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

| the most significant event in all the
| four years war for the supremacy of
the flag, should be represented in this
Memorial Grove with trees from both
great armies and that the son Gu. s.
| Grant, Jr), of the victorious General
Grant at whose shrine the nations of
the world so recently paid homage.
should send tree In Memoriam'' of
his distinguished father, and fitting
also that the tree sent US by the Con-
federate soldier Chas. H. Sweany of
Old Appomattox c. H, should have
| been taken from near the Confederate
headquarters of General Lee. the point
of surrender We have called this tree
the tree of Peace-and place it here in
memory of that great contending army
who are our brothers and citizens once
more. loud applause).
Accept this gift of trees, guard them
well, let no vandal hand despoil them,
and as the years shall come and go
and the genial California cline shall
send the life giving force through leaf,
branch and bloom, and as your chill
dren and children's children, walk
amid the shadows of this Memorial
Grove and partake of the fruit of this
Tree of Peace, may they become better
citizens, more Jealous patriots, and
may they know war no more.
Miss Edith Renwick, the Marshal. in
few neat remarks, presented Mrs.
Waggoner with silver trowel and es-
corted her to the tree that came from
Balls Bluff, where she went through
with the ceremony of dedication.
JUDGE WALLINGS GRAFTON.
Judge ]. NJ. Walling, Past Depart
ment Commander of the c.. A r., next
delivered an eloquent grafton, full of
"reminiscences and very interesting
The planting of a memorial grove, he
said, was a novel idea and this was the
first one that had ever been planted so
far as he was aware. 1t had always
been the custom for ages past, for ma
tons to commemorate the achievements
of their heroes and many marble shafts
! had been erected, but this was the only
living monument, 50 far as he knew,
erected by any people. The scene re
| called many incidents of the past to
him. There is nothing that so stirs
the memory of the days of 81 as to
hear the names of the battlefelds and
to see the flags and hear the patriotic
music. The Ladies of the G. A. r.
have hit upon a most happy solution of
how to preserve the memory of those
who gave their lives to their country,
and other States would doubtless fol-
low.
Our history, it seemed to him, was
the most remarkable of any nations.
1t seemed to be the fruition of mans
struggles for independence, and it
seemed that we were under the special
protection of Providence. Our wars
have only been in favor of liberty, or to
redress a wrong inflicted on the people,
and not for acquisition of territory.
Every American citizen should make
himself familiar with his country's his
/ tory and thus better fit himself to be
loyal to its interests. The glories of
former nations have been written in the
blood Of conquered peoples; not SO with
us. To-day our nation stands as bea-
con light to the ignorant and a symbol
| of emancipation of the Slavish nations.
| Our flag is the emblem of equal rights
and says the schoolhouse is the expo
nent Of liberty and enlightenment. 1t
is the only flag of the free The man
who appreciates the flag as he should
can fully appreciate patriotic senti-
ment. This grove is intended to per-
petuate the memory Of those who gave
up their lives that their country might
live. They were different from other
soldiers, and simply fought for the
honor of the old fog and to show that
the republic depended on the valor and
patriotism of it's citizens for it's per-
petuity.
They saved the South as Well as the
North, and made us free nation.
While we admire those who fell. we
should not forget another class who
contributed to their country's preserva-
tion-the patriotic women of America.
They suffered as no man suffered. They
sent their husbands and children and
lovers to the front, while they stayed
at home and suffered the tortures of
anxiety and privation They tended
the sick and wounded in the hospitals.
and sent them all manner of comfort
nd relief. And to-day we have a fur
Their evidence Of their thoughtfuIness
and patriotism in this occasion. So
long as patriotism finds a responsive
chord in the hearts of the citizens, so
long are republican institutions safe
and it is our duty to see that the rising
generation know the difference between
!
Government.
He was not much of a believer in
the blue and gray business No two
soldiers who fought on either side be-
lieves he was wrong, and he believed
| there was difference between thosew
saved the Nation and those who sought
to destroy it. The ladies who have
done this thing deserve the thanks of
every citizen.
MRS. BAILEY'S ADDRESS.
Mrs. Belinda S. Bailey Past Depart
ment President of the Ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic. followed.
She said that it was generally conceded
that the women were non combatants
and opponents of love and home. 1t
might seem strange that they were
found at this time perpetuating the
! memory of war. The sentiment of
these times was in favor of peace. Why
should the women now be here on this
| occasion. They have suffered from war
but in the presence of these trees they
| declare that if ever such an occasion
arises as did in 1861 they would again
declare for war and send their relatives
/ to it. They love peace so well that
they would fight to the death for it.
They are proud of the relatives who
fought in the greatest war the world
has ever seen. Great, not on account of
the great armies. its cost or the amount
of territory fought over, but because
the issues and the great principles in
volved lay near the throbbing hearts
of humanity, and it established the
principle that human souls are not