The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-31
Auditorium Packed to Hear
Decoration Day Speeches.
Impressive Service at Opening
of Meeting.
SEN. LAMPS SPEECH.
Talked Till Five O'Clock About
Patriotism and Fraternity.
Congressman Curtis Closed With
Eloquent Tribute to Soldiers.

BY the time the 500 white headed vet
Grams of the war had filed into the audi
torium Friday afternoon, and occupied
the places reserved for them in the pit
OF the house all Of the remaining space
in the big building, aisles and entrances
included was crowded with people
JacksOn's band was turning loose one
patriotic air after another from the
platform and the guests of homer and
Participants in the programme were as
sembling on the stage Prof Jones anu
his family of $50 little boys occupied al
the elevated seats at the rear OF the
stage, and the singing of this Well
drilled chorus was one of the features
Of the afternoons programme.
That showing of gray heads IN the pit
is the thing which gains each year IN
its impressive sOlemnity. 1t is one OF
The things which brings home foreibly
TO the new generation the tact tnat the
winter of life is scattering its snow
flakes heavily on the heads Of the civil
war heroes. One or two veterans with
snowy locks may not teach the lesson
plainly but five hundred of them to-
eether appeal strongly to the sympa-
thies Of every American heart
H D. Fisher. the fighting chaplain Of
Kansas. opened the programme with
dervent prayer.
The Rev. M. F. Kirahan, who presid-
ed over the ceremonies, then introduced
the boys chorus, which sang song en-
wen rendered. and received great ap-
plause During the singing of the song,
a big United States flag was waved by
b. 3. Smythe The boys chorus is
very good thing, and ought to be a per
manent institution OF Topeka.
Next was the reading of Lincolnss
Gettysburg address. by J. NJ Miller.
Mr.. Miller has a deep, powerful voice.
and read the immortal words of Lincoln
with force and feeling.
The chorus sang another song entitled
"COlumbias Care, after which Senator
G r. Lamb of Yates Center was intro
duced. Mr.. Lamb spoke till O'Clock
on the subject a Fraternal Tribute
He said in part:
81 shall not take time to make an ex-
tended address in the enumeration OF
the various directions upon which the
farternal societies of the country may
progress in the endeayor to keep awake
the sense of patriotism In the hearts OF
the people. That there is no hearts Of
doubt Of their devotion to the country's
welfare is manifested in the presence
here Of so many representatives Of the
various organizations whose member
ships extend into almost every home in
the country.
tIn these organizations are many of
the soldiers who fought in that great
struggle, the memory of whose dead we
are gathered to perpetuate. In them.
too are the children and grandchildren
Of those men who fought and with them
the recollection of their services is safe.
There are organizations Of Sons Of Vet
Grams and veterans of the more recent
war, the chief object of which is, ard
VIII be, to keep green the patriotism Of
the country. My father was one of those
shot down at the front of a great battle
and down in Tennessee he sleeps beside
g river on whose bank he fell.
1T makes me tired to see a man on
some street corner. who never earned
an honest dollar in his life. say. as he
watches some limping veteran passing
by Government pauper.' When hear
1t or like expressions say, God have
mercy upon the future of the American
nation if such men are growing UP in
its midst i am not reVengeful. but I'd
like to see these men in high places who
erfticise the soldiers of the G. A R
and begrudge them their meagre allow
ancess go out and sleep upon the bare
ground with no protection when the
thermometer registers 20 degrees.
Soldiers Of the Grand Army of the
Republic, pledge you on behalf Of the
fraternal organizations of this country
that as long as May so returns each year
and as long as the spring has flowers
I'VE shall keep this Memorial day for
those who have passed away"
During and after Mr.. Lambs address
many people left the hall, causing
considerable unpleasant confusion. The
audience was a restless one, and many
who were standing about the aisles
We're continually either pushing in to
take unoccupied seats, or pushing out
10 depart for home
Before Congressman Charles Curtis
CON menced his speech, the boys chorus
sang Our Last Grand Camping
Ground
Congressman Curtis was greeted with
applause when he arose to speak, and
ne said.
Two years ago attended the Mem
orial exercises at the Arlington national
cemetery, that city of the silent dead
and well may 1T be called the city of
the dead nearly 171r, r1v-esr7
acres Of land and about 20, 900 soldiers
are buried within its gates. Thousands
of white headstOnes indicate the graves
of the known dead. and granite mon
umemt commentaries the death Of 2f11
unknown men. AS I stood on those
beautiful grounds, I could but recall the
1act that thirty-seven years before the
Nigilaut sentinel patrOled the banks of
the historic Potomac, thirty-seven
years before the national capitol, just
across the river, was in danger thirty
seven years before, friends and neigh
Dcrs, yes relatives, were engaged in
war. fighting under different flags AS
looked at the graves Of those who
faced the enemy, those who had died
Tor their country remembered that to
IEa gallant boys VINO wore the blue, to
the brave veterans whose graves in ev-
cry part of this country were being COW
cred with flowers, and to their COM
rades, the nation owed its life.
Sumter was the opening of the war.
Gettysburg was the turning Of the tide,
4he beginning Of the end, and Appomattox
was the glorious close, and the war end
ed with complete accomplishment of
everything for which you and your great
leaders cOntended.
There is nothing which tests the quail
titles OF man Ike war, there is day
upon which we recall the great success
OF the Union soldier from 81 to IS like
this day Of sadness, yet a day that
fills you with the same old patriotic
spirit the same love for freedom and the
same devotion to pour country which in
spifed you ana your comrades forty-one
years ago.
while I am one of those who hoped
The war with Spain could be avoided and
who helped to avoid It as long as consis-
tent with honor, vet ] am glad that wheT
1t Gid come the boy Of the South stood be
side the boy OF the North and the heil
Of the wealthy beside the offspring Of the
poor man. that they fought side by side
80 uphold the honor Of their common
country and in defense of their coun-
tIy's flag.