The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-05-31
Richmond Citizens Gathered at
the Coliseum to Do Honor
TO the Dead Heroes Of the
Civil War.
ELOQUENT SPEAKER
MAKES FINE EUL0GY
Soldier, Lawyer and States
man from illinois Delights
Old veterans-General OBJ
servance in City.

The observance of Memorial day
yesterday was more general than GUS
tomary and in addition to the large
number who attended the exercises at
the coliseum in the afternoon. held
under the auspices Of the Sons of Vet
Grams. there were hundreds Of others
who went to the cemeteries or who
visited friends in other places. Due
homage was paid to the memory Of
the old soldiers by the merchants. who
closed their establishments all day or
else for . part.
The exercises at the coliseum were
carried out as planned and included
many musical numbers, which were
rendered In q most pleasing manner,
the drill by the children and the ad.
dress Of Col George Harvey. Of Dam
willie. Ind.
Col. Harvey was introduced by Har!
ry e. Penny, who acted as master Of
ceremonies. Mr.. Penny paid tribute
TO the soldiers and referred to the ap-
propriateness Of such celebrations and
the decorating Of the graves. Col.
Harvey spoke a follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: was asked
to talk to this people on this occasion
BY the 8. Of w., trust with the con-
sent and approval OF the Grand Army
Of the Republic and its auxiliaries. Tho
Sons Of Veterans are heirs Of every
battle flag by treason torn: heirs Of ev-
cry sword that flashed for liberty and
union and guardians by Inheritance for
AL that the Union soldier fought for
and III he won.'
s This order when flrst organised re-
presented the first generation Of I'm
ion soldiers sons. The inspiration for
the order came from heredity. It was
INSPIRED BY battle hymns of republic
the songs our mothers sang In sooth-
Ing us to sleep, and our fathers sang
on the march and in their tents. with
such history and such teaching is 1t at
all wonderful that the Sons Of Vet
Grams should be loyal and by their
oaths promise to keep inviolate all
that their fathers fought for and won !?
This day 10 set apart as . Memorial
to our soldiers, living and dead. To
our soldiers dead, we can only give
our solemn pledge that the principles
for which they fought and died are in.
delibly engraved upon the mind and
heart OF every loyal American citizen.
1T Is easy to voice complimentary
sayings to these heroes, yet how bar
rem are words to express our true ap-
probation Of their services and sacri-
l1ces.
Ito say that the soldiers of this re-
public are tho greatest heroes on all
the horison Of the past would but inad-
cQuately express the American idea OF
these men.
I'm = comunity like this, the early
home OF Morton, II would be ineffec-
tual to assume. standing here in the
presence OF this loyal assembly that
anyone could contradict the statement
that localities like this had wrapped
themselves In the insane desire for
wealth and had forgotten these heroes
Of the nation.
who are they? The statesmen. the
pioneer. the sturdy men OF iron who
made Il possible that labor and capi-
tai should Join hands. and build up
this great commonwealth and above all
the men who had the courage and pa
triotism sunlcient to tight for. and IL
need be to die for what they thought
was right. It would seem to some that
Nemr0ial day was designed for holi-
day, that our people might rest from
their labors. but we trust that such
was not the legislative intent. While
AZ must be admitted that such Is the
view taken by some yet the fact re-
mains that the majority OF American
citizens regard this day as sacred to
our military heroes. Ingersoll said
that the day was made sacred to our
soldiers living and dead. that 1t set the
star OF hope above the cradle Of the
poor mans babe and knighted every
son Of toll.
"Thus We enter these ceremonies
with loyal hearts. and due apprecia-
tion Of the occasion.
.sTheee ceremonies can not aid the
dead. To the living 1t Is an establish
ed faot that the peoples Of nations are
not ungrateful to their soldiers. Az
~ strew flowers over the graves Of
our soldiers today. It forever reminds
~ that only the nations that honor
their dead are able to keep their places
among tho great nations Of the earth.
THE world has everywhere and al
ways WIN approve Of gratitude. Am
ericayis much nobler because OF the
statue erected 70 WAshinGton, to the
memory Of him who was flrst IN war
and frst In peace: Engla4d. because
- the splendid statue 10 the memory
" lContinued On Pare Eightl