Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-30
DAY.

In all parts of the Union the beauti-
full custom OF decorating the graves Of
soldiers who fell during the late rebel
lion will be observed to-day. SO far
as we are advised. no distinction is to
be made anywhere between the graves
Of Union and Confederate soldiers.
This we commend As the proper spirit.
The misguided men of the South.
pending the great struggle, were just
US honest i'll their convictions OF right
as were those who rallied under the
standard Of the Union. They were
finally v~anuuished, and with scarcely
an exception the disbanded legions re-
turned TO their homes to become useful
citizens. Since the termination of the
conflict. we think the current history
of the South shows very conclu>ively
that the best efforts of the soldierv of
the Confederacv have been honestly
expended in the proper direction-that
of retrieving, SO far as possible, the
losses caused by the a Ii must
be admitted by every reasonable man.
that if the union is to be perpe;uated:
if the two lately belligerent Sc ,tions
are I dwell together fraternallv under
n common flag. looking only to the
good of the whole. the sooner the ami
mosities engendered by the war are
forever obiiterated the better it will be
for all concerned. The hearty ap-
prevail of the governed is indispenSa-
Bile 10 the existence Of n republic-a
republican form of government can
not long endure unless founded in the
affections Of the people. Hence, it be-
comes all important that concord AMI
brotherly feeling should prevail
throughout the country. Ii is there
fore a subject of congratula.ion that
there is to be no distinction in the be-
stowal of floral decorations on the
graves of those who laid down their
lives in the late conflict of arms. An
by telegraph from Washington. Sena-
tor Patterson, of South Carolina, re-
Gently addressed a letter to the War
Department, making inquiry concern
ing the decoration of the soldiers
graves at Arlington. Following is the
reply of the Secretary of War:
WASHINGTON. May o5, 1874.
Hon. John J. Patterson. United
G-a,oS Saparc~-Sir. have rpcaiyal
your letter of MAY 20, 1874. which COM
munication commences as follows:
son the eve of the decoration one
year ago, an order issued by the Sec
rotary of War gave the grounds of Ar
lington into the custody of the Grand
Army of the Republic on that day,
and limited the ceremonies on that &C.
casion 10 decorating the graves Of
the soldiers who fell in defense of the
Union. desire to ask if that order is
still in force and applicable to the day
now approaching. If in force. | earn
estly hope it may be abrogated; if not
in force, | desire most respectfully Yet
earnestly 10 protest against the new
al Of the order issued on the oath of
May, ls13.' In regard 10 the terms Of
that order. Of which there seems TO be
some mi>apprehen>lon in your mind,
they simply prohibited interference
with the association to whom had
been previously and especially as
signed the control of the grounds
Of Arlington cemetery on Decoration
Day. This order reads that all organi-
cations, persons or parties desiring t o
visit the cemetery for the purposes of
decorating the raves other than those
of Union soldiers. can be admitted on
any other day subsequent to that above
named, upon proper application. No
order relative to the decoration of
graves at Arlington OF the Both of May,
1874, has been issued. The grounds of
the cemetery will. on that day, be
opened to all orderly persons who de-
sire to decorate any of the graveS with
in that Enclosure. Very respectfully.
WV. NJ. BELKNAP, Sec'y of War
1t only remains 20 be said that the
ex-soldiers of Eureka will observe
Decoration Day in strict accord with
the spirit manifested by their brethren
Al the East. Ample arrangements have
been made for the occasion. and we
are certain that the ceremonies Will be
highly interesting.