The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-31
Memorial Day is Everywhere OBJ
served With Solemnity rIore
Than Ordinary.
STATE OF WAR
Not Only Adds Seriousness to the Public Mind But
is the Occasion of Closer Knitting of
the North and South.

Washington, May 3o-In the center field
of "the bivouac OF the dead" the great
amphitheater of the National cemetery at
Arlington, President Mckinley and three
Of his cabinet today Joined 5000 other cit
liens in doing honor to the patriotic dead.
The ceremonies were held simultaneously
in several parts of the cemetery, but tbs
main ceremonies were in the amphithea-
ter. close to the old Lee mansion. There
were some 1000 people gathered, while on
tbs platform was a distinguished COM
pany, headed by President Mckinley, Vice
President Hobart, Secretary Of War Al
ger, Secretary Of the Treasury Gage, Sec
rotary OF Agriculture Wilson and United
States Senator Thurston, the orator of
the day. Just back of them sat Commits
sioner Of Pensions Evans and other Off
Gals, the Chinese minister and Korean
minister and parties from other legations.
Prior to the services there was process
sion of members of the Grand Army, the
Sons of Veterans. the Woman's Relief
Corps, ex-soldiers and sailors and the gen.
eral public, hooded by the Fourth Artll-
lery band, hating for minute for
brief service at the Tomb of the Unknown,
the band meanwhile playing a dirge, and
then marching through the grounds, pro-
ceeding to the work of decorating the
graves.
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY.
The president and party were very
prompt in arriving and soon after they
reached the platform the assembly was
called to order by Commander Arthur
Hendricks of the department of the Po-
tomas Of the G. A r. The exercises en-
braced a number Of addresses, poems,
singing by quartette and the customary
reading of orders. The feature of the
ceremonies, however. was the address of
Senator Thurston Of Nebraska, who was
introduced as one always ready to lend
his aid to the cause of liberty and patriot
ism. His Grafton was listened to most at
tentatively by the audience and prolonged /
applause greeted his reference to the abb I
sence of sectionalism and TO the presence (
of Admiral Dewey in the lnarbor Of Ma
Mia Senator Thurston said:
THURsTON's ADDRESS.
How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
BY an their country's wishes blest;
BY fairy bands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dlrge Is sung" !
Blessed are the dead whose memory is /
perpetuated by the flower service of a !
grateful people, and how truly immortal /
are those who give their lives for lib
erty. J
ITO have lived long, purposeless. neu-
trail years is. nething-to have lived a few
glorious hours. to have bravely faced the I
infinite. TO have calmly met the 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 be-
meath the tramp Of contending hosts they
are at rest.
The sentinels no longer patrol the
banks Of the Potomac. Grant and Lee
both lived to attest the goodness of
God who preserved the union and over
the river on the beauteous dome Of the
nations capitol, serenely uplifted to-
ward the ethereal blue-kissed by the sun
of day. woed by the stars of night-tran-
luilly floats the mcOnquered flag of the
greatest nation of the earth. II
Why mourn for those who slumber
acre? Their epitaphs are written in the
5randest history of the ages Before
hem viii reverently pass the procession
# the centuries. And every headstone
'oundabout even those without a name.
VIII be given honorable place in the
mighty monument that Is to commence ,
ate the ennobling and uplifting of the
human race.
a third of a century has passed since
'ur heroes fought, since our loved ones ,
ell A third Of a century in which the ,
e-united people of a common country
lave realized the inestimable blessings I
Il peace have shared together in the !
'enef1cent fruits Of progressive develop ,
nent and prosperity which stands alone !
II the annals of all the world. From ,
his vantage ground of the years. in this
acred spot on the borderiand where in ,