The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-02

Ladies Of the Grand Army Conduct Interesting
Exercises in Capitol Park.

heroes who fought, and the lives SO
freely given by the martyrs who fell,
in order that the geographical integ-
rity and free institutions of our cOun-
try might be preserved, may be more
constantly kept in mind by the sue
ceeding generations of our people, the
common, heirs to all they accomplished,
and to all their glory.
Il can conceive of no more beautiful
method of honoring the patriots who
fought for the preservation of the
Union, and of perpetuating the memory
of their ValOrOuS deeds, than by plant
ing in every town, hamlet and city of
our whole country memorial groves OF
trees, taken from the ensanguined
fields upon which their martial bravery
shed undying luster
Such groves should be made object
lessons to our children, and as time
rolls on and the trees shall grow in cir
conference and eXpanse it is under
their spreading branches and umbra-
geous foliage that on each anniversary
of our National Independence Day
should be read our immortal Declara-
ton of Independence, and the assembled
people taught the lessons of loyalty to
country and obedience to law; there let
those who wore the blue and those
who wore the gray meet on common
ground and rejoice over a country re-
united, puissant and Incompatible; let
them there, forgetting all past differ
ences, resolve anew to be faithful to
that noble sentiment, Liberty and
Union, now and forever, one and insep-
arable'
These trees have not been taken only
from those backgrounds where Fed
eral arms were triumphant, but side
by side with the tree from Gettysburg
and ApDomattox will grow the tree
from Shiloh, Balls Bluff and the VIII
derness, and this is as it should be, for
upon whichever side the men engaged
in that gigantic struggle fought, they
We're Americans, all, and the perfect
courage displayed by those upon the
Confederate side commands the respect
and admiration of mankind and reflect
glory on the whole American Nation,
and know that those brave men who
finally came out victorious are, as gen
erous victors should be, loudest in their
praises of the gallantry of their cour-
ageous foes.
that great war, who, with hundreds of
thousands of others, inspired by patri-
otto impulse, in response to our mar
tyred Presidents call for volunteers,
answered, We are coming Father Alb
raham, 300, 900 more.
I know that to you old white-haired
veterans these ceremonies have a deep
er significance than they can have to
me. know that this occasion stirs emo
lions in your hearts unknown to those
who are not of you; to you these memo
rial trees, whose roots have been nur-
tured by the blood of your comrades in
arms, are a living link between the
present and the past, but if they recall
recollections that were best forgotten,
let the knowledge that they are planted
here by the loving hands of your wives.
daughters and other devoted loyal fe-
male relatives and friends, to perpetu-
ate the splendor of your achievements,
obliterate all that is unpleasant in your
minds and impart to you the same
pleasure that is theirs by reason of
having accomplished their noble pur-
pose.
And to you. Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic, the faithful, low
ing companions, relatives and friends
Of our revered old soldiers, this must
be an hour Of unspeakable happiness
You have not only, after months Of
constant and jealous endeavor, sue
ceeded in planting here, almost within
the shadow of the dome of your State
Capitol a group of trees that Will stand
for ages to come as a monument to the
loyalty, valor and worth of those who,
when the crucial test came, We're tried
and not found wanting, but you have
done that which will reflect great honor
upon our State for to you is due the
credit of first conceiving and rendering
this beautiful and poetic form of trib-
ute to our countrys defenders.
That your worthy example will be
followed by the loyal philosophical la
dies of other States and communities
there can be no doubt
Once more, in the name of the great
State Of California, I bid you thrice
welcome, and in conclusion let me hope
that the gentle rain will so nourish and
the golden sun so shine upon the trees
planted here to-day in memory of our
heroes dead and heroes living that they
may thrive and grow beyond our fond
est hopes. and may the spirit Of liberty
and love of country dwell amidst their
sylvan shades forever and forever
more"
THE FLAG PRESENTED.
Mrs. Herr then announced that Mrs.
Lydia c. Hinckley, President of Seven
Pines Circle, No. 3. of San Francisco.
had herself made flag for the occasion.
which she would present.
Mrs. Hinckley said that she had
promised the ladies that If they would
procure a pole she would make a flag
for it. She would now fling it to the
breeze in the name of patriotism. and
hoped the children would look on it
with affection, and when it was gone.
provide a larger and better one.
a number of boys from the Suffer
Grammar School, under the direction of
Julian w. Johnson, the Principal then
rendered the flag service and assisted
Mrs. Hinckley in raising it. and saIuted
it as it was unfurled, while the band
played THE Star-Spangled Banner"
fine vocal quartet by Messrs. Cohn.
Desmond, Genshlea and Croker.
There VIII Be One Vacant Chair"
followed.
MRS. WAGGONER'S ADDRESS.
Mrs. Eliza II. Waggoner, Chairman
of the Memorial Grove Committee, in
presenting the trees, said:
Madame President, Ladies and Cen
tlemen: A passing thought of a few
| months ago-a mere day dream-has
now become the reality Of to-day, and a
happy day 1t is. The supreme joy of an
eventful life.
They that make a single blade of
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