The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-06-03
PAY TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD
aARLAHDs sFREWE ON GRAVES WHKRE
SLEEP BRAVE SOLDIERS or OLD.
GOOdIand Pays It's Annual Respect 70 the
Men Who Fought in Civil War-Rev.
ia. West Delivers the Deco
ration Day Address.

Decoration day at GOOdlano was Cd
served with becoming ceremonies
There was a remarkably large attend
ance at the ceremonies, some estimate
that It was the largest crowd in the
history of GoOdland, on any similar
occasion.
Everything proceeded with precision
according to the program. At 10 O'clOcl
in the morning the procession started
for the cemetery from Union hall, led
BY W. s. Robertson Post G. A. R, and
followed by the W. R. G, the school
children, with flowers and flags, riding
in wagons, and a long procession OF
carriages, many persons having pre-
ceeded the procession 70 the cemetery.
Comrade Butt with fife and drummers
furnished the music for the occasion
The ceremonies at the cemetery con-
sisted of reading the service from the
Grand Army ritual, members of the
post, corps, children and others form
ing in hollow square about the soldiers
monument After reading of the ser
vices, America" was sung and Rev.
West pronounced the benedictiOn- Then
followed the decoration of the soldiers
graves by detail of the ". R. c., and
the children bearing flowers, Wallace
Filler acting as marshal and officer of
the day. A very large cOncOurse of
citizens had assembled in the cemetery
and were engaged walking through the
avenues of the silent city, and Plac-
ing wreaths of flowers upon the graves
of departed loved ones. The cemetery
Is looking beautiful, and with the many
fine monuments added from year TO
year, speak Of the culture and refine
ment of our people. 1t was beautiful
sight, and one long to be remembered.
The afternoon services were held at
the opera house at O'Clock. The mem
bers of the post and corps marched
from Union hall at 100. A good audi
ence was even there in waiting, and be-
fore the services commenced the com
modiOus opera house was filed to its
utmost capacity, and many persons
were compelled to stand.
The services opened with the audi
ence standing and singing America, .
being led by the choir. A recitation,
Lafayette" by George Cooper, fol-
lowed and was well rendered. The
choir sang beautifully, Cover Them
Over With Flowers and was followed
by a recitation by Bessie Kimmel en-
titled, ''Old Flag which was splendid
" rendered. The choir then sang "Star
Spangled Banner" Following came
the children's program. Sixty-three
boys and girls formed with military
precision upon the stage, about one
third of the number bearing flags, and
sang in concert Marching Through
Georgia After the song those not
having flags left the stage and the
others went through a flag drill in an
entertaining and pleasing manner A
double male quartette sang Brave Bat
tery Boys and were followed by nine
little girls in the recitation, North and
South Then eighteen girls, one
dressed as the Goddess of Liberty, all
bearing flags, presented the Red,
White and Blue" drill with accompany
ing recitation and song
Decoration Day Address.
The address by Rev. T. a. West, of
Colby, pastor of the Christian church,
followed. The address was fOrcible and
eloquent, and was listened to with close
attention by the large audience
Rev. West said that while war was to
be deprecated, yet it was necessary in
the progress of mankind toward higher
and better ideals. Even the Prince Of
Peace said, 81 came not to send peace
on earth, but a sword" The great
Russian philanthrOPist, TOlsti, II his
writings taught the doctrine of non
resistance, but IN the war now waging
with Japan he had made contributions
from his literary writing to the Rus
sian war fund. Nature has armed the
animal with horns, teeth and claws; the
tree, the plant and even the beautiful
flower with thOrns; the reptile with
fangs and the insect with stings. 1t is
natures law of self-PreservatiOn. The
doctrine of non-resistance of evil and
love Of enemies is not Incompatible with
righteous war. The time comes when
forbearance ceases to be a virtue and
the oppressed and dOwn-trOdden viii
involuntariIy turn upon the tOrmentOr
even IN dispair. Mankind has an in
stinctive hatred of wrong, and there are
times when whole nations and peoples
are swept by a mighty ahatus OF iildig-
nation and righteous wrath into the
whiriwiud OF war. It was so in the
civil war. Robert Emmett, the Irish