The New York herald., 1872-05-29

Floral Honors to Our Mar.
tyred Dead.
Origin and Growing Popularity of These Patriotis
Rites-The Ceremonies at the East New York
Union cemetsry-Grand Rally in
tho Evening ct the Academy.

served throughout the length ana breadth OF thu
Union as Decoration Day. This will be the nfth
time that the date has been thus honored ana
though up to the present it has been by no means
so generally observed as the objects to which 1t IL
set apart Deserve it is annually growing in public
favor, and ere many years have sped by, will be ~
well established holiday as the 22d February or
the Fourth OF july AS people, perhaps, we arc
not very greatly inclined to public displays Of SEN
timent; but there can be no doubt
that Anglo-Saxons are In o quiet, undemon-
strative way, full as sensitive to such
emotions as any OF the other races and In q
case IKE the present, where the exciting cause
Appeals with rrepresslble sacredness and force to
the patriotic gratitude OF the whole nation. Amem-
cans VIII soon grow to be proud OF exhibiting openly
what, as general thing, they would fain conceal
1t comes at first little strangely perhaps to tha
average citizen to march with bouquet In hin
hand to the graves OF the soldier dead, ana thera
proclaim openly his undylng remembrance OF their
martyrdom for their country. But the awkward
ness Of novelty will soon wear or, and the in
herent dignity and nobleness of the feel
ings that underie these floral ceremonies
protect them from the sneers even Of the most
confirmed OF cynics and scoffers And even were
the occasion Of it less solemnly impressive, we
ought at least to hail with approval the establish
ment OF another general holiday. We have ak
present far too few national holidays though, as
we are the most hard-w0rking people In the world,
we need them more than Others
There seems to be no special significance in the
date which has been thus devoted to the honor OF
our herO-dead. The custom Of decorating with
lowers the graves Of the fallen brave dates back Of
course to the earliest ages, and is probably az
ancient as war ITSELF 1t was, however first natural
lied IN this country by the people Of the South, who,
into the general observance of stated Decoration
Day After the return of peace we OF the North also
adopted the same custom, and In 1858 the S0th or
served in this way throughout the entire country,
the date being fixed by a decree of General Logan,
the commander of the Grand Army of the Republic,
under whose auspices these demonstrations OF
nations gratitude were made. The date, 1t may
spring, though still fresh with opening
ness % &c gys way S s
ceremonies 1t is late enough to allow of fine
weather being counted upon with fair degree OF
certainty and at the same time it Is not SO late as
to make public procession an attempt at whole
sale murder by sunstroke.
patriotic festival there is special fitness In some
one day in the year being thus dedicated by the
whole people to memories Of what the war has cost
own sad anniversary of sacrifice and mourning
Gettysburg, Charlottesville, Chattanooga, mark
notice. they as in hearts,
still heavy with the remembrance OF sorrow and
loss as sanctifying particular days with peculiarly
there are too, which do not enjoy even this mean-
choly consolation. The dear ones they have given
unnoted date, and hastily thrown into shallow
grave they sleep peacefully on till the day Of udg
ment recking little that decaying head board Of
unknown" alone marks out their inal rest
ing Place n naq for tns na No snd dss
in such case as that, can be kept
by the friends who waited in vain for news Of the
I When nth the last letter was received or perhaps Of the
last printed mention Of the name. But these ami
V ne onM @ Of too e
general sacrifice involved In the war; the sorrow OF
the family, OF the father, Of the wife, is alone re-
pe have also part and lot In this heritage Of grief
and 1t is fitting and proper that the people, as peo-
gether recognize that those who fell were citizen
brethren of a and dying that their country mghs
oye and eternal And thus i
has come about that this day, though marked out
by no special event, has been set apart for the
remembrance of our martyr-dead No one who
takes part in its ceremonies looks upon 1t as
hallowed specially by his own individual sorrow,
for that has It's particular anniversary but az
sacred to all who fell In the good cause Of Union
and human freedom
This year the ceremonies of the day. at least a.
far as this city and State concerned, promise to
be singularly impressive and imposing. There will
be procession starting from Union square at half
past nine O'Clock, consisting Of the children Of the
Union Home and School, $50 in number, followed
by 500 members from the fourteen city posts of the
Grand Army OF the Republic. The children will Of
fusey decorated with flowers and nags. The pro-
cesson, after decorating the statues Of Lincoln and
Washington, viii march down Broadway to the
South ferry, making another pause at Trinity
church to strew flowers upon the tomb Of gallant
Phil Kearny. While crossing the river minute
guns will be fired from Governors Island and viii
continue until the procession reaches the cemetery.
At East New York the New York division will be
joined by the division from Williamsburg and the
posts from East New York, and the united veterans
of the war of the rebellion will march together to
the last resting place OF their dead comrades. The
cemetery contains no less than four thousand
graves OF Union heroes, every one OF which will
be adorned with wreathes of immortelles and
bouquets Of sweet-scented flowers. The programme
OF exercises will be Short as to allow OF the men
getting back to New York in time for the meeting
at the Academy of Music In the evening" Its great
features will be an Grafton by Dr. Noah Schenck
and the singing Of patriotic hymns by the children
of the Union Home and School, At the Academy
the speakers will be the Rev. De Witt Talmage and
the Rev. J. p. Newman. Governor Hoffman Is ex-
pected to preside.
In the afternoon there will also be parade OF the
National Guard in honor Of the day, but this Will
be- of course, entirely independent of the regular
celebration by the Grand Army OF the Republic.