The National tribune., 1896-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY,

MEMORIAL DAY.
General Observance by the Boys in Blue
and Loyal Women.
In al the cemeteries around Washington
where lie buried heroes of the Nation, the
boys in blue, their surviving comrades and
loyal women pad tributes to yalor. There
is one day in the year that is set apart as
sacred to their memory, when veterans
gather sbout their grass-grown graves and
spread flowers over their last resting places.
The bugle sounds the assembly, the band
plays martial music and funeral marches,
and eloquent orators do tribute 10 those
who have laid down their lives in defense
of home and country.
The most elaborate exercises were held at
Arlington Cemetery, where, after lengthy
parade by the Department of The Potomac
and Others, thousands cf people gathered.
The Grafton was delivered by Representative
Brosius of Pennsylvania. Depa. tment Com
mander John McIllroy WIS in charge He
opened the exercises with brief remarks, as
follows:
An eminent orator has said How poor
this world would without its grayes-with-
cut its memories of the mighty dead"
Standing beie this day, on this spot con-
secrated as the final camping ground of a
great army OF men who ransomed the Nation
with their Understanding here amid
myriad Of graves which shall forever senii-
mel the Capital Of the country for which
ihey fought and died, we exclaim with proud
sincerity: How poor this Nation would
be uiihout its grayes-withoutit its memories
OF the heroic dead"
Before Us rises The beautiful city whose
name and well being are dear 10 every
American heart. The sunlight smiles on
dome and turret, on stately columns, and
scuiptnred marble fronts, leauieOus products
of more than a century Of American skill
of American pride, OF American wealth, of
American plans and aspirations. No other
Nation can boast so fair capital city.
YeI how poor and frivolous all this architect
ural grandeur seems beside the low green
tents whose curtains never outward swing"
which mark this hillside, and from which
RISES and shall Use forever, ike a glorious
c2halatl0n, the inspiring memories If what
Americans sleeping here did, dared, and sui
fered that the Nation might become freer,
greater, and stronger.
Far better could we bear 10 see beautiful
Washington destroyed a hundred times than
TO lose one ray of the never-iading glory
from these honored graves
We may Pile brick and mortar higher
than he hills, we may carve marble into The
farest forms that the artists fancy can con-
ceive, we may cast br0nz- into enduring
monumens, yet how inglorious and com
place it Will ali he compared TO deeds
cone and sacrifices made for the elevation of
humanity. These alone have sweet SAVIOR
which fills even the spacious heavens, and
endures forever
Though our National wealth he reckoned
by hundreds OF billions, though every mart
choke with streams Of gold, how poor this
lard would lie without its memories Of Grant.
Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Logan, and the
heroic hosts hlch followed them where
angels might fear TO tread.
For thousand years Greece's glorious
temples have been ruins; We scarcely know
where her teeming cities stood; the gods she
worshiped have become merely artistic
myths. But the glory Of her sons who fell
at Marathon defending their country from
the conq0er0Ts yoke is lusirOus as II vas
2,400 years ago. For "a rolling centuries,
through all tie vicissiiuGes OF history, the
mound on the plains of Marathon which
covers their remains has been sacred altar
OF patriotism, from which men Of every race
and tongue. in every land, in every cline, IN
every age, have drawn inspiration and en-
couragement in their struggles against OPP
preston and wrong. Robbed of all else,
Greece has still had measnreless riches in
her graves NJ Marathon.
SO ha We impershable riches in the
graves which lie around here, our quota
- IL. \ 4 a.
dempiion cost. They have enriched The
whole world Marble viii decay, ANA bronze
c0Trode. The cloud capI ed towers, gorge
Gus palaces, the solemn temples" will
perish aud like the laseless fabric of
vision. leave no: wrack behind" Riches
wall take unto themselves wings and fee
away. But these graves and their exalted
teachings viii be with and the world till
the last syllable of recorded time through
all the mutations OF the ayes, making
thousands OF generations vet TO come more
devoted 10 tie land which these men died
To save, and higher and holier in every
thought and deed.
Again we say, How poor this country
would be without lis grayes-without its
memories of the heroic dead"
Col Charles Il. Lincoln was orator at Sol
diers Home and Representative Prince made
a speech. DIR. A. j. Huntoon, Senior Vice
Commander, was in charge.
Al the Congressional Cemetery, DIR. J. G..
Raub, Junior Vice Commander, presided.
There was parade, an address or two, and
muse. Similar exercises, in charge of the
various Posts, took place at the other burial
grounds.
COMMISSIONERS MURPHY'S POLICY.
Declares He WIN He just, Liberal. aud Con-
sistent i'm His Administration.
Mr.. Dominic i. Murphy. the new Commits
sioDer OF Pensions, took charge Of his office
last week. Ia interview lac is quoted as