The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-30
NATIONS TEARS
Mingled With Flowers Through
out the Land Today.
Senator Thurston Pays an ElO-
Quent Tribute at
HISTORIC ARLINGTON.
Webster Davis the Orator at
Gettysburg.
Blue and Gray March Side by
Side at Denver.

Washington, May 3O.-The observance
of Memorial Day in Washington was
even more general than usual and the
programme of the ceremonies at his
toric Arlington, the soldiers home and
other cemeteries, where rest the soldier
dead, were more elaborate than for
many years. The services at Arlington
were especially impressive. A large
number of Grand Army posts assem-
bled at their headquarters on Pennsyl-
vania avenue at 10 o'clock and headed
by bands of music. marched up the av-
enue past the White House to Seven
teenth street, thence down c street to
Thirteenth, where trains were taken to
Arlington, which was reached about IL
o'clock. Here the procession which had
been augmented by members of sew
eral other patriotic organizations. was
reformed just south of the Arlington
mansion, headed by the Fourth Artil-
lery band.
The procession marched to the tomb
of the unknown dead" where a halt
was made while the band played a
dirge. Soon after it separated into de-
tachments and proceeded with the dec
GRAFTON of the other graves.
The president who left the White
House about 10:30 a. m, accompanied
by the vice president and secretary and
Mrs. Gage arrived at about 1890 O'Clock
and proceeded at once to the amphithe-
ater where they were Joined by the
other distinguished guests. An elab-
crate programme was here carried out,
of which the principal feature was an
Grafton by Senator John NJ. Thurston
of Nebraska. He spoke as follows:
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
by all their country's wishes blest.
''By fairy hands their knell is rung
"By forms unseen their dirge is sung"
BLESSED are the dead whose memory
is perpetuated by the flower service of
a grateful people and how truly i'm
mortal are those who give their live for
liberty.
''Tohave lived long, purposeless, neutral
years is nothing to have lived a few
glorious hours, to have bravely faced
Master in humanity's cause, is sublime.
why mourn these dead of ours?
They sleep in the bosom of the land
they loved. Here where the ground
once shook beneath the tramp of con-
tending hosts they are at rest.
1.-The sentinels no longer patrol the
banks of the Potomac. Grant and Lee
both lived to attest the goodness of a
over the river on the beauteous dome
of the nations capitol, serenely uplifted
toward the ETHEREAL blue-kissed by the
sun of day, wOoed by the stars of night,
TRANQUILITY floats the union flag of the
greatest nation on earth. Why mourn
for those who slumber here? Their
epitaphs are written in the grandest
history of the ages. Before them will
reverently pass the procession of the
centuries. And every headstone round
about, even those without name, will
be given honorable place in the mighty
monument that is to commemorate the
ennobling and uplifting of the human
race.
"a third of a century has passed
since our heroes fought; since our loved
ones fell. A third of a century in which
the reunited people of a common coun-
try have realized the inestimable bles-
sings of peace, have shared together in
the beneficent fruits of a progressive
development and prosperity which
stands alone in the annals of the
world. From this vantage ground of
the years, in this sacred spot, on the
border-land where the internecine con-
f1ict ragged, in this hour when the
hearts of the people are thrilled and
throbbing as never before at the bugle
call of the worlds humanity and the
nations duty, we will offend no Amer
lean when we fittingly honor our dead.
MY countrymen, these men who
died. may have not known, but you and
I know now that the roar of their bat
ties was but the echo of Gods foot
steps marching on. I am a believer in
an overruling providence, in the infinite
tions as of men. I am deeply impress
Sed with the thought that this great
western hemisphere of ours Is under the
especial guidance of Gods great plan,
that we as a people are struggling on
ward and upward to the fulffllment of
a supreme purpose 1t was Gods
providence that kept the new world in
all it's virgin strength and beauty until
the restless races of men had reached
a civilization fit to be transplanted here.
1t was Gods providence that gave
strength and courage and victory to the
wrought the mighty miracle of Ameri-
can independence. 1t spoke in every
line of the declaration of independence.
1t inspired the pen of emancipation
and the sword of Appomattox.
Columbus, Washington, Lincoln,
Grant! Did chance select them each
for his glorious work 80 glorfously per-
formed? Let the fool answer how he
will, I prefer to see the finger of su
preme design. That finger, may be, is
even now moving toward another man
who shall lead our triumphant hosts
to victory for liberty and humanity,
who shall wreak Gods vengeance on
wicked, cruel, merciiess Spain, and
drive from this hemisphere the last
vestige of tyranny and oppression. And
sheathed in defeat by judgment of God
that liberty might be the heritage of
every American child, will now by COM
mand of Jehovah himself, leap from its
scabbard to give liberty and self gov
ernment to the oppressed and down
trodden people of the beautiful island Of
Cuba.
What an Inspiring sight to see those
who once fought against each other
now rallying under the one flag, ex-
ulting and rejoicing that the azure field
of the union banner holds in equal hon.
ct Of Sfo On -ir inc