New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-30
DECORATION DAY,

DRY Of The soldiers who fell fighting tor
the cause Of the Union il cur late war,
and set apart fos the dassrasion OF thelf
graves. It is beautiful custom SO to
honor the dead. The intellec. may recoS-
nize the fact that wha; the turf covers is
no longer what we loved. but the heart
will cling 20 the remains Of the caskes IN
which the precious soul was once en-
shrined. !. is the poetry CT Affection
which s:rews flowers upon graves.
IN most Of the cemeteries where lie the
remains OF our soldiers killed in battle.
or taken away from the forlorn sick
beds Of , hospital. stands many q
head-board with the sad inscription
unknown United States soldiers" and. OF
those whose names are known. many lie
far from friends and kindred. pleading in
their lonely resting places to tie great
family Of their tellow-countrymen FOX
grateful recognition. On this day these
are remembered es well as the more fav'
ored ones whose graves are ~atered by
the tears Of kindred and friends. But,
besides these unknown and unkinped
soldiers, there ere buried in some Of
the soldiers grave-yards-as Airing
ton Heights for instance-many who
fell fighting on the other side. Con-
fede,ates, and on this day. devoted
to . nationa! celebration Of deceased
American soldiers. the friends and rela'
:iyes Of these feel as if their graves like
wise should receive the tribute Of loving
rene mbrance. And why not: Are they
not all brothers : What, though they died
in arms against each other. fell by each
others hands, death and time are potent
peace.makeys. and vindictive. indeed.
mus: he the patriotism which can ha,bor
malice for eight years against the dead.
Immediately after the close Of the war.
before the bitterness which it reused had
been softened by time. there might, in
deed. have been a natural feeling OF re-
pugnance on both sides to this ''ming-
ling Of tears and tributes" Even now.
if any political significance attached to
the decoration Of the graves Of deceased
Confederates on this day. if any insult
were intended thereby. reasonable objec'
ton might be urged against It. But
nothing Of the kind exists. The Confed-
crate dead are not more completely re-
moved from this earth and its concerns
than is the Confederate cause from an &C.
tive part in our politics. Both are Of the
past. and if its sof.ening halo has so al
tered our relations toward the living rep
.esentatives Of tina: cause tina: we are
willing to receive them again as brother
citizens. surely it must serve 10 sanctify
the graves Of their dead companions.
Would mother who had lost two sons
in the late war. one fighting tor the
Union, one for the Confede.acy, no matter
how warm her sympathies might have
been with one. how severe her condemna-
ton Of the other during the strite-wou!d
she now make distinction in their graves?
And is no. our country the common
mother o! US all, Of those who abandoned
her as we'll as those who sustained her:
Resentment should be buried with its
object.
We are a. a loss. then. to understand
the significance of the dispatch from the
war Office. published the day before yes
.erday, which seems TO intimate that the
Grand Army Of the Republic shall have
the control Of the national cemetery a:
Arlington On this day. TO tie exclusion Of
all 'organized professions OF parties de-
string 70 visit the cemetery sor the pur-
pose Of decorating graves. As far as this
relates 70 organized professions Of ex-
Consederates. acting as such, this is well
enough. Foolish and wicked as it would
be 10 engage in strife On such an occasion.
yet mems passions are not to be
rashly reused: and such demon
stration might tend to awaken
ire on the par. ofthose who magnanimity
should not be so tried. But if the prohibi-
ton be against private individuals. who
may desire 10 honor the graves Of che
Confederate dead on the same day devoted
to the decoration Of the graves OF the
Nationals, We consider il extremely ILL
judged. not to say reprehensible. The
effect Of this union in common tribute
Of love and sorrow by both the formerly
conflicting parties could be good and
good only. It would serve to soften the
asperities Of feeling that still exist among
the survivors; to bring to mid our COM
mon brotherhood: to awaken q spirit OF
tenderness and forgiveness.
IN this par; Of the country we are in.
ciined to think that no feeling exists. at
Ieas! among those who adhered TO the
Union, which would revolt at such q
but as in no case that we know
Of are tie remains Of the Union and the
Confederate soldiers buried in common
there is no opportunity to pu,
the spirit Of mutual forgiveness TO this |
.es:. The Confederates have, We believe,
N appointed day. different from this. for
honor 70 their dead: and per-
maps. in their presen: state Of feeling. this
S best. We hope, however. the time may
'ome when throughou. the length and |
breadth Of the land there will be but one !
lay devoted 10 this sacred object: and Ina,
IN that day the friends and relatives Q:
both sides may unite 70 make beautiful |