Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-06-10
Decoration Services Again-Reply to the Standard.

| EDITOR JOURNAL An editorial in the
Maine Standard of last week, makes the fol-
lowing statements and demands in relation to
the late Memorial Services held in the city.
One noticeable feature of the decoration services
on Monday iii We may be allowed the Hibernicsm)
was the neglect or refusal of those having the mat
ter IN charge TO decorate the graves OF those sol
diers whose remains lie buried IN the Cathoic
Cemetery. Much feeling has been manifested
among many citizens of all classes at this, and
while we would be slow to believe that the reigc MS
sentiments or nationality OF those dead heroes,
contributed in any degree TO this cruel neglect to
tender to their memories the floral decorations 50
appropriately bestowed above the remains of sol.
dlers entomDed in the other cemeteries think it
10 due to the public, and the Catholic society e..
pecialiy, whose feelings have been outraged by
this appal emily purposely made omission, that the
executive committee or some other person who
may possess full information on the matter be re-
CURED To render Il complete explanation or excuse
Tor thus neglect II such exist. Cluzens nave an
interest in this matter for, while it was under the
imiaediate control of the Capital Guards, 1t re.
ceived the sanction and financial aid Of the mu-
nicipal government, aud the honor OF the city is
compromised by such unexplained apparently in
vidious discrimination. We should never permit
it to be said that tailed accord soldiers of
all nationates and creeds the full need OF praise
for the sacrifices they endured to sustain the life OF
the Republic. The widows and Or. hans OF all who
fe entitled to the nations and their rest
ing places to be kindly and tenderly kept in memo
ry by those for whose prosperity and happiness
they Welded up their lives. The demand tor AN ex.
PLANTATION oftLe neglect to decorate the graves of
the Catholic soldiers the same the graves Of the
others, Is not unre asonabe, and We trust i'll elicit
such reply from the committee of arrangements
as TO relieve the city ofany stigma that might be at
tempted to be fastened upon it for such reprodctW
action. -Stdndard.
l have quoted the article entire, being
greatly in doubt whether the kindly and ten
der and careful spirit with which all subjects
relating to the dead, and especially the mar
tyred dead Of our country, should be treated
as understood and illustrated in this article,
could be fully appreciated by An examination
of any parts Of it without presenting the whole
with the italics as printed.
1t is claimed that the soldiers graves in the
Catholic Cemetery were not decorated with
flowers on memorial day. This is the charge,
and if admitted at once, it is but an omission un-
fortunate indeed but not criminal act by any
means, as this vigorous arraignment would
seem to indicate. But the Standard suggests
that the "religious sentiments or nationality
of these dead heroes contributed to 'this cru
ell neglect plainly, they were Catholics and
Irishmen, and this was a direct intentional in
suit to their memory. This inpntation is I'M
worthy the generous countrymen of Meagher
and Corcoran and a host of others who won
the brightest laurels in defence of the flag of
their adopted country. i cannot believe the
author OF that paragraph saw the full force of
the charge. l cannot find place for him to
stand to present or a condition of life to fill,
whence he could utter it reasonably. If he
was present at the Memorial Services, why
did he forget then. who feels so tenderly nor,
when a single word would have secured all
he wished. If he was absent when invitations
were so generally extended and notice so full
ly given, what reason does he offer for neg
lecting to give a single hour of his time to this
service for all the nations dead, Protestant and
Catholic alike, buried here? If a clergyman,
where was the charity of his church when he
publicly assigned base motives to men with
whom he had scarcely passing acquaintance?
II soldier, would he charge his comrades
who, side by side with Irishmen and Catho-
lies, shed their blood for the country, and who
knor their worth and valor, with such ingrat-
itnde? AS a citizen would he accuse his fell
lows with so base an act while he kept care
lessly aloof, or stood by with bated breath
giving no sign till the time was past, to apply
the remedy, and his opportunity for an attack
complete? This would indeed be more cruel
than the neglect of which he speaks. 1t does
seem that mere politician. in the worst sense
of the word, must have become very shame.
less to hide behind the graves of Catholic sol
diers in their consecrated grounds, to stir up
prejudices of sect and party. 1t must have
been mistake. He could not deliberately
charge, nay even believe, that hundred citi-
zens can be found in any city in New Eng
land who would pass the grave of an Irish
Catholic who died for the Common Country
and refuse for a mean prejudice of sect or
nation, to decorate that mound with flowers.
If he does not so believe, and cha,g, this de-
liberately upon his fellows, then he should
withdraw the charge of intentional insult till
he can prove human memory perfect, and
when this falls how little and fimsey the
whole matter appears, too trivial for serious
comment | am confident no soldiers family
desire angry discussion as to whether n
single wreath or cross, more or less, was
placed above his dust of whose faithful ser
vice they are proud, and whose death they
mourn; they would rather quietly permit the
omission to pass unnoticed, than to pain the
hearts of the comrades of their friend by
bitter accusation of intentional neglect
knowing that by single suggestion all the
graves in the consecrated grounds wonld be
decorated each succeeding year.
1t may be question of taste whether plea
for justice to the memory of the dead heroes
on the sacred day of memorial service should
begin with an attempt at wit begging its way
as an "Hibernicism," and continue with
stited air of demand and abuse, as whether
snickering laugh at funeral, or loud abuse
Of the marshal for some failure in the arrange
ments, in the presence of the mourners, might
serve to soften their grief and establish the
complainer as true and deeply interested
friend of the deceased and his family. SO it
might appear to some a very tender and APP
propriate act of friendship to call on the suf
iering family and inform them that some car
riage was left out, or other thing omitted by
the friend in charge of the procession, that
should have done; that he meant to insult
and disgrace them, and that they should de-
mand personal explanation "of the neglect
for the honor of the family and 'to relieve
them of any stigma that might be attempted to
be fastened upon them by such reproachtul
action !" but l am confident that by most
people, such attentions would be so treated
as not to be soon repeated. SO | am
persuaded that no mourning friend OF
the Catholic soldier will be gratifed
by angry words, or pleased by the
abuse OF those who were his comrades, on ac-
count of an omission to decorate his grave, by
those who were too careless to prevent it, or
permitted the occurrence for an opportunity
and purpose. So much for the matter as it
ia stated in its worst form