The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-31

pany, Lieutenant James G. Stephens
post, Grand Army of the Republic, and
the children of the public schools. Pre-
ceded by the Serenade band and car
riages containing the borough and
school officials and the clergy, the pro-
cession traversed the principal streets.
At the borough building appropriate
exercises We're held. Burgess Langan
delivered an eloquent and inspiring
address. He was followed by Attorney
C. A. Battenburg, who address in part
was as follows:
Memorial Day is a holiday much diff
ferent from any of our holidays. 1t
was not intended to be day of jolli-
fication and mirth; it was not set apart
as a day for pleasure and sport: this
should be a day of reverent respect and
deep solemnity; 1t ought to be a day
which would call forth our patriotic
impulses as no other holiday does. 1t
should be to us all that the meaning
of the word holiday implies-it should
be holy day. This is a day dedicated
to the memory of our iiiustrious dead.
How, then, can we properly observe
this day? Surely, not by indulging in
sport and pleasure. The founders of
cance to be conveyed by the celebration
of this day. 1t was intended to awak-
en- deep patriotism and feeling of
thankfulness in the hearts of our citi-
zen's and particularly in the hearts Of
the youth of our land. And can we do
better than to honor and revere the
memory of the men who sacrificed so
much for u.s.? A spirit of gratitude
Ch Mt In %
this day. And though a feeling of sad
ness pervades this occasion, our sor-
row is calmed by the assurance that
their sufferings have conferred on us
the blessings of a free country; that
their sacrifices has secured to us all
that we today enjoy as citizens OF the
United States of America.
1t Is not a new or strange thing we
are doing here today. Throughout all
time in every nation, savage and re-
| fined, the memory of the patriotic dead
has been fondly cherished Pyramids
were built for the tombs of kings; tri-
umphal arches preserved the fame of
warrior chiefs. Ancient Athens found
ed her Ceramicas, the most beautiful
of all cemeteries, and crowded its mag
nifioent and hallowed graves with al
|
| ers, shrines and monuments for those
who died in her defense. Republican
Rome consecrated her Campus Mar
| thus, where her most distinguished SOL
diers were adjudged worthy of repose,
France has her Hotel des Invalides,
with her great Napoleon sleeping be-
meath it's dome. England her st. Paul
and her Westminster Abbey for her
| Wellington. her Nelson and her Ma
| piers. In the past the tribute Of the
nations sorrow has idolized the chief
tain alone; monuments have been
raised only to the prince and the noble
Our republic and it's people recognize
the merit of the private soldier as wei
as the merit Of the great and brave who
commands him. And we cannot, II We
would, we would not II we could, forget
the uncrowned and unsung hero of thC
| knapsack and the musket. History
furnishes no parallel to the gallantry
Of our citizen soldiery, the courage and
grit of the American volunteer. The
perils and hardships of war were his
The nation placed her life in his hands
and on an hundred bloody battlefieldi
he proved himself sublimely worthy
of the trust. 1t was not our rulers who
have made this country great-they
are only our servants-but the people
themselves who each in their day and
generation, well and faithfully per
formed their allotted task.
As the days and years pass by,