The Indianapolis journal., 1899-05-31


were followed by the veterans who gath
cred 10 pay tribute TO the memory of their
comrades. Seven Grand Army posts were
represented At the graves there was a
beautiful musical service, followed by the
oration of the day. by the Hon. Henry Wat
terson. After this the children strewed
blossoms over the graves and taps" were
sounded. Mr.. watterson spoke in substance
as follows:
The duty which draws us together and
the day-although appointed by law-come
10 US laden with a deeper meaning than
which witnesses our coming invests the oc-
casion with increased Solemnity and sig
nifcance- Within the precincts Of this
our hearts and all our hcmes-for here lie
our loved ones-two plots OF ground, with
but a hillock between them. have been set
aside to mark the resting place of the dead
of two armies that in life were called hos
tile. the. Army of the Union. the Army of
graves Of those who died fighting for the
Union. Presently others shall come TO deco
sne fed OF Snoye "np thes dea nal
covered mounds could open and the brave
men who inh bit them could rise, not as
dfsmembered spirits. but in the sentient
flesh and blood which they wore when they
went hence, they would rejoice as We do
that that the hopes Of both have been at last last
lowed up by the Union, lives again in Amer
lean manhood and brotherhood. such as
were contemplated by the makers OF the
TO those OF US who were the comrades
and contemporaries OF the dead that are
buried here, who survived the ordeal Of bat
tie and who live TO bless the day, there is
nothing either strange or unnatural in this,
because We have seen IL coming for long
time, We have seen IL coming in the kin
ship OF ties even as close as those OF a COM
mon country; in the robust intercourse Of
the forum and the market place; in the
sacred fnfarchanQpe of the domestic affec-
tions; but, above all, in the prattle of chill
dren who cannot distinguish between the
grandfather who wore the blue and grand
father who wore the gray
1T Is required OF no man-whichever flag
ne served az bsssls ne Ske ana any sbere
fore dishonoring to these grandchildren,
and each may safely leave 10 history the
casting of the balance between antagoniStic
schools of thought and opposing camps in
action, where the essentials of fidelity and
courage were so amply met. Nor is 1t the
told. The issues that evoked the strife of
sections are dead issues. The conflict,
which was thought to be irreconcilable and
thirty years ago. 1t was fought TO its bloody
conclusion by fearless and honest men. To
was disappointing-to all II was final. AS no
man disputes II, let no man deplore ii. Let
us the rather believe that II was needful
TO make US a Nation. Let US the rather
look upon 1t as into a mirror. seeing not
the desolation Of the past, but the radiance
Of the future; and in the heroes OF the new
in generous rivalry up the fire-Swept steep
OF FL Caney, and side by side re-emblazoned
the national character in tie waters about
Corregidor island and under the walls of
Cavite, let US behold hostages for the old
North and the old South blent together
in Union that knows neither point of the
compass and has flung its geography into
the sea
behind US forever, yet greater issues still
rise d;mly upon the view. Who shall fathom
them7 Who shall forecast them? seek not
to lift the veil on what may lie beyond. 1t
Is enough for me to know that i have a
country and that my country leads the
world. have lived to look upon its dis
membered fragments whole again; TO see
it. like the tabled bird of wondrous plum
age upon the Arabian desert, slowly shape
Itself above the flames and ashes OF a con-
hagration that threatened to deyour II; i
have watched it gradually unfold its mag
nihcent proportions through alternating
tracks Of light and shade; 1 have stood
I'm awe-struck wonder and fear lest the glor-
ious fabric should fade into darkness and
prove but the insubstantial pageant of a
tSs ns TO- Pacc eS OF sne misty fhe
Of Dewey's guns, quickly followed by the
answering voice of the guns of Sampson
not a dream. 1t is Gods promise redeemed.
With the night Of sectional confusion that
Is gone. civil strife has passed from the
that Is come, the Nation finds. as the first
fruit of its new birth OF freedom, another
birth or greatness and power and renown.
Fully realizing the responsibilities OF
this and the duties that belong to 1t, l.
for one, accept 1t, and all that 1t brings
with Ii and implies, thankful that i. too
am an American. Wheresoever It's star may
lead, shall follow: nothing loath. or doubt
fng; though 1t guide the Nations footsteps
70 the furthermost ends of the earth Be-
iieving that in the creation and the preser-
walton of the American Union the hand
of the Almighty has appeared from first
10 last; that His will begat Ii, and that
His word has prevailed; that In the war OF
the revolution and in the civil war the Incl.
dents and accidents OF battle left no doubt
where Providence inclined: If the star that
now shines over US, at once a signet OF
Gods plan and purpose and a heaven-sen
courier OF civilization and religion, shall fi1
itself above the steppes OF Asia and the
sands OF Africa II shall but confirm me IN
my faith that the judgments OF the Lore
are true and righteouos altogether