Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-19
SPEECH TO The DEAD
Admiral Togo's Address to
the Spirits Of Japanese Heroes.
TO THEM THE GLOR Y
THEIR DEATHS MADE POSSIBLE
THE VICTORY OF THEIR COUNTRY
An outpouring Of Eloquence Worthy
to Be Classed with Lincoln's
Grafton at Gettysburg.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The japanese papers received by the
latest mail contained accounts of a very
Impressive Shinto ceremony at the Awo-
yama cemetery near Tokyo, at which Adj
miral Togo Heihachiro commander-in-
chief Of the Japanese fleets, addressed the
spirits Of the officers and sailors who lost
their lives during the war. expressing the
gratitude of their emperor and their fell
low-countrymen for their services. Adj
miral Togo, although a modest sailor. made
an address to the dead which, for simple
eloquence. has seldom been surpassed. and
Is worthy to be classed with Lincoln,s ora
ton at Gettysburg and other sublime ex-
amples of oratory. The ministry, the off,
GERS OF the army and navy in the neighbor-
mood OF TOXIC the Marquis Ito, Count
Okuma and other of the 'telder statesmen, .
with large throng of notables. were pres
fleet
The ceremonies were conducted by Shin
TO priests and consisted of the placing of
tablets and funeral meats before shrine.
Three imperial princes, cousins and neph-
eWs of the emperor. who saw active ser
vice on the fleets during the war-Higashi,
Yamashina and Fushima-placed SPRAYS of
flowers upon the shrine and then Admiral
Togo, who has been noted for his diff
dence, came forward and with perfect
calmness and great dignity spoke as fol-
lows:
The clouds of war have disappeared
from sea and from shore, and the whole
city, with peaceful, placid heart like that
OF a child, goes out to meet the men who
shared life and death with you and who
now return triumphant under the imperial
standard while their families wait for
them at the gates of their homes.
Looking back, we recall how, bearing
the bitter cold and enduring the fierce
heat, you fought again and again with our
strong foe, and while the issue Of the con-
test was still uncertain you went before
us to. the grave, leaving us to envy the
glory you had won by your loyal deaths.
We longed to initiate you in paying the
debt to sovereign and country Your va
liant and vehement fighting always
achieved success. In no combat did you
the attack on Port Arthur continued and
the result was determined. In the Sea of
japan single annihilating effort decided
the issue. Thenceforth the enemy's shad-
ow disappeared from the face of the
ocean. This success had it's origin in the
not have been achieved had not YOU for
getting yourselves, sacrificed your lives in
the public service. The war is over We
who return in triumph see signs OF joy
everywhere. But we remember that we
cannot share 1t with you, and mingled
feelings of sadness and rejoicing struggle
painfully for expression The triumph of
today has been purchased by your glorious
deaths and your loyalty and valor will In
spire our navy, guarding the imperial land
for all time.
I'VE here perform this rite of worship
to your spirits, and speaking something of
our sad thong hts pray you to come and re-
ceive the offerings we make"