The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-31
THE FLOWER SERVICE
OF A GRATEFUL NATION
Inc Ceremonies at Historic Aritngton-President Mckinley Pres
ent-senator Thurstons Eloquent Tribute-Epitaphs of
Heroes Written in the 0randest History of the Ages.

washington, May 30.-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
otner cemeteries where rest the soldier
dead, were more elaborate thar for
many years. The services at Arlington
were especially impressive. A large
number of Grand Army posts assem-
pied at their headquarters on Pennsyl-
vania avenue. and. headed by bands OF
music. marched up the avenue past the
white house to Seventeenth street.
thence down H street to Thirteenth,
where trains were taken to Arlington,
which wal reached about IL O'Clock.
Here the procession. which had been
augmented by members of several other
patriotic organizations, were reformed
Just south Of Arlington mansion, headed
by the Fourth Artillery band. Tn
procession proceeded to the tombs of the
unknown dead, where a halt was made
and the band played a dirge. Soon af-
ter 1t separated into attachments and
proceeded with the decoration of the
other graves. The president. who left
the white house about 1880, accom-
panied by Vice President Hobart and
Secretary and Mrs. Gage. arrived at
about 1880 o'clock, and proceeded at
once to the amphitheater, where they
were Joined by the other distinguished
guests. An elaborate programme was
hero Carrfp6 ont Af r,ltol A. 49,.
pal feature was an Grafton by Senator
john M. Thurston of Nebraska. of
which the following is an abstracts:
How sleep h 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 lead whose
is perpetuated by the flower service of
a grateful people. n how truly immor-
tai are those who give their lives for
liberty. To a lived long, purpose
less. neutral years is nothing; TO have
lived a few glorious hours, to have
bravely faced the infinite. to have
calmly met the Master i'm humanity's
cause is sublime. 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 a name, will be given
honorable place In the mighty monu-
ment that is to commemorate the en-
nobling n uplifting of the human race.
My countrymen. these men who died
may MOI have known, but you and I
know now. that the roar of their bat
ties was but the echo of Gods foot
steps moving on. / am a believer in
overruling Providence. in the Infinite
Wisdom hat guides the destinies of
nations as of men. I am deeply i'm
pressed with the thought that we as
a people are struggling onward and up
ward to the fulfillment of a supreme
purpose. 1t was Gods providence that
kept the new world in all its virgin
strength until the resistless strength OF
men had realized a civilization fit to be
planted here. 1t was Gods providence
that gave strength and courage and vic
tory to the little band of sturdy patriots
who wrought the mighty destiny of
American independence. 1t inspired the
pen of emancipation and the sword of
Appomattox. 1t inspired Washington,
Lincoln and Grant. 1t selected each
for his glorious work so gloriously per-
formed. Let the fool answer how he
will. 1 prefer to see the finger of SUI
preme design. The finger maybe is
even now moving toward another man,
a man who shall lea our triumphant
hosts to a glorious victory for liberty
n humanity, who shall wreak Gods
vengeance on wicked, cruel. merciless
Spain and drive from this hemisphere
the last vestige of tyranny and oppres-
sion, and it may well be hat some
sword sheathed in defeat by the judg-
ment Of God, that liberty might be the
heritage of every American child, will
now, by command of Jehovah himself.
leap from its scabbard to give liberty
and self-government to the oppressed