The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-06-07

| SOIL OIL SEeaL bIltalu 10 lHS genius vi
universal cipation-Lovejoy in
the American house OF Representatives
declaring You can not put down the
rebellion and restore the union With
out destroying slavery Abraham Lin
coin issuing that inspired Proclama-
ton of Emancipation, and the nun
dreds of thousands of boys in blue, in
the field. fighting with undiminished
and untiring zeal until the rebel guns
at Appomatox Numbered their last sui
len protest against human liberty
these are some of the Respondent and
glorified pages of the history OF the
freedom and equality of the race.
You, my friends, who with faltering
step and dimmed eyes have met mere
today to pay homage to the memory
of your comrades whose lives went out
in defense of their country-you with
them bore no inconspicuous part in the
solution OF that great problem OF the
ages, that world work, the establish
nent OF liberty and freedom for hu-
mainly The years may come and
go, decade may succeed decade, and
century roll into century, yet time
will never efface the memory of that
/ terrible struggle and its relation to
1.-THE great work of the worlds civiliza-
ton
How exceedingly fitting and appro-
pirate the selection of this season oil
the year for memorial exercises in hon
or of the soldier dead. Nature now
is at her best. The song birds have
returned from the south land, bring
ing their CHEEKY messages OF love and
good will. Opening buds and blooming
4 flowers and blossoms are on every
hand. The air is redolent with the
i sweet fragrance and perfume of honey
4 suckle and vine and rose. The very
earth is rich with it's green verdure
and growing fruit and ripening grain
all betokening the new birth and the
new resurrection of natures forces
,. from winters desolation. How like
the promises of God does this all in
spire our hearts With praise ant
thanksgiving and lift us up above the
noise and tumult OF this busy worlC
OF ours for the time to where we car
almost see.
5 Beyond the smiling and the weepins
:: Love, rest and home.
The service you performed this da,
; in yonder silent city OF the dead, Where
: The warblers of spring-time their re
j QUEENS breathe
t And sunbeams and shadows thel
/ catafaluue wreathe"
in scattering the red peonies OF love
+ the white blossoms OF peace and tn
4 lilacs of mourning over the graves 0
4; the soldier dead, not only in memoir
S OF those who lie buried there, but ais
e of those whose resting place is know.
I only to God, was as beautiful as it wa
e pathetic 1t is said that it was a Gel
e man who first brought to mournel
b violets the flowers of comfort.
t From the dark earth these fragran
! blossoms grew;
They breathe a breath of peace an
II hope to you"
q And it was Germany, the home {
e The Nibelungenlied' -the home {
y sentiment-that taught us to cover tn
e graves OF our soldiers with the flower
IS of spring. This beautiful custom o.
g served there so impressed and a
II pealed to the heart OF General job
II A. Logan that when Commander of tt
al Grand Army Of the Republic in 1868,
,e instituted Decoration Day" choosir
it the day, it is said, because it was tt
lie date of the discharge OF the last volu
N teer soldier of the rebellion, and b
r cause it was seemingly the most apr
81 pirate season of the year.
ut What a beautiful custom it h;
er grown to be, and how well calculate
al to perpetuate in tender precious mel
~ DRY the lives and deeds OF the bra'
Id boys of '61, and to inspire the livil
e with still nobler impulses and LOTT
th patriotism.
I'll Cover them over with beautif
en- flowers;
Sc Deck them with garlands, tho
ok brothers OF ours;
On Cover them over-yes cover the
ne over
'e- Parent, and husband, and broth'
d; and lover;
lg, Crown in your heart these dead hero
at of ours,
IN, And cover them over with beauti1
ur flowers"
ed Now in all parts of the world whe
I'M Americans dwell and American S
or diers lie buried, this day there W
1t float the stars and stripes, and the
Cd will De the same tribute of flowe
in and remembrance. You do not fors
M how that two years ago all hea
lin were touched as word came from
be- off Manila that Americans there h
ms gathered in honor OF the day, and W
to affectionate hands had decorated
ma graves of the brave boys who, Learnt
of the lessons of patriotism taught by J
of had responded to their country's {
og- and had died in defense of the sa
ng- flag At the same time, near the {
he mantled guns of old MORO Castle, W
by the stars and stripes at half-maSt,
'ty ing hands scattered flowers over
not graves of the victims of that awful {
but aster in Havana harbor where