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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1907)
13 THE 3I0RXIXG- OREGOXIAX, FRIDAY, MAT 31, 1907. GARLANDS COVE SOLDIERS' GRAVES Memory of Dead Veterans Is ; Honored by Deed and, i! Spoken Word. MARCH BENEATH HOT SUN .Thousand Throng Cemeteries In the ; Morning After Procession, Af ternoon Services Are Held on ; ; Flaza Around Monuments. Portland's cemeteries were made to re semble great fields of roses yesterday. ; Mounds of flowers, emblems of tribute 'and remembrance, wiped away the dull .. gray and green of the burial places. It was as ir the dead had been burled again ana in tombs of variegated blossoms, i ; Thousands of people went to the vari ous cemeteries during the day and thous- ands of baskets of roses were spread over thousands of graves. For the most part tnese visitors went to spend a silent hour at the grave of someone beloved. The people of the silent city lived again in . memory. There were ' flowers for every grave. Groups of people sought out the neglect ed mounds and saw to It that those for gotten In memory were not forgotten in sentiment. That some few were over looked was due only to oversight. Pos sibly the same luckless turn of fate that 'haunted the unremembered in life, clung to the bones In death, so that the sunken, weed-covered resting places escaped the .notice of those who would have strewn them with roses. I The Nation's dead were twice remem 'bered. Relatives and a grateful multl jtude paid tribute to the memory of brave !men who stood by their country in time ;of need. The grave of every soldier was banked in roses offerings from .'comrades, friends and strangers alike. Exercises were held at the Lone Fir .Cemetery and at the Plaza block In honor jof the soldier dead, and there was a (memorial parade In which young vet ierans and old marched In memory of stir iring days when history was hot in the 'making. i To the many thousands who were not .'occupied by the sentiment of the occa sion, the day was one of rest and recrea tion. Business was suspended through out the city except among a few petty Idealers. " People thronged to the hills, the river, the pleasure resorts, theaters and to the circus. It was Intensely hot all afternoon but the brightest sun of the year did not drive the crowds to cover. Impressive indeed were the memorial exercises at the Ione Fir Cemetery, where i many veterans await the final reveille. Fully 3000 men, women and children gathered about the soldiers' monument and heard patriotic J and solemn music , ACd- stirring memo- flflfiroHRPX Snm- tr Post, Ben Butler Post, the Ladies' Re- 'litf Corps and ladles ,Of the G. A. R. par ticipated, in this event, representa tives of organizations occupying a speak ers' platform that had been erected near ths monument. The throngs of people began reach ing the cemetery as early as 8 o'clock, and at 10 SO the decorating of graves had been largely completed. An orchestra opened the exercises with a dirge. Rev. H. A. Barden, department chaplain, read the memorial ritual for veterans of the Civil (War. the Mexican and Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War. Mrs. D. C. -Miller was then introduced as the first speaker. She told briefly the history of Memorial Day, recalling that General John A. Logan was the first to propose. etting apart a day for decorating the graves of the dead and paying tribute to those who gave their lives for their country. i Mrs. Miller was followed by the orator of the occasion, Judge George H. Williams, formerly Attorney-General In president Grant's cabinet and the one survivor of that Cabinet. Judge Williams spoke on "Abraham .Lincoln." and inter est In his remarks was added by the fact that he knew Lincoln personally and was 'ai man of affairs. In Lincoln's day. The speaker's tribute to Lincoln was eloquent and glowing. With the exception of George Washington, he said, Lincoln was the most conspicuous figure In American history. "In its beginning Lincoln's life was phenomenal," said Judge Williams, "and It was phenomenal in its achievements and sad ending. His name is enshrined In a halo of glory growing out of the. great events with which he was identl- V- t v. - K' i ' -V. V 4 . JT '64." Bed. Mr. Lincoln was a great lawyer, a great orator, a great statesman, but the glory of the man was In the good ness of his heart. He waa a man of tender sensibilities. To the poor and to tne suffering he was a strong, sympa thetic friend. If there was any weak ness in his administration it was due to