The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-31

what have they done that should bring a ns.
tion's millions 10 bow the head over their
graves3 IL II nothing for the universal good OF
mankind to have successfully removed the man.
sees from t.ooo.Doo slsvesf Is It nothing to have
siven to an enslsved race, personal liberty, free.
dom Of opinion and equsllity Of rightsf Is It
nothing to have given TO the world examples
OF unparalleled valor on bloody bsttlefelds and
examples OF patient suffering OF agonies and
torture in southern prisons? Is II nothing TO
have prevented the dismerberment of union
which was bought with the blood of our fore.
fathers and fostered and nurtured by Wash.
ington, Jefferson and Iincolni Is II nothing 10
have died for ones countrJf
No, veterans, you who rect hero sleeping and
you who stand hers living, we say to you, II is
thi. day our whole heart goes out 20 you IN
sympathy and devotion for what you have sui.
fered and endured for W, II Is this day we set
apart 70 attest again our loyalty to a country
whose soil you have cor,secrated with your blood
and whose rights you have preserved inviolate.
A parade preceded the exercises in
the Dunmore cemeteries II was par
ticipated in by the Grand Army men.
school children, Junior order Of Amer
lean Mechanics. Patriotic Order Sons
OF America, Young Mems Total Absti-
nence and Benevolent society, Young
Mems Institute, Young Mems Total
Abstinence and Benevolent cadets,
Sunday school children, Emerald Total
abstinence and Benevolent society. and
it's cadets.
After going over the principal streets
the column dispersed, the Catholic So
cieties going to Mt. Carmel cemetery
and the others 70 the Dunmore ceme-
terry.
PRETTY CEREMONY.
There was a pretty ceremony at the
latter cemetery when the procession
OF little girls, probably two hundred
or more, marched in from Dunmore
down the upper driveway, their white
frocks cleaning in the sunshine, the
wind fluttering the flags they carried.
Before them proceeded the drum corps,
following the G.. A. r. post, with Rev.
DR.. S. C. Logan at the head. The
long white procession, with the gay
flags, wound in and out among the
graves, where at the ones marked
with the faded legend, "Comrade,"
pause was made to do honor to
those who listened no more to the
thrilling call OF fife and drum.
Earlier in the day Professor Hawker
pronounced an grafton near this por-
tior OF the, grounds and in the march
to another spot was led by q large
company of school boys, who kept ex-
cellent step to the rhythm only OF their
footballs on the soft turf. They car
ried full sized guns, many Of them
almost as big as the little fellows who
carried their ponderous weight.
At the Dunmore cemetery the exer-
cises were in charge OF Past Com
n a
furnished by q mixed choir and the
Arlington Quartette. Rev. a. J. Van
Cleft, pastor Of the Dunmore Metho-
dist Episcopal church, delivered most
fitting and inspiring address, He said
In substance:
There are but few things that have moro to
do with mans happiness and welfare than the
country he lives in and the government which
he lives under. prosperous nation means pros
porous millions OF men. A happy country means
prosperous millions OF men. happy country
mean. ryriads Of happy hearts. A good govern
ment assures happiness and prosperity TO the
people bad government brings dissatisfaction,
poverty wretchednSss and immortality.
God Is profoundly interested In nations, There
seems 80 be nothing on earth, save only His
church which SO thoroughly engages his atten-
ton. He knows that not only tho present veal,
men Is affected by the move on the chess aboard
Of nations He secs in governments efficient CO.
adjutors Of His gospel, or mighty barriers OF Its
progress Tho succession Of monarchs. the
changes Of political dynasties, the rise and fall
OF empires, the establishment and continuance of
republics, the shock Of eontending armies and
naves are next after the direct agency Of the
Holy Spirit, the chief factors Of that stupendous
problem into which angel watchers are so anx.
| iously peering TO read its results on the moral
destinies OF tho world For these political forces
| and movements are all preparing the way, or
| else resisting the progress and onward march
| Of the Prince OF Peace. God evidently has mani
tested His interest in and proVidential over
this nation from its birth TO the present time.
He was with tho Mayfower and its gallant com
| pany Of heroic men and women
INSPIRED OUR FATHERS
He inspired our fathers to strike for their free
| dom and tolay the foundation for this great re-
| public. And in the war OF the rebellion, which
was for the perpetuation OF the Union, for the
| upholding Of our free institutions and for the
overthrow Of slavery, the God OF nations was
with us, and crowned our efforts with glorious
SUCCESS.
In this war there were grave issues involved
| and important lessons taught u.s. well all
| the nations OF the earth God condescended 70
write these lessons In fire and embellish them
in blood, that they might be more deeply i'm
pressed and never be forgotten by us and the
world. We gather here this Memorial day
| 10 decorate the graves Of the brave who
gave their lives to their country in that momen
| tious struggle. This act has a meaning. There
are with today our children, and even ouI
| chidren's children, and the children Of those
| who slumber here What shall we tell them
| that this service means3 What was the issue In
this great confict2 For what did these mer
| going 70 war and In taking up arms agains,
those Of Its own householdH Was II Justified In
asking these men to give up their lives ant
| shed their blood on her ALTAR In answering
| thCss questions, ! will cay there were man)
grave aud important Issues and interests at stake
The speaker discussed at length the
| questions that We're eettled by the
war. and then said:
The election OF Republican president In tht
person Of Abraham Lincoln WAS tho pretcxt ioi
| the Southern states to secedo from the Union
and set up the Southern Confeieracy and tS
commence the war. This was only pretext, 10,
! the aim was TO perpetuate slavery, and 10 over
| throw the Union. Slavery was made the chic
| corner stone OF their government. But God haC
| heard the cry Of the oppressed and the day o.
their redemption came The late Charles sum
ner, when warning the nation against oppress
| Ing the black man, sald "Heed the sighs o.
the oppressed, for q single sigh has power e
over.turn world" The president issued ht
call for soldiers to put down the rebellion, anC
TO perpetuate the Union But God did not sui
fer vs. to win single victory until the nation
hScded thoSa sighs.
HIS PROMISE TO Con.
During tho terrhcs battle Of Antietam, wheI
| everything was looking dark for U.s. Mr. LincolI
| shut himself in his closet and talked with hi
God. lie promised the Lord II he would Civ,