The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-30

Upon arrival at the summit of the noun.
tain the main body of the procession pro-
coeded to the G. A. R., in the Odd Fellows
cemetery, where the Grafton of the day was
delivered by Rev. d. l. Evans, pastor of the
First Baptist church. 1t was an able and
impressive discourse, and excellently appro-
pirate to the occasion and events of the times.
During his address Rev. Evans said
"The custom of observing Memorial Day
originated in the intense love and desire of
the true soldier to honor and perpetuate the
memory of his dead comrades. During the
war it had been common to decorate the
graves of those who had fallen in battle and
after great conflict was over, Decoration
Day had been generally observed by ex Con-
federates in the Southern states May 3Oth
was chosen as the day to decorate the graves
of the mighty that had fallen asleep in death
while defending their home and country, and
the interest of humanity. The choice was
very wise one, indeed, and placing it late in
the last Spring month so that the New Eng
land and extreme Northern states could find
plenty of flowers for decorative purposes
The great object of Memorial Day is to com
memorate one of the greatest and grandest
of the great triumphs of freedom, and to do
honor to the memory of those
immortal heroes that gained that
| freedom in the most deadly con-
hict that ever took place upon this vast
continents triumph which pronounced the
final doom Of slavery and secession in this
country for all time. But slavery and op-
preston still exist in the world The cries
and groans of little Cuba have been ringing
in the ears of free Americans for years The
| beautiful little Island has been turned into a
hell on earth. General Weyler's abominable
policy of concentrating the non-combatants
into the towns has not injured the insurgents
but aroused the indignation of every one who
has learned of the awful cruelties perpetrated
| by the inhuman Spaniards General Banco
has given up the system, but it is too late.
The ruin Of the peasantry has been accom-
plished. To turn them into the fields now is
to turn them out to die"
Rev. Evans dwelt at length upon the effects
of the cruel Spanish system of oppression
and suppression, referring to the number OF
Cubans who have died of starvation alone
and also to the cruel treatment of prisoners
by the Spanish. The present war, he said, is
distinctiyely and conspicuously war for the
assistance Of right and resistance of wrong
a war with one hand seeking to crush Out
fiendish tyranny, and with the other to lift
up intolerable burdens. The blood of pool
stricken Armenia cried out for European hell
and received it not. The blood of poor
smitten Cuba cries out for American hell
and, at last, in the name of God and human
ity, gets it, 1t is decree of an Almighty
and ever-loving God that the government
which in the past could boast of Philip L
SHALL after long, sad probation, be banisheC
from the Western hemisphere and by hearty
fearless declaration and action of the people
of the United States, lovers Of liberty ant
fraternity and peace, the divine decree shal
be speedily executed. When God calls III
to take the sword Of His Justice, tn,
sword "bathed in heaven" he calls us {,
clean hands in public and private life H,
calls us to fight against corruption at home al
well as cruelty abroad and in that holy wa
we may confidently ask the benediction 0
the Prince of Peace. This war with Spair
may bring her to her knees. Not before us
but before her God in sorrow for her blood
stained past. Cuba, too, may kneel in graft
tude for her deliVerance, and we, with her
giving thanks to the Ged of justice and trutl
that He has used US as His messenger o
mercy and liberty Patriotism is of nobl,
birth and highly esteemed among men 1t i
a common virtue. All men feel it. The in
habitants of the eternal snow and frozen sea
feel it as we'll as those who enjoy life in tn,
sunny South Even the poor African love
his dark continent. All peoples love thei
country. 1t is a natural sentiment. Lik,
friendship, it is an instinct, but if /
be so natural and so common, thei
the lack of it is monstrous. Th
outbursts of patriotic feelings to-day ar
great and grand. Everywhere men are offer
ing themselves. Students from our higl
schools and universities throughout the land
young men in the highest stations in life ar
offering themselves to their country and re
linquishing all for this grand object Their
is something exceedingly grand and noble il
this. 1t is not merely patriotism-iti is mani,
courage. Yes, il is noble and heroic for ou
young men to respond. 1t is noble thing f
be patriot, but it is still nobler to be
christian patriot. The devotion of tn,
women who send the men is noble. Th
men who left Shenandoah a few weeks ag,
were heroes But the mothers and wiye
who said Goodbye were greater herones
1t is much easier to 90 oneself to battle thai
to have loved one 90. The mothers hav
done their part most nobly in al
the conflicts that our beloved countr,
has passed through. What a facto
woman is in the affairs of man At hom
she has the influence to save or destroy. Il
society she can purify or corrupt In tn,
nation she has the power to lift to heaven, o
TO drag to hell. Patriotic mothers have il
all ages of the world eonsecrated their love,
ones. The patriotic women of our countr
will assist the soldiers by minstrations q