The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-30

Comrades who have passed away.
Readv ut orr CoUntry'S cali.
Foes TO fight. and fighting fall,
They have in the march below
Heard the lone last bUgle blow.
The Grafton Of the day was delivered
by Carroll D. Wright. Commissioner of
Labor, who said, in part:
As the years take their place in the
past and each Memorial Day becomes a
grand souvenir Of heroic deeds. the temp
JatiCu TO speak on such occasions as tbs
on topics which are commanding the at
tentiOn Of the people. becomes stronger
and stronger, but from my own point of
view this = 10 day for the discussion Of
subjects concerning which honest men
differ II Is day rather, when. II ever
We should consider the sentiment WniCH
uGCeTutS it. IT Is a season OF the hottest
and highest sentiments and I trust L will
toe observed always as q day when pa
tTlotlsm. fidelity TO country. fidelity 70
principles and thc highest manlsneSs SHAH
be the attractive themes. 1t snail be SO
To-Day Tor while we are gathered form
ally, n obedience 10 the call Of the Com
nlaDGeT-lu-Chisf of the Grand Army of
the Republic, an order whose structure
rests upon the fundamental principles Of
fraternity. charity, and loyalty to the Re
pubic We are gathered also IN obedience
10 command which issues from every
loyal heart in this broad country
It IS eniDentiy fitting that this grand
brotherhood, composed of men who have
survived the shock Of battle should meet
IN the spring tine Of the year TO deck
the graves and commemorate the virtues
OF their fallen comrades. There Is, how
ever II the very CHARACTER Of soldier or
CARNATIONS. a sad feature. in perfect &C
cord with the sympathies and suggestions
day
The Grand Army cannot increase be
yond certain limits There is no widening
neid Tor recruits Gradually II must de
crease aS one after another is escorted
TO his last bivoUac by his comrades ia
arms
The veteran sees these things and feels
that he does not possess SO strong a hold
upon life as he would have held had he
never been exposed to the hardsllipS Of
service No man who ever old field duty
Is free from some Of the physical conse-
QGenCes Of the exposures to which he was
subjected He takes quickly the seeds of
disease and his constitution breaks when
It should only bend Generous. kind. and
sympathetic through the severe lessons
he has learned ever ready TO share his
last loaf with the destitute. glad to sleep
on the ground that a sick terminate may
have his bunk. with 4 common echo IN
his heart awakened by the remembrance
OF dreadful scenes and experiences a sol
Cler NdTneSL gratitude anu ADMIRATION
even are excited by such beautiful TeCOg-
milton OF the ChTist-iike sacrifices of his
comrades, and in his thankfulness that
his country does not forget their holy
graves. he loses sight Of his own offer
ings of life and health IN the same cause
TRIBUTE or NACCABEUs.
''When Nacca beus. the valiant com
rnander Of the Jewish army. had triumph
ed over the enemies Of his country, while
rejoicing that victory had crowned the
vaIor OF his soldiers, he could not forget
those Who had been slain IN battle. We
read that ne made a gathering of sill
Yer, which he sent up to Jerusalem, the
City Of Peace, as a tribute that sacrifice
might be offered for the thousands VINO
had peTished in defence Of the nations
honor
To-day we do not send offerings Of sill
Yer, but We honor the memory OF those
whose mortal remains are buried in this
cemetery soldiers who died for the In
ion Today we renew the TeTeTgnt and
patriotic custom of adjoining the graves
Of our army Of martys with the beauti-
ful symbols Of mortality
Names dear to US al tremble on our
lips; historic names that are tenderly
whispered in the palaces Of this grand
people: household names that conjuTe
tears IN the quiet farmh0uSes by noun
tain side and river. Shall / pronounce
then2 Shall I utter only them unless I
can DO justice to them alp Does not the
chiloless mother Of many gallant sons
keep tender and impartial silence. lest
the mention Of one daTling's name should
give 3 pang TO the listening shades-au
crowned with aulaTaath by death; all dia-
DENIED by love and pride forever; all light
ed Up by fash Of glory?
But 70 the graves Of the States chill
through whose blOOdstained robes. she
vigorously suffered and transcendeutaIIy
tTiumphed, We come as came the Greeks
to the gran6est festival OF their nation
the sacrifice to the goddess Of var and
wisdom, as defender of the city To these
defenders We come. Their graves are
sacred and what grave Of man Is hoIier
than that where q slain hero les2
Our fathers hOncred The day when the
living signed the Declaration Of hide
pendence with the pen; let US rather
honor some day set apart to the memory
Of the dead, whose names are written
in their blood And for such a purpose
we must coEsecrate the anniversary OF
no single victory. Of 10 single surrender
Of the eneuy-now enemy no longer but
part Of ourselves And what tribute can
we pay more beautiful than the gifts of
natuTe2
The fairFst flowers are not too lovely
for the resting places Of the brave, the
TaTeSt are not too costly to decorate their
toTnbsi Yet IS The spirit IS All. and that
which the giVer gives from himself is
more precious than his Offering. 50 some
sisters handful Of yiOieJs, some mothers
simple Eosegay for her darling lad. gath
cred wild fower-speut not more with
the Uews Of heaven than with the tears