The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-01

Anderson Drum Corps sounded the assem-
bly, and the programme of the afternoon
began.
Joseph C. Drummond was master of
ceremonies. He, presented Rev L. w.
Bicknell, who led ia prayer. Mr.. Drum
mond read the ritual of the G. A. r. con-
corning Memorial day, interpolating Presi-
dent Lincolns address at Gettysburg.
Governor Mount was the orator Of the day.
During the war Governor Mount was him
self a private. He spoke with feeling of
the privations and death that came to so
many soldiers. In honoring the dead sol
diers the Governor thought that the Ma
ton was performing one of its most sacred
duties. In part he said:
This day is sacred to the memory of our
patriot dead. At this suspicious time, when
spring has robed the earth in a garb of
beauty and IS ready 10 cas- her floral
tribute at the feet of summer, it is emf
nently proper that a grateful people should
honor the memory of their fallen heroes:
flowers, symbols of our loving re e3mpaltt-
brance. We plant the ensign OF hoerty
upon their graves the nag N deIea esere Cd
shrine we this day renew our remembrance
of our dead soldiers and our devotion to the
cause for which they persisted.
while fragrant-fngered, flowery May
Extends her hand to welcome June,
We come with mournful tread to-day
To claim the ever-precious, boon
OF Offering on each hallOWed grave
Our love in tribute to the brave.
I'VE should honor the memory of the
brave men whose devotion to the country
ard whose herOiSm on the neld OF DttCtle
saved the Union. The subjects of absolute
mCnarchies honor the soldiers who hght
their battles, though their blood and yalor
purchased not for them the priceless boon
of liberty Greece and Rome, in their day
of glory, through art in song and in burn
ing eloquence, lauded the Valor OF their
soldiers. Leonidas, with his three hundred
Spartans, merited their need of praise.
Miltiades and the army he led to victory on
the field of Marathon were worthy OF the
monument concentrating that event. up
which was inscribed:
"Miltiades, thy fame must every Persian
own,
And honored by thy prowess lies the field
of Marathon.
"Honored by the vaior and patriotism of
our comrades lie a thousand battlehelds
more glorious than those of ancient Greece.
Our comrades were not military adVentur-
ers, warning for fame or for conquest but
patriots struggling to maintain our nation
atty, uphold the country's honor and pre-
serve the union of States. On this mem
orial occasion, while we honor the mem
DRY Of our dead comrades and attest
our gratitude for the living, in order that
we may more fully appreciate their Valor
and sacrifice, and with grateful hearts
honor their memory, let us briefly review
Of the conflict in which they fought and
its tremendous magnitude.
GOVERNOR REVIEWS HISTORY.
"For more than half a century the omi-
nous mutterings of d gathering storm had
been heard. The fury of the oncoming
conflict had from time to time been de-
layed by compromise. 1t was now evident
that concession could no longer avert the
final struggle. The prophetic words of the
immortal Lincoln were to become recorded
history: "A house divided against itself cam
not stand. This country cannot remain
half slave and half free AS we review
history we find deep laid the foundations
of these prophetic words. The conflicting
Lob,
developed into bitter antagonism that grew
apace with coming years in the formation
of the Constitution all the colonies save
two admitted slavery, but in all except two
it was regarded an exotic. inherited evil,
TO be borne until it should pass away with
the lapse of time. Thomas jefferson did
rot hesitate to denounce it openly as a vio
lation of human rights and to say that
the best interests OF the country demanded
its extinction. In the original Declaration
of Independence, in Jefferson's own hand
writing, one of the grievances most strong
ly insisted upon as a Justification of reVo-
luton was the inficting of slavery by
Great Britain upon the colonies. In Geor-
gia and Virginia resolutions were passed
arraigning the mother country for the evils
of slavery that had been planted there.
I'm 1874 Mr.. Jefferson Virginias most il
lustrious statesman, proposed in the Con-
tinental Congress that after the year 1892
neither slavery nor involuntary serYitude
should exist in any State TO be formed from
the territory of the United States. The
absence of one member from New Jersey
prevented this becoming law. In 1887 the
important ordinance was passed restricting
slavery. The profits of the slave trade and
the demand for slave labor rapidly revolu-
tionized the sentiment of the South and
made it's perpetuity and spread an issue
prompted by selfish gain.
I'm 1920 Missouri asked to be admitted as
a slave State. This brought about a bitter
controversy The law of 1877 was repealed.
James Talmage of New York, opposed the
admission Of any more slave States. Mr..
Cobb, of Georgia, said fire had been
kindled that all the water Of the ocean
hing
blood would ever extinguish.' Thus, in
the Congress of the United States, because
a cogent argument had been made why
slavery should not be extended, the decla
ration was brought forth that war was in
evitable and rivers of blood must flow
John c. Calhoun foresaw the certainty
of the conflict, and in an open letter to the
South urged the forcing of the issue at once.
He argued they. were better able to meet
the conflict, which was inevitable-numer-
cally, financially and morally-than they
would ever be again. He urged as a const-
tpoh had right d tRat SLAVES sS9d be taken
tory in the Union The vital point in this
claim was sustained by the Supreme Court
of the United States in the famous bred
some of the Northern States, in defiance
of the fugitive slave law passed personal
States passed resolutions denouncing the
Union. In their mad orgies toasts We're
given defamatory of the national Union.
One of the leaders of secession in South
Carolina said, in a public speech: Rather
than see slavery restricted South Carolina
should throw her arm around the Constitu-
ton of the United States and drag the
whole fabric down to destruction
ON THE EVE OF THE WAR.
THUS time was rapidly hurrying forward
the threatened seas of blood. This mon
strous evil had divided churches, alienated
families, created bitter sectional strife and
had driven asunder political parties. The
election of Abraham Lincoln to the presi-
dency of the United States was seized
upon as justification or pretext for seces-
sion and the dismemberment of the Union.
All efforts to conciliate the South seemed
unavailng. Peace committees, compromise
men of all grades, public and private, came
together and poured out upon each other
flood of words and opinions then separated,
no nearer union, peace or wisdom than
when they met. All candid historians agree,
in the light OF the past that war was in
not be preserved, except by the fiery ordeal
of war. From reason, from free discussion,
from the halls of legislation the South
had appealed the cause of the establishment
of a slave oligarchy on the ruins of free
government to the last arbiter between ma
sword. The South sought by force of arms
to establish a system of slavery that the
enlightened Christian civilizations of the
age condemned. Other countries, Boosting
less freedom than the United States. had
abrogated slavery. In this Wanted land of
liberty, the asylum for the oppressed, could
be heard the c.anking of the chains that
held a race in bondage. Fostered by law
was an institution degrading to labor, detri-
mental to prosperity and a disgrace to the