The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-31
Tho Decoration Ceremonial, and It's Need Of
Reconstruction.

heCOnaIucIon
To-day is set apart as one for the decor
alton Of the graves OF dead soldiers. 1t is
a day and n ceremonial that will be obsery-
ed throughout the entire north. Being
thus observed in the north il is a gen-
graphical fact. At most, in It's dimensions
il aspires only 10 the dignity of sectional.
a circumscribed local event.
Regarded from certain points of view
this decorative occurrence is a fine one
IL combines some qualities that entitle it
% rank in the domain of, the esthetiea
Flowers are always beautiful the rounded
bosoms of graves are always provocative of
of a gentle melancholy; and thus, in deco
ration services, the eye is charmed with
garlands and wreaths and the chords OF
the soul give off, as it we're, a few minor
notes OF sorrow in unison with the graves,
and this is pretty much all of the better
part Of it, so far as the public is concerned
In individual cases there may be Of il
something more, and deeper The grave
may contain a brother, a son, or a hus-
band and here the ceremonies have some
what u deeper meaning. IL is probably
true that outside of the graves Of those
who have relatives, this whole ceremonial
OF decoration has neither patriotism, mean
ing, value, nor scarcely responsibility. Ii
has, In its public semi-ofieial character,
degenerated into farce and yet a farce
which has many repellant and painful fea-
lures.
In It's present form, it has thousand
objections So far as respect to the dead
Il concerned it is meaningless. Outside of
relatives the public attends it with lust as
much feeling as, and no more, than il does
any other free show, whether il be a dog
hight, or a murder trial Patriotism is
cultivated just as much as it is at a Sun
day beer garden or at any other place
where q crowd comes together drawn
thlther by idleness and curiosity.
Another objection is that the original
interest Of the ceremony is perverted bv
those into whose hands its management
has fallen. They employ it, not TO honor
the dead, but the living. The hero wor.
ship which they inculcate is directed 10 the
men who stand before them on the
grounds, and not at the veterans who sleep
beneath their feet.
But more than all is ii that this eeremo-
nlafhas largely fallen into knavish hands,
who do not hesitate 10 use It for their own
pecuniary advancement 1t has become
an auxiliary Of a league Of office seekers.
When IL has become reduced to 30 base a
purpose as this it were better that II
should be discontinued.
And, finally, among the more intolerable
features Of its present character, is It's see
,lonalism. IL insists upon lending itself
actively TO the perpetuation of hates en-
gcndered in a conflict long since fought
and decided. IL determines that even the
grave itself shall not entumb its unchris
ian dialikes, it, sectional animosities
Now, II this decoration day is ever to
teach the character Of worthy national
performance, IL must undergo a radical
'hange IL must not be limited 10 mar.
'ow geographical arc, for the reason that
What u sectional canpOt well be national
{ must be wrested from the hands of the
POLITICAL blatherskites who now control II
'ut more especially from the management
u that contemplate association Of office |
eekers the Grand Army Of the Republic
whose high sounding and patriotic des
gnatiQn u a trightful misnomer.
Gould this work Of decoration be com |
nitted wholly 10 the direction of the snr
living soldiers of the late war. there would 4
Nc no danger Of its deteriorating into a mis-. |
rable political farce, such as il has be |
ONE where controlled by the Grand ARMY |
I the Republic. In the bosom of ninety /
Inc Of each hundred of these soldiers /
here remains none Of that accursed sec.
Dnal hatred which is now so rampant.
nd which came so prominently and dis.
10 the front in the case of the
)ntederate dead at Arlington Heights.
lat nowhere are these veterans the mana.
ers II Is nearly always some political
ummerr who has one eye on the soldiers
rave and another on some Office.
The ceremonial should 20 down, or II
hould be purified. IL needs breadth and
IL must lose It's sectional
m, it, petty jealousy, its office-seeking
cement Il must reach a height where il
IN recognize a soldiers grave without
topping too particularly to enquire the
birthplace OF its occupant. 1t must be
repaired to recognize bravery and devotion
country even though they may have
cen mistakenly directed. Il must have
Ie kindness and f0rbearanee necessary 10
nd its aid TO healing the dissensions Of
e hour, and to evolving from the future
unity, which, all fraternity and love.
al know no rivalry Of sections save as to
hich will be foremost in h0noring the
lad, and in preserving the harmony and
tegrity of the living -CAieago Times.