The Indianapolis journal., 1899-05-31

talon turned out The bluejackets from the
dispatch boat Dolphin wee also in line.
The ceremony at Arlington was notable
by the presence of the President and men,
bers OF his Cabinet and OF many leading
officers of the army and navy as well as
officials prominent in public life. III began
The services were two-Sold. the veterans of
the field gathering in the amphitheater
Tnte th9se OF ,ne navy met IN fr9n1 OF OF e
graves was a solemn and impressive feature
OF the exercises. in which the entire gather
ing joined. The procession formed south of
the mansion and headed by the Marine Band
marched through the long avenues OF white
tombs. At the great stone catafaique which
marks the resting place of hundreds or un-
known dead. the procession halted and the
band played a dirge, while tender hands
draped the monument with the national
colors and festooned 1t with flags and flow
ers-
Returning to the amphitheater the formal
exercises began with the sounding OF the
assembly by bugler and the reading or
the order Of services by General Gavin
FarnswOrth, department commander G. "A:
r. and presiding officer. They consisted OF
patriotic music. the reading OF Lincoln's ad-
dress at Gettysburg, original poems breatn-
ing the patriotic spirit, and an oraticn by
Webster Davis, assistant secretary OF the
interior. He said, in part:
IL the poorest and humblest OF these vet
Grams were placed beside the most exalted
son OF royalty, arrayed I'm the finest raj
ment of the world, 4 would hasten TO grasp
the hand of the old soldier Of the Union
nobler than the man who is an American.
The nation or country that can grow men
of such character and such loftiness OF soul
| that they will go down to death II need be
for an idea, for a principle, can rule the
world. For these are the men which make
a country great and a nation strong and
| invincibe. For the first time. on Decora-
| ton day. we decorate the graves or men
who fought for their country in two wars.
men whose courage was the courage OF con-
science. 1t was not simply the love of war
| for itself II would not have hurried them
to the foot of the pyramids nor across the
glory upon the glowing brow of ambition
But IL was the courage that had the power
to brace the spirit for the patriots fight to
| die, IL need be, in defense of the flag.
All honor TO the defenders of our coun-
| try, on land and sea, living or dead, in all
to all officers of the army and navy, the
| sailors and private soldiers, who are yet
| fighting in foreign climes. Surely ii is but
| has provided So literally for these defend
ers. L assert that no man could pass
| through the hardships of war. on march. in
| emerge therefrom the same man, physically
| or mentally. that he was when he enlisted.
NO human body can Withstand the shock
These pensions constitute the best friend
| OF the poor people to-day; they go directly
| into the channels of trade, and when in the
| awful financial depression of a few years
| ago the banks locked up their money, the
| pensions regularly scattered peace and con-
| sands of poor men and women. We want
| to protect the treasury; so do these old SOL
diers, but II one Of them is entitled under
the law to pension, let the great, rich and
| powerful Republic which they once saved
| give IL in princely way, as a genuine
pleasure, not grudingy."
The naval ceremony in front of the Lee
mansion was unique in presenting a review
| of the navy from its inception. the several
revolutionary period, the war Of 1872, the
war Of '61-65 and the Spanish-American
war; Senator Thurston. Of Nebraska. spoke
| of the navy during the civil war; the scant
| and antiquated material out of which a
| formidable assemblage of fighting ships was
created and of the many historic encounters
| of that period. 1t was recital Of the hero
| ism which these naval conflicts inspired, and
of the gradual upbuiding OF an American
| United States and the wonder and dread of
| all Europe. The achievements OF our
navy during the late war were eloquently
| sistant Attorney General Haugh and DIR.
! Marby discussed other naval periods.
At the Soldiers Home. Congressional and
/ other cemeteries, patriotic and religious
| services accompanied the strewing of the
| graves with flowers. The address at the Sol
DIR d. Ruggies' e governor @ 'e of tbs S r home While
many other prominent veterans took part.
/ The small cemeteries were not neglected,
each having its exercises and its profusion
| the vicinity Of Washington also were re-
membered by the willing hands which rem
| There was "a small but impressive service
| In connection with the ceremon. g at the
cemetery which PASSED unnoticed by many
of the thousands there. Following the sug-
| gestion made by President Mckinley in his
| Atlanta speech. the graves of the 130 Con-
| federate soldiers inferred in the National
Cemetery were decorated with unsparing
| hands, as were those of the Union dead
In a remote corner beyond the mounds be,
meath which lie the thousands of Union dead
| has been the resting place for thirty years
| of a few who fought for the South 1t was
| more by accident than otherwise that the
| Confederates were inferred there. Some OF
| them were brought into Washington during
| the various engagements In Virginia near
| the city, others were taken prisoners and
| died here and others from one cause and
| another came into Washington and died
| while the struggle was raging