Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-17

i, value of the articles contributed. w
think this offer very liberal and hay,
r do doubt that it will be 50 regarded bj
those for whose benefit it is intended
The value of the advertisement thu
given to any house or to the nipple
ments made or sold by it, viii Ger
tainly be far greater than the cost O
the pillow, rake, harrow, gin, or othel
implement that may be contributed
The advertisement will find its way
into every farm house in West Ten.
nessee and West Kentucky, and will
/ be extensively circulated in the States
lying South of US, and also in those
beyond the Mississippi river, and can
not fail to bring a rich return.
THEIR GRAVES. The ex-Confederates
of Nashville have called a meeting for
the 18th inst, to make arrangements
for the decoration of the graves of
their comrades. We hear nothing of
the observance of this custom in Jack
son this year. When President Lin
coin visited Richmond, after the sur
render he made brief speech, after
which he called upon the band to play
Dixie, observing with characteristic
pleasantly that the Federal arms, with
the other spoils Of war had captured
the immortal air, in which the soul of
he ],
And it would seem that our triumphant
neighbors are about TO appropriate al
most exclusively the beautiful South
ern custom Of floral decoration, and to
scatter the blooms of May upon the
graves of the Federal dead as regular
ly as the sun kisses back the flowers
from their winter sleep. Decoration
Day" in the North is a national holt
day, and is observed year after year
with increasing interest and elaborate
preparation. To what extent section
al pride, patriotism, or policy Hnderlies
this demonstration in its regular recur-
reu-o, it Is unnecessary to enquire
Thel Nct is obvious that the North
does MT seek to Obliterate the graves
of her warrior dead, even if all other
reminders Of the great struggle are
swept away. In the South, the custom
which originated with our fair coun-
trywOmen, is neglected, or observed |
only occasionally, and at places.
We do not seek to stir the yet |
warm ashes of the war, or to fan its
dying embers; but when we think of .
the sufferings and the sacrifices of men
who endured 50 much and died like
Spartans, for 4 cause that was made
glorious by the respondent swords of
Lee and Jackson, of Polk and Sidney
Johnston, it occurs to us that the
graves of such men should
not be neglected and forgotten, until
the traces of their mounds are lost
Under those mounds moulder the
bones Of men as knightly and valorous
Is any that ever slept in the tombs of
paladins and peers, in minister vaults,
and with all the pomPs OF medieval
burial about their heroic dust. The
rains of heaven and the oblivion of
weeds are fast removing all traces of
the Confederate dead in our cemetery,
not through any fault of the authori-
ties, but from forgetfulness on the part
Of our people. We ask for no pagan
try, for no display of oratory, for no
poems in honor of the dead, but if
each year these 21O graves in our midst,
presented their sodded mounds, name
less though they be, with a common
cenotaph to indicate why these graves
are here, the decencies of death would
be observed even if the custom of floral
decoration should cease to exist We /;
speak only in this spirit, in the name
Of those who died among strangers.