Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-31
HONORS PAID TO THE DEAD
Ceremonies Commence at 10 O'clock at the
Various Cemeteries.
FLOWERS PLACED UPON SOLDIERS GRAVES
Citizens Unite in Observing Memo
rial Day-Oration by John l..
Webster Delivered Mt
Hnnscom Park.

The celebration Of Decoration day in
Omaha was on a very quiet plan. Nearly
al, of the business HOUSES kept open the en-
tire day. The banks were closed all day and
some few business houses closed during the
afternoon. The wholesale houses closed at
noon, as is usual on Saturday. The display
OF bunting was not as lavish as is custom
airy with Omaha people, but this might have
been due, to some extent, to the threatening
aspect Of the weather. Old Sol did not show
himself and the blue dome of the heavens
was hid from sight by lowering clouds
which dropped occasional light showers upon
the earth.
The ceremonies in honor of the day COM
menced at 10 o'clock in the morning, when a
detail from Phil Kearney post, Grand Army
of the Republic, from Fart Omaha, fired a
national salute at Forest Lawn cemetery over
the graves of the soldier dead. At the same
time committees from the various posts of
the Grand Army and Women's Relief corps
were ready at each cemetery in and about
the city where soldiers were buried, and
these commenced the work of strewing
flowers upon the graves Of the honored dead
who gave up their lives in defense of their
country's freedom or had passed through the
perilous fight to sliccumb later to the sum-
mons of the grim reaper. These several COM
mittees had gone over the city the day before
and had collected from the public schools
and other sources wagons full of flowers,
which were taken to the headquarters Of the
several posts and prepared by the MEMBERS
of the Relief corps. At 8 O'Clock yesterday
morning, the committees at the ap-
pointed rendezvous and were transported to
the cemeteries in conveyances furnished for
the purpose.
SERVICES AT THE PARK.
The celebration proper, in honor Of the
day, was held at Hanscom park in the after
noon. The military escort formed at
Fifteenth and Douglas streets. The escort
was composed of the Omaha Guards. Thurs
ton Rifles and High School cadets, headed by
the Seventh Ward band. followed by "a car
riage containing Hon. John l.. Webster, ora
tor of the day, the chap ain and officer of the
day. The escort marched up Douglas street
to Twenty-fourth, thence over Twenty-fourth
Harvey, Twenty-eighth, L~eayenworth streets
and Park avenue to Hanscom park. The
posts of the Grand Army of the Republic
and unorganized old soldiers and sailors
formed at Woclworth and Park avenues and
took up the line of march behind the mill
tsry escort.
The exercises at the park were held about
a mound resembling a grave, which had been
prepared in the open space Immediately
north of the band stand. A plain. marble
shaft marked the supposed resting place Of
an unknown soldier. After a funeral dirge
the Soldiers and SRi.ors' Burial corps, read
the roll of the dead. followed by the rituals
tic service of the corps, during which the
sgr rws,. was was de decorated grated Eith ras T STs e ; s,,s shd
After a medley Of war songs by the band
the orator of the day, Hon. John L. Webster,
was introduced, and made q lengthy and elo-
quent address, speaking substantially as fol-
lows:
MIR. wEBsTER'S ADDRESS.
"When Washington had delivered his fare
we'll address as the first president Of the
United States, he was given a banquet at
Philadelphia, at which was exhibited in his
honor an allegoricsl painting. The central
figure in that painting was a woman repre-
senting America, seated on an elevation
composed Of sixteen marble steps, represent
ing the several states of the new nationality.
on her left was a shield, the sign Of protec-
ton, and an eagle, the bird of freedom. AT
her feet lay the cornucopia, overlooking with
| the blessings 10 mankind secured by the
American revolution. In her right hand she
held the Indian calumet Of peace, supporting
the cap of liberty. In the perspective ap-
peared the temple Of fame, in which the
memory of Washington should be forever
sheltered. On her left hand was an altar
dedicated to public gratitude, indicative Of
that gratitude which new swells In the hearte
of more than 65, 600, 900 people. In her left
hand she held a scroll inscribed "Valedic-
tory''-that document so full Of wisdom and
statespanlike advice that 1t has ever since
served as an anchor of public safety. At the
foot of the altar lay a p!umed helmet and
sword, emblems OF the many victories Of the
| revolutionary fathers, but now laid aside as
the Goddess Of Liberty ruled above them In
peace. The figure of Washington appeared
retiring down the marble steps, pointing
with his right hand to the emblemg OF power
he had resigned, and over his head Genius
was placing a wreath OF laurel. That ale
gorical painting was q beautiful picture Of
the newly-risen republic which had it's birth
amidst the storms Of seven years OF war, and
had but lately started on It's more brilliant
career OF peace.
at was to preserve and perpetuate that
nation that the comrades living and dead
bore arms In battle from 81 TO '65. We
honor the names OF those old soldiers, be-
cause in their lives and doipgs they honored
the nation. The war in which they took part
was a war for the preservation OF the union
of all the states, SO that the nation should
continue strong in her united strength, and
continue onward In her course to the ac-
complishment of the great purpose for which
she was created.
MISSION OF PEACE.
1--WE believe with Washington that the
mission OF our country is one OF peace and
not OF bloodshed, but above all things 1t is
our duty 10 maintain our national honor
and dignity. To live for America. to labor
for America, and, II need be, to die for
AHleIlca, ih d bdSlcu uuNyt thS performance
Of which will best serve the cause OF human
liberty in every land beneath the sun.
"In 1852 II seemed that America hal
reached the acme Of perfection and was
rapidly travelling along the highway to the
ful6llment OF her destiny, but It was not 80.
Another event. greater than all those that
had gone before. in the cause Of humanity.
was left for the administrator of Abraham
Lincoln, the apostle OF liberty.
That task MAS 20 save the union Of states
from diag0lutiOn and from aliUWreck amidst
the ssNhS a Eectl6nJ paisiol then blow