this characteristic." Judge Williams was followed by Rev. Father E. T. Sherman, son- of General William T. Sherman. Father Sherman was greeted with prolonged cheers. He spoke briefly and eloquently of the sig nificance of Memorial day and of Civil War davit and events. The exercises concluded with tne read ing of Lincoln's Address at Gettysburg, by Comrade M. L. Pratt, the singing of "America," the firing of a rifle salute to the dead and the sounding of 'Taps.' Some Insight Into the remarkable vitality and endurance of the men who marched with Sherman to the sea and fought in the rigid campaigns of the Civil War Is gained from their accomplishments of yesterday. Not fatigued by the hot tramp to Lone Fir Cemetery, hundreds of aged veterans fell In line and marched with the memorial parade, keeping pace with the brisk young fellows who put the Spanish and Filipinos down. The parade was headed by the Third Oregon Infantry, In command of Colonel C. E. McDonell. Comrade H. Sutcllffe, commander and grand marshal, was in command of the Civil War veterans and Senior Vice-Commander Williams directed the Spanish American War veterans. T. B. McDevitt acted as officer of the day. Marching tfirough the principal streets of the city, undaunted by the hot sun. the column brought up at the Plaza blocks, where memorial exercises were held, the young veterans assembling about the monument to their dead in the south block and the older veterans gathering at the G. A. R. memorial stone across the way. The exercises of the Spanish-American War veterans were held under the aus pices of the Scout Young Camp No. Th Third Oregon Band attended and rendered a programme of appropriate music; Vice - Com- m a n d e r Williams read the regular me morial service. Rev. Mr. Gilbert, who served as chaplain of the Second Ore gon in the Philip pines, made the me morial address. He spoke of man's struggle for liberty from the beginning until the present. Bringing his theme down to the days of the Spanish-American War. he said: "This war was the first ever fought in answer to the ques tion. 'Am I my bro ther's keeper T Lib erty is world-wide. 88.' We are our brother's keeper. We enlisted In theservice of oui; country in defense of that principle. The whole Nation arose as one man and declared: "No nation shall be allowed to cruelly rule another at our door.' The Nation called upon her sons to fight for that cause. A million boys lifted up again the flag of freedom and it was the privilege of the regiment our state sent forth to raise that flag in de fense of that principle of a world-wide liberty, on the other side of our round world. "No army ever fought for a nobler, more unselfish, more world-wide principle. No soldiers ever gave their lives in a nobler cause. We today honor the mem ory of our fallen comrades. Long after this monument shall have crumbled, the memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of world-wide freedom shall be held sacred." A rifle salute and the sounding of taps brought the exercises to an end. Simultaneously the Civil War veterans were gathered about the memorial stone in the north Plaza. The exercises were similar to those held earlier in the day at the Lone Fir Cemetery. Lincoln's Gettysburg address was recited by W.' M. Rasmus, an eloquent address was made f. .uVCh1 i.N - I i T . . ............... :: T 'W-II : Forgotten. .... . . . i 11 Jf.x ffj by John F. 6hlelds and a brief address was made by Rev. Father Sherman. Rev. H. A. Barden pronounced benediction. The old veterans then lingered about the grounds exchanging reminiscences of war days. VETERANS RIDE TO CEMETERY Company It, of O. X. G., Escorts Old Soldiers at Pendleton. PENDLETON. Or., May 30. (Special.) Decoration day was fittingly ob served In Pendleton. The handful of veterans comprising the local post of the G: A. R. rodo to the cemetery this morning under escort of the militia company, and decorated the graves of their departed comrades, while Com pany L fired the customary salute. This afternoon a procession, headed by the G. A. R. and the militia, was formed on Main street, near the fair pavilion, and marched to the Courthouse lawn, where an appropriate programme was ren dered. The memorial address was de livered by Judge Stephen A. Lowell. The day was observed generally in all the towns throughout the county. Con gressman W. R. Ellis having delivered the memorial address at Helix. WAS AT ARM DAY AT SALEM Old Soldiers March to Cemetery and Decorate Dead Comrades' Graves. SALEM. Or., May 30. (Special.) Me morial Day