Speech on Decoration Day to Soldiers of the G.A.R., Burlington, May 30.

~>CERCIs5 AT LOCUST sTREir CEnrzu.
1. C'rus, God Save the Staic tune
the congregation jlbing with the
elhoir in sioging.
Post Commander Capt. R. 11. Start then introlaced President James B. Angell, who spoke a?
fol:lows
olos:PESIDENT ANOLLL'S ADDRLEtS.V&4 7 'k t 6&Lx
Soldiers o/ the Grand S nrm of the Repubt:c:
One of your gallant comrades has already r A-C
spoken for you. He has given such elog7nt
exvression to the emotions that swell in your
hearts as you gather around the last restirg,
places of your brothers-in-arms, that words of
mine are superfluous. Your simple and expressive act of decorating with wreaths and garlands
the mounds which cover their ashes speaks with
a force which no language of mine can rival. t
Moreover I never see a procession of these blue -A
coats and empty sleeves and shot-torn colors,
which tell of noble daring and danger and suffer- -4(
ing and sacrifice, that I do not feel it to be pre- n
sumption for me to speak. Far rathwt woutrl I
lift my hit and stand in silent reverence as yon,L---C(
pass on to your sacred service.
My words shall therefore be few. Yet it is
fitting that some one of us, outside of your
number, should express the feelings which fill
our hearts, which grew and strengthened within
us in those days of war, and which seek ex- -
pression,. as with you we turn our feet hither
to-day. Both affection and gratitude bring us
with overflowing hearts and tearful eyes tommingle our best offerings with yours. We owe
these fallen heroes more than you. We can
never repay them for their sacrifice. But we ~--6 -
thank you for the privilege of joining with
you in these scenes, and of acknowledging/'
again the debt we can never liquidate.- ) 4 7
aHere lie the mortal remains of brave young
men who gave themselves in the flower of manhood " for you and me.' They laid down their -
lives that years of peace and happiness might be 4,_
added to our lives. With their blood the tranquility of our homes, the prosperity we enjoy,
the regulated liberty of our nation were bought 7) j.
All the joys which come as the ripened fruit of
prolonged and happy social associations; all the
rewards of industrious and enterprising lives;
all the great prizes which the world gives only -
late in life, and after long years of successful ac
complishment; all things noble and good which
make us desire to prolong our days, they cheerfully surrendered, for us. Should we build
structures to rival the mausoleums of old; should
we pile pyramids such as enshrined the dust of E 6&t4 " 4
Egyptign kings; should we rear the lofty ba-silica or the majestic cathedral, still our debt
would he unpaid. I respond fully to what % '
your comrade Bigelow has said of the duty of '
lifting a soldier's monument, but never can we
more fittingly testify our respect for their memory and our devotion to their work, than by
the annual repetition of this memorial service.
Build the monument, but do not omit this simple
and beautiful ceremony. How often the monoment stands neglected and with moss-obscured
inscription,the cold marble telling only the story
of a perished affection. But the offering of these } 4.
flowers with each return of new life to the earth,
proclaims that our gratitude is living and perennial. May we not believe that if the spirits of
the dead look down upon us, they behold with
delight this proof of our loving remembrance,
and does not the thought quicken to a warmer
glow the love which seeks this expression.
and oesnot he houht qickn t a wrme 7

Let turs custom be continued,so long as Spring
garlands tie earth anew with violet and myrtle,
tr1 spre- the symbols of a fresh and beautiful
I 1 "
rie - -
Let us remember too, that there are bleeding 1
hearts-I have seen them to-day in yonder Cemetery-hearts whose anguish has never been
i assuaiged. The old wounds bleed afresh to-day. -
Let our sympathies go forth to those households +.
which feel their bereavement, not less, but }
toe as the years go on. Let us commend
them anew to Heaven and if here is sister, or
widow, or child, to whom we pledged care and
kindness when we sent forth their protectors, let.
us see to it that the promise is generously redeema.,
Fellow citizens, I need not dwell on the one -
gre it lesson of this occasion, that appeal which
thesa breezes which sweep over these graves seem
to whipper to us, as if from the spirits of the
deal, to quicken that devotion to the Nation
Swhich kd toeir lives and deaths. This,
ater allwas the great fruit of their sacrifice-to
quicken in us and in all future generations that
inpulse of patriotism. Their physical labor was
soon ended; but this their moral work is of undyrug power. It gale to us all a great thought
whih sh-7l survive, while there is a henrt zppreciative of tree and lofty pThtriotism.
My friends, the 2av of wAr are endedE-, but
peace has its trials as well as war. IIero- i edo1avor is still needed to keep livirg toe ireS if
that patriotism which hlamd forth in the lives
ad deaths of these galaat man. As we stand
by their groves, lt us gain neiw inspiratien for
alt worthy effort. Let us resalre to hold ourselves ready for even the last sacrifice for the
good cause. So shall we best honor the dead on
whose graves we now with loving hands lay our
floral gifts.
Our repor:t does not do full justice to President Angell's address. It was off-hand and
without notes, as usuol; and, graceful and
eloquent in its delivery as it was finished in its -
rhetoric, it made a deep impression on all who
heard it.