soldiers disloyal to the flag
under which they fought because
they join in decorating the graves of
brave men whom they met in battle?
Thousands of federal soldiers rest
under southern skies, in southern
graves, many in unknown graves.
And when on Memorial day in the
south the graves of our dead are
decorated, gray headed confederate
veterans and noble, devoted women
strew flowers over the graves of the
federal soldiers. II these humane,
generous actions of the people of
this city in doing honor to the mem
ory of their old antagonists are
denounced as desecration 1t would
seem to follow that the decoration of
federal graves by rebel hands
should be open to the same criticism,
but no denunciation of southern
people for daring to honor the mem-
ory of men who were once their
enemies has met my eyes. Such
narrow and bigoted feelings as could
prompt discordant note on occas-
ions OF this sort are rarely found
among true men and brave soldiers,
and ! have often thought that il the
two great captains who were
engaged in that death grapple in
Virginia had been left to settle the
terms of peace, each supported by
his faithful followers, the country
would have had peace, indeed, one
alike to victor and van
quished, and which would have
prevented the evils brought about
by the politicians. AS it is, the
south recognizes and honors the
of Gen. Grant towards
our great chief, Gen. Lee, and
deplores as an unmitigated misfor-
tune the assassination of Lincoln.
repeat emphatically the untimsly
death of President Lincoln was
regarded by all thoughtful men of
the south as one OF the most serious
evils which had befallen our section,
and I venture to say that my
southern associates here present will
sustain my assertion. We know that
during the war he devoted every
energy of mind and body for a res
of the Union, and that
result accomplished, we feel that his
big brain and his kind heart would
prompt him to deal kindly and
leniently with his fellow citizens of
the south; for his highest, if not his
sole aim, was to see the Union
restored, and it was cruel fate that
deprived him of what he hoped would
be the reward of his labors, and the
south of one who would have been
her strongest protector in her houl
of need"
A memorial poem by Maj. Henry
T. Stanton, of Kentucky, was next,
and the literary portion Of the dedi-
cation was closed with an address by
Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows, bishop of
the Reformed Episcopal church, Chi
cago. The ceremonies Of consecrat-
ing the guns and placing the floral
decorations followed and the exer-
cises closed with the firing of three
volleys over the graves of the dead
by the First Regiment, Illinois Ma
tional Guard, ending with a bugle
blare and "taps."
Following the set programme came
the decoration OF the graves of union
soldiers in the cemetery by the ex-
confederate association, assisted by
q large number of visiting ladies from
the south, many OF them noted
southern beauties, among whom
were Gen. Underwood's daughter,