was observed at Salem to day in much the usual manner, though with a small crowd upon the streets to watch the parade. The day was exceed ingly warm, and this, together with the fact that farmers are very busy, ac counted for the comparatively small crowd. The attendance at services at the cemetery was large and the graves were more profusely decorated than ever before. The procession consisted of only the local company of the National Guard and the members of the G. A. R. and V. R. C. Colonel L. K. Page acted as marshal of the day. Memorial exercises were held in the G. A. R. hall this even ing. Many of the business houses closed part of the day. BIG PARADE AT OREGON CITY School Children Participate In March to the Cemetery. OREGON CITY, Or., Mav 30. (Special.) By far the largest Decoration day parade that has been seen here in re cent years accompanied the members of Meade Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic and Meade Relief Corps from Willamette hall to Shively's opera house this morning. The pupils of the public and high school,' and of St. John's Paro chial and high school were in the line ' ' -A , F - : - - " - - ; J .V , ..... ' r 1 M. . " . t- - DECORATING MONUMENT TO SOLDIERS OF FOUR WARS AT LONE FIR I CEMETERY. ................ ................. ....... ..........4 of march with their teachers, and made fine spectacle. The Oswego band pro vided music. Captain Franklin A. Loo- mis, of Separate Company G, Oregon National Guard, was grand marshal, and Captain L. L. Pickens was chief of staff. The opera house was crowded to the doors with people to hear the public ex ercises and the oration by J. J. Walters of Portland. Mrs. Imogen Harding Brodle sang "Star-Spangled Banner," and "Taps," and Mrs. Pearl Gregory Cartlidge read "The Silent "Victors." Mountain View Cemetery was profusely decorated with beautiful flowers, and with ritualistic ceremonies the graves of fallen comrades were covered with flow ers by the G. A. R. and W. R. C. Ad jutant J. T". Nelson called the roll of honor, - and Charles Roblson read "Lin coln's Address at Gettysburg." The re ligious services were conducted by Rev. L. C. Oakley and J. R. Landsborough. LANE MEETING TONIGHT. Bumslde & Grand Av.. Burkhard's Hall. L. M. Davis, 39, Is no fanatic, but will give all a square deal. Vfl I f i :. a' ; t tip:" a j-4 - Y.Y.YYmS;:iY.SY:r::S;5 JSYY;YY:'::":- THOUSAHDSATTEHD MORNING SERVICE George H. Williams and Father Sherman Deliver Eloquent Orations. , EXERCISES AT LONE "FIR Audience Gathered in ' Monument Square at East Side Cemetery Numbers Fully 5000 Burial Ground Bower of Roses. Fully E00O persons attended ' the me morial exercises held under the auspices of the G. A. R., in Lone Fir Cemetery, yesterday morning. From early morning until nightfall crowds thronged to the cemetery bearing flowers to decorate the graves and made it resemble a veritable bower of roses. Probably 10,00ft visited the cemetery during the day. , The exercises were held in the square surrounding the soldiers' monument -and were of a high order, the orations of Judge George H. Williams and Rev. Father E. T. Sherman, son of General Sherman, being masterpieces of elo quence. Department Commander of the G. A. R-, H. ButellfTe. presided. Rev. H. A. Barden. department chaplain, made the opening prayer, which was followed by the decoration of the monument sacred to the memory of the veterans of four wars, by Comrade F. R. Neale, a new proceeding, but a beautiful one. The vet eran quartet rendered a patriotic selec tion. Comrade M. L. Pratt read Lin coln's Gettysburg address. Mrs. D. M. C. Miller, past department president of the Women's Relief Corps, represented the corps, speaking briefly on the origin and purpose of the day apart as sacred to the memory of those who fell in defense of their country be tween 1S61 and 1865. "They are crossing the dark river now in greatly increasing numbers." said Mrs. Miller, "and in a few years all -will have passed away. Sixty thousand died last Oi ti i i A, year. But their graves will be left for coming generations to strew with flowers as we are doing today." Mrs. Miller read the order issued by General John A. Logan, May 30, 1868, es tablishing the observance of Memorial Day, and said that since that time the day had been observed generally through out this country, adding "that of all National observances - connected with public events in American history this appropriate and beautiful custom appears to have taken the deepest hold on the popular heart." Tribute to Abraham Lincoln. The oration