The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-11
Decoration Day.

The adjourned meeting of citizens called
to make preparations for the observance of
Decoration Day, was held at the City Hall,
in Davenport. last evening. Gen. Add. II.
Sanders was called to the chair, and Hon,
H. Fl. Bensen was elected secretary. AT
ter long consultation over what was best
to be done, committee was appointed to
confer with Post No. of the G. A. r. and
with citizens of Rock Island and Moline.
and report plan of operations for observ-
ance of the day-Judge Bensen, Ed. Rus
sell, A. R. Mccullough, Otto Smith and
Major Andrews being appointed as such
committee The meeting then adjourned
subject to a call of the committee.
The Democrat says:
There is no finer or nobler sentiment in
the human soul than that which remem-
bers and honors the dead, and there is no
more touching evidence of the immortal
unity of our republic, no more generous
sentiment in the national mind than that
holy and wholesome thought which gathers
the living to the city of the dead and teach
es them to decorate and adorn their mould
ering brows. There is no night there,
there is no strife there, there is no passion;
nothing of the stir, and dust and confus-
sion of this sinful world there. On that
silent shore, silent to mortal ears, but full
of joyous echoes of better world, the
men who fought on both sides of the Ameri-
can conflict live, move and have an immor-
tai existence together.
That's all very pretty in theory, but in
this world the practice Of this Republican
Administration, at Rock Island Arsenal,
tears away the fence what was built around
the trenches where lie the mortal remains
Of 1000 of our countrymen who fought on
the other side removes the simple head
boards which told the initials only of the
sleepers below; plows down the mounds
level with the ground and seeks to obliter-
ate the spot where their bones rest
Decoration Day" was begun, and carried
on for years, in spirit Of partizan zeal,
with the view of m aking Democrats odlous
and making capital for the ring of thieves
who got rich on shoddy contracts at the
expense of the people. 1t manifested its
spite in driving sorrowing mothers
from the graves of their sons at the
point of U. S, bayonets. because
the dead boy fought on the other SIDE 1t
was carried on by the g. A. R. and thee. A. r.
was run by politicians like Logan, Burnside
& Co., in the interests of political party.
1t soon dwindled into sort of lifeless show
attended only by women and children and
such men as seem to have no other bust
ness in life but to part their hair in the
middle, wear spit curls and show that they
can wear women's gloves.
No grave of soldier of the Mexican war
or the war for Free Trade and Sailors
Rights, or the war for Independence and
State Right" was decorated. Elaboration
Day were devoted to honoriug heroism and
patriotism wherever found, regardless Of
party clap-trap or sectional hate, it would
call out the whole population. But when
it plows down the graves of just as patri-
otto and heroic Though mistaken) men as
ever lived, and is conducted in the narrow
spirit of partisan hate, it will not arouse
the broad national spirit and restore fra
ternal feelings throughout the land.