The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-31
HENRY WATTERSoN'S TRIBUTE
SPOKE An THE NATIONAL GENIE
Terry AT LOUISVILLE.

The Duty and the Day Have a Deeper
Significance Than Ever Before
Nothing Strange or Unnatural 10
the survivors, In the New Condi-
tions-Grcater Issues Ahead Than
These Which Have Passed-Sec-
tiOnaI Confusion Has Passed Away.
Louisville, May 30.-Although the day
was gloomy and dismal With rain threat
ened, the graves of the Union soldiers. who
sleep in the cemeteries OF Louisville and
New Albany, Ind, We're lovingly deco
rated with flowers to-day
AZ the graves there were beautiful mu-
steal services followed by the Grafton OF
the day, by Hon. Henry Watterson.
Mr. Wauerson spoke. in substance, as
follows:
The duty which draws US together.
and the day-althoueh appointed by
law-comes 20 us laden by a deeper
meaning than they have ever borne be-
fore; and the place which witnesses our
coming invests the occasion with in
creased solemnity and significance.
within the precincts of this dread. but
beautiful city-consecrate in all our hearts
ana all our homes-for here lie our loved
one-two plots of ground with but a hill
lock between, have been SET aside to mark
the resting place of the dead of two armies
that in life were called hostile the Army
of the Union. the Army of the Coufeder-
acy. We come 10 decorate the graves of
those who died fighting for the Union.
Presently others shall come to decorate
the graves of those who ed fighting for
the Confederacy. Yet if these flower
covered mounds could open and the brave
men who inhahit them could rise, not as
disembodied spirits, but IN the senGent
flesh and blood which they wore when
they Went hence they would rejoice as we
do that the hopes of both have been at
last fulfilled, and that the Confederacy,
swallowed up by the Union, lives again in
American manhood and brotherhood, such
as Were contemplated by the makers of
the republic.
Ii Is Not Strange.
To those of us who were the comrades
and contemporaries of the dead that are
buried here, who survived the ordeal of
battle, and who live to bless the day
there is nothing either strange or unnat-
ural in this because We have seen it com
ing for long. time: we have seen it COM
ing in the kinship of ties even as close
as those of a common country; in the
robust intercourse of the forum and the
market-place; in the sacred interchanges
of the domestic affections; but, above ALL
in the prattle of children who cannot dis
tinguish between the grandfather who
wore the blue and the grandfather who
wore the gray.
1t is required of no man-whichever flag
he served under-that he make any re-
nunciation shameful to himself, and there
fore dishonoring to these grandchildren
and each may safely leave to history the
casting of the balance between antago-
nistic schools of thought and opposing
camps in action, where the. essentials of
fidelity and courage We're SO amply met.
Nor is it the part of wisdom TO regret
tale that is told. The issues that evoked
the strife of sections are dead issues The
conflict which was thought to he irrecon-
cilable and was certainly inevitable, ended
more than thirty years ago. 1t was
fought TO its bloody conclusion by fearless
and honest men. To some the result was
logical-to others it was disappoinung-to
all il was final AS no man disputes It, let
no man deplore it. Let us the rather be-
neve that it was necdful to make US
nation Let us the rather look upon it as
into a mirror, seeing not the desolation of
the past but the radiance of the future;
and in the heroes of the New North and
the New South who contested in generous
rivalry up the freswept steep of El Caney,
and side by side re-emblazoned the ma
tioual character in the waters about Cor
regidor Island and under the walls of
Cavite. let US behold hostages for the Old
i III In,
a Union that knows neither point of the
compass ana has flung it's geography into
the see.
Greater Issues Ahead.
Great as were the issues we have put
behind US forever, yet greater issues still
rise dimiy upon the view.
Who shall fathom them? Who shall
forecast them? 1 seek not to lift the vail
on what may lie beyond. Il is enough for
me to know that l have a country and
that my country leads the world | have
lived to look upon its dismembered frag-
ments whole again; to see it, like the fab
led bird Of wondrous plumage upon the
Arabian desert slowly shape itself above
the flames and ashes of a conf1agration
thai threatened to deVour it; have watch
ed ii gradually unfold its magnificent pro-
portions through alternating tracks Of
light and shade; I have stood in awe
struck wonder and fear lest the glorious
fabric should fade into darkness and prove
but the insubstantial pageant of a vision;
when, 10, out of the misty depths Of the
PARKWAY Pacific came the booming of
Dewey's guns. quickly followed by the
answering voice of the guns of Sampson
and Shafter and Schley. and / said: ut
is not dream. 1t is Gods promise re-
deemed. With the night of sectional
confusion that is gone. civil strife has
passed from the scene, and, in the light Of
the perfect day that Is come the nation
finds as the first fruit of its new birth Of
freedom another birth of greatness and
power and renown."
Fully realizing the responsibilities Of