of " George H. Williams on Abraham Lincoln was the tribute of a friend to a dead comrade, for the men were acquainted for many years, and Judge Williams spoke out -of the fullness of his personal recollections of the eman cipator. Judge Williams began his ad dress by saying that Lincoln, after Wash ington, was the greatest National char acter of this country, and that the peo ple had never lost interest in events with which he had been connected. The people, declared the speaker, never ,,. v,-r f -Yit -' ' ' GKASD ARMY VETERANS MARCHING CP MORRISON Correct Dress for. Ladies and Misses White Shirtwaists wearied of bearing about Lincoln. Judge Williams told of the first time he met Lincoln, in Chicago, in 1S57, at a great internal Improvement convention, .. at which both he and the future President were delegates. Even at that time Lin coln was known as a great lawyer, but had no political prominence. In speaking of Lincoln's education, the speaker said it had been gathered here and there as the bee gathers honey, but that Lincoln stood In the front rank in his profession. Judge Williams reviewed Lincoln's career as a lawyer and as a statesman and declared that he was a man of a high degree of common sense, which enabled him to master problems that appalled the mere scholar. It was his hand that revised the message writ ten to the English government by Will iam Seward, a scholar of high order. and avoided war with England during the Civil War. The speaker mentioned Lincoln's faculty for telling stories and his disposition to look on the bright side of everything. "Abe Lincoln was the same in the White House," said Judge Williams, "as when he was a country lawyer. He was not aBharaed of his parents or early asso ciations. He met and overcame difficul ties that no President was ever called on to meet. The storm broke about his head as It had beat about no other Pres ident of the United States, but he was the master of the situation. He was a living exponent of the simple life, and waa plain Abe Lincoln. I listened to his second inaugural address. Weary as he was, his fine face lighted up with en thusiasm, for he knew the war was over. as he appealed for help to bind up the wounds of the Nation and reunite the broken sections of the Union." Rev. Father E. T. Sherman, son of General W. T. Sherman, delivered an address "In Memory of the Dead," and fairly electrified the great audience with his eloquence. Especially touching and effective was Father Sherman's reference to the. Grand Army of the Republic. He said in part, after the applause had subsided: "Comrades, ladies and gentlemen: It is indeed fitting that we honor the dead on this Occasion, the dead of many wars and others who sleep here in this ceme tery. Fitting is it that we are sur rounded with a riot of bloom, reminding us of the flower of the Nation's manhood who came forward to yield up their lives for their country, more than 40 years ago. Time and place are fitting for this ceremony, and that flag over there gives the inspiration for the hour. It gave inspiration to the men wno car ried the banner in the days of '61. It gave the brave boys the inspiration that enabled them to endure long marches and meet without flinching the dangers of the battlefield, that the Union might , be preserved and maintained. It is the same Union that Washington had estab lished as one government, the one blessed by the Almighty. "That flag was the Inspiration of that mighty wave of blue that swept over the country that wave of patriots that rolled toward Washington at the call of the President for troops. It was a wave that swept on in spite of the early disas STREET. H. B. LI TT lA Off On All ters of the "war, in spite of Incompetent generals ana other disheartening condi tions. It was a wave made up of men who thought, men of principles which enabled them to form a solid wall, . to press on and preserve the Union. "That was one of the controlling. In spiring purposes of these men the preservation of the Union. And there was another prlnciple liberty. . It was a principle that burned in every Ameri can heart that every human being, black, white or red, should have liberty. the right to live and raise his family unshackled. The black man was not free. He was owned by those who controlled his freedom. First Skirmishes in Debate. "The Lincoln-Douglas debates were the first skirmishes that led to the freedom of the black man. How fitting. Indeed, that .Judge Williams, a friend of the emancipator, and a man who helped hold uregon in line, snould deliver the oration on Abraham Lincoln today! -"Union and liberty, therefore, were the controlling principles and inspiration of tnese brave men, and were the inspira tion of my own father. You knew what he said about war. (Laughter in the audience.) But I shall amend his defini tion of war and say civil war is hell; I think my father . helped to make it so. "It had to be settled In that war who was in authority in this Nation, and to day the blue and the gray have united. There is the laurel for the blue and the willow for the gray. 