Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-06-01
DECORATION DAY.
Continued from First page


tional cxistance.
Father Rleken now dwclt on a mum
bcr OF other appropriate thoughts sug
gestcd by his discourse, and concluded
as follows:
o, Veterans 81 the Grand Army
there is something noble, something
honorable in the profession of arms, IL
the past military career you glory TO
day. 1t was ever so among the nations
OF bygoue centuries. it must be 81
among us. When we lift from the pas
the curtain OF ages we find tribes ant
peoples, civilized and barbarous
gloryine in their soldier-warriors
What scene more beautiful for painter,
brush, or sculptor's chisel, than the
one representing the maidens OF Israe
coming forth with harps, and timbrels
and psalteries, and trumpets, and tc
the sweet strains of music singing loud
hosaunas to the conquered hosts under
David! But that glory was only pass.
ing day. 1t was not an annual decor.
alton day.
What magnificent spectacle, when
we behold the conquering Roman lie.
gions coming home from the far off ORR
ent, or from the cradle land OF Hanni-
bal, or from Helvetia. or from tripartite
Gaul, when we behold them passing
under triumphant arches, met by the
Senate and the Roman people, throw
Ing olive branches at their feet, and
making the seven-hilled city rock with
the thunders OF a joyous acclaim! But
that glory was only a passing day. 1t
was not an annual decoration day.
And should we prove untrue to this
universal trait OF all mankind? Impos-
sible! The children that we're pillowed
on the bosom OF fair Columbia drank
in with their mother g milk sentiments
too noble, too loyal too patriotic to be
found anywhere save in the advance
guard OF the nations OF the earth.
Tell me, rs / asked once before In a
speech off Malta. on the blue waters Of
the Mediterranean, when we celebrated
Washington's birthday on our stately
vessel 5000 miles awav from home and
friends, tell me, where will you find a
land like unto our own on the map Of
the world? I am not speaking OF its
physical wonders, its snow-capped
mountains, and vast plains, and inland
speaking Of the genius Of her children
In the triumphs OF inventions. that
place upon her brow the diadem Of
Dreeminence over every other power;
am not speaking OF her schools and
colleges, and universities.-no / am
speaking of those immortal deeds Of
humanity that leap like jewels into her
coronel Of glory.
When the famine-stricken OF alien
lands lifted up their shrivelled hands to
US did we not at once command the
angel of charity to hasten with light
ning's speed, and bring unto them the
gifts of our storeheuse?
When the plague decimated peo-
pies, or the fire inciuerated their cities.
or the earthquake ''made The land des-
olate with desolation," did we not re-
spond instantly to their cries? Did we
ever turn deaf ear, or steel our hearts
against brother OF any cline, any race,
or any creed? Die we ever allow a
Lazarus to plead at our table, and
answer him in the language of the
callous Dives? And when we found the
traveller, weary, and foOtsore, and half
dead by the wayside, did we not, Sa-
maritan like, pour wine and oil upon
his wounds, and take care of him?
Verify does not the first century of our
history bear evidence to the truth OF
the worldrenowned boast: ''The home
Of the brave, the land OF the tree, the
asylum OF the oppressed?" o, l trayel
the world over, I begin my journey
with the sun, and career from east to
west, and 1 find no jewel so brilliant on
the bOsom of mother earth as the glor-
ious Republic of the United States
placed thereon by Washington, and
preserved intact by the Grand Army
under the wise generalship OF Grant in
the days Of the immortal Abraham Lin
coin. And their glory, the glory of the
living and the dead, is not the glory OF
passing day, but the ever annual re-
curing commemorative glory known
uniquely in the history OF civilization
as Decoration Day."
Thirty five years have been tolled
away by the great bell of time since
the end OF the war, when the sword
was once more changed into the
ploughsnare, and the cry OF blood into
the song OF peace. How many OF those
who have come back with you haye
since been called by the God of hosts to
the great beyondp Their names have
been taken from the roll book OF time
and placed on the record books Of eter.