New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-30
DECORATION DAY.

DhCOhdIlON. Ddls
Once more, to-day, the survivors of the
Civil War will deposit upon the tombs of their
brethren the touching and tasteful tribute
of affectionate remembrance. Nothing could
be simpler and nothing sweeter than this
method of commemoration. BY the general
assent of men in all ages and in every cline,
flowers have been deemed the fttest emblems
of Immortality, while their delicate beauty
and sumptuous Opulence of color are sug-
gestive alike of sorrow and consolation, of our
regrets and of our hopes. There Is feeling
with which we may regard the resting places
of the dead which is equally removed from
cold indifference and from unreasonable grief
feeling, indeed, of regulated and sober cheer
fulness which naturally accompanies the con-
temptation of q work well done and OF life
honorably ended. If we were to take out OF
universal history all record of those who
have died for their country, how bar
rem and discouraging would be the re-
mainder We accord degree of honor
to those who have been merely sacrificed
to promote the ambition Of rulers who used
their armies simply as the machinery OF
dubious or reprehensible purposes; and we
respect even the wasted bravery of the
mercenaTy. Our soldiers were not in the
field out of any military taste, nor were
they driven to enlistment by belligerent in
stincts. The war was indeed prolonged until
the eager patriotism which marked the dawn
of the contest had somewhat subsidized; but
the spirit of those great days, when re-
cruiting officers could hardly write fast
enough the roll of devoted volunteers,
was felt throughout the struggle to its very
close In armies so large as ours there was
room for every phase of motive and of char
acter. There were soldiers who were sordid
as there were soldiers who were craven; but
the general spirit which informed and vital
lied our forces was one of unselfish devotion
to the salvation of the country. We confess
that hardly any feature of the war is to us
more gratifying than the honest and honor
able end toward which our military energy
constantly tended. The soldiers of q despOt
may try to persuade themselves that they are
contending for blessings which his hard self
ishness has never permitted them to enjoy,
but usually they degenerate into merely fight
ing animals. with whom the winning of the
battle is the highest end. OF the policy
and purposes of their leaders they know
nothing. But our soldiers were mainly intel
lgent citizens, thoroughly acquainted with the
theory and the practice of a government which
was substantially of their own creation. The
cause for which they exposed their lives and
sacrificed their comfort was approved by their
own best Judgment, and so important did they
deem it that no chances of death were thought
too great to be met in sustaining the exist
ence of the Republic.
The paDg of to-day is that so many of our
soldiers were denied the sacred joy of wit
Messing the crowning events of the war. The
consolation is, that of the final and glorious
end they never entertained doubt. Every
army, however great or well appointed or
skiIlfully handled, must in long campaigns
meet with occasional reyerses; but no defeat
was ever great enough to destroy the faith of
our soldiers either in the righteousness of our
cause or IN its ultimate triumph. Something
perhaps those who fell fighting have gained
for they have not been compelled in mOrtifca
ton of spirit to witness the blunders which
have cheated the Republic out of some
of the best fruits of the triumph. Peace
hath her victories as well as war but alas
many of the noblest and most to be desired
of these are yet to come. AS to-day the
b6DulCntIb VI CuampAOub oAO lOfloiOOug 90
with martial pomp we celebrate their bravery
and devotion as we clearly recognize at what
price we have bought the liberty of choice,
would that the nation might thoroughly
recognize the duty of the hour-the duty of
casting far from us the brides of political
ambition, of moderating the madness of party,
of remembering that this Republic was estab-
lished for the good of all and not for the
emolument of the greedy and unprincipled
few The tenants of these decorated
graves died for the UniOn-when are
We to have the Union in fact as well
as in name7 We are not thinking
of merely political differences; we are not,
least of all to-day, taking cognizance of the
minor struggles of placemen and party men,
of those who are out and of those who
are in. We are wondering whether our
peace may not be made as honorable
and effective SIS our soldiers made the
war. They call to us from their graves this
morningl They ask if the honor which is
paid to them shall be but vain ceremonial |
They bid us remember that we too have
duties, and they beseech us by every sacred
memory not to squander the wealth of OPP
portunity which they cheerfully gave their
lives to bequeath to us.
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