'We are together again. We came together in the war of 1898. When I met General Wheeler that year in Chicago he embraced me with most touching tenderness and manifesta tions of love and he became a com mander in the Army of the United States and I a chaplain. "From the Civil War both sections have benefited. The South has been strength ened and its people are thankful that they did not succeeed. They are thank ing us now that we defeated them and saved them from future turmoil and strife. "The war of 1898 was not one of great battles such as you aged veterans took part in. but we carried the flag to for eign lands and there it has remained. I was a chaplain In that war, and know that the same heroism prevailed then that prevailed in the Civil War. The young soldiers of 1RM gave their lives as freely. They suffered and died in camp from disease. I have seen them perish in their cots, hundreds of the brave boys, with calmness. Nor should we forget the brave American woman. Many a sick boy was cheered by the face of an American woman. Remember Man In Ranks. "My father fcnce said to me, "It's a fine thing to be a general in the army, my son, but don't forget the private soldier in the ranks. They are to be remem bered.' "Yes, they sleep In unknown graves, these private .soldiers who wefe your comrades on the battlefield and who touched elbows with you on the long marches. These are the ones who pre served the Uiion and held up liberty. Washington Street Between Park and Seventh and placed this banner for Union and liberty forever." At the conclusion of the oration of Father -Sherman, under the leadership of Rev. C. C. Cllne the audience burst out with that stirring war song "Marching Through Georgia." The oration was a masterly effort and was delivered with a force that allowed it to be heard In its entirety by the great audience that lis tened to catch every word. At the conclusion of the exercises many of the aged veterans who were with Gen eral Sherman came forward to take the hand of Father Sherman and personally thank him for his tribute to the heroes of '61. EXERCISES AT MILWAUKEE Citizens Unite With Veterans in Hon. orlng Nation's Dead. Memorial exercises were held yesterday morning in Mllwaukie Cemetery. The school children. memDers of Picket Post. G. A. R., and Blackmar Circle, ladies of the G. A. R., marched to the cemetery, where the graves of all veterans were decorated. J. W. Campbell had charge of a brief programme that was rendered in the grpve. Rev. A. D. Wagner delivered a short address, which was followed by exercises by the school children. Profes sor C. L. Strong. Rev. D. A. Thompson, A. N. Wills, Mrs. Updyke and others made short talks. Mrs. Updyke spoke in praise of the veterans of the Spanish American War, and particularly of Ar thur Venville. Sellwood's naval hero who Is burled in Mllwaukie Cemetery "Honors for the Unknown Dead" was an exercise by the school children. A monument had been erected for the pur pose of carrying out the exercises and was covered with flowers, which were af terwards placed on the graves of soldiers in the cemetery. Exercises In Multnomah Cemetery. Citizens of Mount Scott marched to Multnomah Cemetery yesterday morning, where the graves of veterans were decor ated and a programme of speeches and music rendered. The music was by the Lsnts cornet band. The Rev. H. O. Hen derson delivered an address appropriate to the occasion. The school children gave several songs. "The Star-Spangled Banner" by the band closed the exercises. Memorial Day at St. Johns. Citizens of St. Johns joined in Memoria' Day exercises yesterday, held under t'.it auspices of General Compton Post, G. A. R. A para lie preceded the exercises. Captain Snow, commander of the post, was in charge. Rev. L. F. Young deliv ered a patriotic address. LANE RALLY TO.MGHT. Burkhard's Hall, E. Bumslde & Grand Good citizenship, good morals bettei than gold. L. M. Davis, 89 on ballot. . Grand Republican rally. Armory, Satur day, 8 P. M. v A it IK k -(hi... A : ! Hi J