The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-31
AT WASHINGTON.
Address by Charles Emory Smith I'm
Arlington Cemetery.

Arlington Cemetery.
WASHINGTON. May 3o.-With solemn
and impressive ceremonies Memorial day
was observed in the national capital on a
more elaborate scale than ever before
Business was suspended not only in the de-
partments Of the government, but also
throughout the city. People of all classes
united in p~erpetuating the memory of the
heroic dead. who. in countless thousands.
sleep peacefully in the eight national ceme-
teries of the District of Columbia. Soldier
monuments and statues on the government
reservations were fag-draped; flags on all
the public buildings were at half mast
and the national %colors, with folds caught
In bands of crepe. were displayed from hun
dreds of private residences.
notwithstanding the absence from the
city Of the President. who usually is a con-
spicuous figure in the Memorial day exer-
cises at Arlington, the arrangements were
elaborate and beautiful. They were under
tomac G.. A. r., and included a parade of
c.. a. r. posts, the old guard, other patriotic
organizations and the militia of the Dis
trfct or Columbia, headed by the Marine
Band, decoration of monument and graves
and addresses by men prominent in public
life. Before the procession reached the
6IOOiuS the lc,OU graves 1T the cemetery
had been strewn with flowers and each
marked by a tiny American flag, the wom-
en- OF the societies auxiliary to the veterans
associations being engaged in this work.
A touching feature of the ceremony-a fea-
ture typifying a country thoroughly re-
united-was the decoration of the graves in
that section of the cemetery where lie the
Confederate dead. The procession marched
TO the tomb of the unknown dead" which
had been beautifully decorated by a spec
cial committee, and there the Marine Band
>. n @1D-- 1t..4 nh~ --~-
then resumed to the section allotted to the
Spanish war dead, where another dirge was
played.
AT the conclusion of the eremony of
the decoration of the graves a great crowd
gathered in the amphitheater, There, under
direction of Department Commander KIM
ball, of the G.. A. r., and other department
officials. impressive services for the soldier
dead were conducted. Hon. Charles Emory
Smith. editor of the Philadelphia Press,
delivered the grafton of the day. He spoke
in part as follows:
.srhs beauty and sanctity of Memorial
day. instead OF declining, rather increases
with the passing years. The Grand Army,
which survives, approaches closer to the
final bivouac- The old graves lose none Of
their hallowed glory and new graves add
TO the wealth OF flowers and affection
at Arlington is the center of a nations
tribute. If these fower-crowned mounds
could open and yield up their noble deni-
zens as they were in life there could as
semble under these trees overlooking the
broad bosom OF the Potomac and yonder
capital OF the Republic the largest council
of illustrious leaders of the war that
could be marshaled at any place. And IL
they were thus they would
recognise that the Republic has not been
ungrateful to her defenders. She has
been generous to the dead and TO the liv-
ing. This was your just due. You and
those who fought with you did the great
est work which has ever wrought for the
Nation. The issues which bred the strife
OF sections have been settled The reunion
OF the sections has been sealed in common
sacrifice In the crucible of a common
struggle the lines OF section should be