Morris tribune., 1900-06-02
HONOR THE DEAD.
WREATHES FOR THE GRAVES OF
SLEEPING HEROES.
Memorial Day Exercises Held at the
Opera House--An Eloquent Ad-
dress by Gen. Moses e. CIapp.

Happy are that people whose
holidays teach patriotism" said
Moses E. Clapp in his address at the
opera house Wednesday.
Memorial Day means not only a
day for the decoration Of the graves
of departed veterans of the Civil War
but az we'll grateful remembrance
of the sacrifice made by all engaged
in that terrible conflict. It is the
Eastertide of the affections, an
earnest that the first Easter was not
in vain,
Escorted by Go. I, the members OF
the Overton Post marched to the
cemeteries Wednesday morning and
decorated with wreaths the graves OF
their departed comrades Short
exercises were held.
In the afternoon, a procession con-
sisting of the Indian school band,
Co. 1, Overton Post, and the school
children escorted by the Morris
Camp, M. w. A. marched to the
grove north of the court house where
exercises we're to have been held
The program was only partially
carried out when it was interrupted
by rain. The assembly then ad-
iourned to the opera house. The
preliminary exercises consisted in a
prayer by Rev. Northrup, a song by
girls from the Lincoln school, read
ing of Lincoln's Gettysburg speech
by John Gittinan, song by quartet
composed of Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Han
cock, Mr.sRoss and Mr.. Smith. and g
reading by Miss Adelaide Ber.
By the time Gen. Clapp was intro
dueed, the opera house was crowded
The speaker delivered very master
ful oration, broad in tits outlook
optimistic in its conception, and
faultless in its deductions.
Attention was first directed to the
central thought of all history, mans
struggle for liberty. The working
out of this idea was traced among
the French, the Hollanders, the Eng
lish and on this side of the Atlantic
The United States today stands as
the great example of Democracy
The essential difference between a
monarchy and republics is in the
duties which .hey impose on the
people, When the fighting is done
monarchy has no other Tethod Of
appealing to the patriotism of the
people, while republic appeals tc
that patriotism in the exercise OF
every governmental function. Great
problems are confronting the Ameri-
can people today but the very fact
that the people recognize them as
such is an earnest that they will be
correctly solved.
The speaker then spoke OF the
great tendency there is now tc
change the functions of government
When the constitution was estab-
lished the fathers were still living in
the shadow of monarchy and SO
made our form of government as
republican as possible. Now the
government was drifting more
toward state socialism. Socialism
was explained as not to be confused
with anarchy. The public highway
the schools, the postal service are all
evidences Of socialism at the present
time and it is noticeable that the
postal and educational systems have
reached their high degree OF ettlcl-
ency through their appeal to nothing
more than the loyalty or patriotism
Of those engaged. This is the theory
that is to ultimately solve the ques-
tions which seltishness has brought
forward in the trust and the labor
union. The address closed with a
few be6tting words to the old soldiers.
The exercises closed with song by
a male quartet composed of Messrs.
Ross, Muir, Smith and Hancock.