The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-01
R0NORED IN DEATH
FLOWERS SCATTERED ON THE
GRAVES OF THE HEROES OF
WAR.
EXERCISES AT ARLINGTON.
PRESIDENT M'f&INLEY WAS AMONG
THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN
THEM.
AT THE TOMB OF GENERAL GRANT.
Fra grant blossoms Sent From the
White House to he Placed on
the Lenders Coffin.

WASHINGTON, May S1.-Memorial
day was generally observed in Wash
ington. The senate adjourned over for
the day, and the house held only
fifteen minute session. All the govern
ment offices were closed and the day
was given up to patriotic observances
and tributes to the heroic dead. The
bronze statues of the nations heroes
on land and sea, in the government
reservations and parks, were shrouded
in the flag under which they fought
At 10 o'clock there was an impressive
parade of G. A. R.. and other patriotic
organizations, which at IL O'Clock
broke up, the several posts holding
memorial exercises in the various GENE
teries.
The most imposing ceremonies, of
course, were held at the national ceme-
terry at Arlington, on the Virginia side
of the Potomac, opposite Washington,
which was, before the war, the mag
nificent estate of Robert E. Lee, the
Confederate chieftain. Here bivouac all
% most 35, 900 Of the nations dead, 1000
whose identity VIII never be known,
being buried in a single grave. Among
the most famous of the heroes buried
beneath the spreading oaks and elms,
are Gen. Sheridan, the great cavalry
leader; Admiral Farragut, the hero Of
Mobile; Brig. Gen. Harvey and Gen.
Ricketts,
The exercises at Arlington today
were made particularly memorable by
the presence Of President Mckinley.
They began at II o'clock, with the
national salute of twenty-one guns
from the light battery, Fourth artillery,
u. S. A. The beautiful ceremony Of
strewing flowers on the graves follow
ed. Led by the Marine band, the G.
a. R. and other organizations which
had formed In front of the old Lee
mansion, marched to the tomb Of the
unknown dead, where the band played
a dirge while the massive monument
was being decorated. After this the
procession separated. With gentle
hands and loving hearts, the graves
of the vast army beneath the trees
received their tributes of flowers. The
humblest of the country's defenders
was not neglected.
The organizations and guests finally
gathered at the amphitheater, which
was impressively decorated, where the
exercises took place. The programme
at the amphitheater opened with bug
lers sounding Assembly" After the
Funeral March by the Marine band,
the Burial of the Dead" was sung by
the choir. Thomas S. Hopkins, de-
partment commander, called the as
sembly to order, and the Rev. w. H.
Black invoked divine. blessing. The
choir sang again and then Representa-
tive Dolliver, of Iowa, delivered the
Grafton of the day. The GRAFTON was
followed by music and a poem de-
CN-1-
Webster Davis, assistant secretary of
the interior, followed with an grafton.
He said in part:
Surely the Union soldiers are the assured
idols Of undying renown, for in every emer
gency, in every danger, in the shadows of
every cloud, however dark, they were always
found clinging to the constitution and the
Union the sheet anchor of hope for the
welfare of their children. Some sleep today
in the groves of the sunny South; some in
lonely ravines, some in graves and trenches
marked unknown" yet they not I'M
known, nor forgotten, for their names are
engraved on Columbia's temple of fame
where time can never dim their splendid lus-
ter. l would just as leave honor living hero
as TO immortalize q dead saint and when
we love liberty and union well enough to defy
all hazard in their defense, We speak equally
of those who have pitched their tents on the
plains of the spirit land and those who yet
walk with US the walk of life.
Standing here on the heights of Arlington,
beloved with 10000 heroic dead, we feel
proud Of them all, but we also are proud OF
their comrades who yet survive. and we are
glad that one Of them-the gallant William
Mckinley, stands at the helm Of the old
ship of state, and with a firm hand has
turned its PROV toward the reckoning seas of
a still more prosperous future, while waving
at her masthead with stars that appear to
Hberty-lovtng people like the morning stars
Of God, and the stripes like beams of morn
ing light, see the banner Of the republic
bearing the beautiful inscription, mo East,
no West 10 North, no South, but the United
States OF America, the home of the heaven
born gift of liberty"
And don't forget our patriotic mothers It
was woman's many of kindness that
appeared in the soldiers night of gloom, like
the pure radiant tints that gid the eastern
portals Of the day. May the young men of
the North and South feel that they are
brothers, and hail the good time coming
when the last wound of the war shall be
healed. Let us be determined our country
shall not encourage in any manner whatso-
ever, the efforts made by some to create an
other sectional line to separate the East from
the South and West, for we want but one
country, and but flag and that flag
the Stars and Stripes. Every effort should
be made to advance In the realm of science
elevate the character, promote peace and
good will, narrow and obliterate forever the
widening chasm between capital and labor
ameliorate and improve the condition of the
toilers IN the workshops and mills and fields
until the shadows OF darkness and gloom
shall melt away before the dawning light OF
brighter day Of contentment, happiness and
peace.