The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-14
Address Delivered ut Portland,
Oregon. ON "DecOratiOn Day."
BY w. II. SMALLWOOD.


The custom of providing bounties
and other special rewards to the soldier
on active duty in the field, of pension
if wounded or grown decrepit in the
service, while living, and to his widow
and orphans if dead, is custom as old
as the nations Of the earth. The earli-
est military genius of whom we have
any account, was Sesostrus of Egypt,
who, more than 5000 years ago en-
ployed, not only the systems Of bounty
and pension to promote the courage and
patriotism of his soldiers, but who also
erected various monuments upon the
battle fields, to properly record and
safely perpetuate the remembrance of
his blood-bought victories, that the gen
erations which were to come after him,
might behold with mingled feelings OF
veneration and pride, the prowess of
their ancestry, and the grand rewards
of greatful nation. Thus early in the
history OF ancient civilization do we
observe disposition to foster spirit
of patriotism as the chief bulwarK of
national strength Among the early
Greeks, bountIes, pensions and monu-
ments were the rewards of a sO.dlery,
whose courage and patriotism lave only
grown brighter and brighter with the
lapse of centuries The same incen-
tives to heroism were provided by the
statutes and customs OF Carthage, and
of Rome; and subsequent nations, prof
lting by these illustrious examples, did
not fail to pay the same tribute and
homage to their soldiers, both living and
dead.
Even the custom of erecting floral tro-
phies, of scattering flowers i'll the path
way of returning soldiers, and of crown
ing with evergreens the hero of battle,
is of ancient origin and long practice.
The wreath and the arch are as old as
the triumphal car.
TO this age and to this country, how
ever, has been reserved the glory of
creating and perpetuating a "Decora-
ton Day" tor the living, but for
the dead. A day sacred to our sleeping
heroes. A day dedicated to them by
the common consent of grateful peo-
pie. A day exclusively American. A
day which celebrates, not only the sac
ritice of the nations martyrs, but which
=, nd
pensions and monuments, to inspire us
with that spirit which constitutes the
very life of the republic. A day con-
secrateI by the blood of patriots, and
christenei by nations tears.
Bounties, pensions and monuments
are the incentives of heroism which
ambition and Justice have invented to
discharge the national obligation, perpe-
tuate the national life, and preserve the
national pride; but the beautiful cere-
monies OF decoration Day" are the
incentives of patriotism, which broad
er liberty and higher civilization have
invented as tributes of love to the dead,
and lessons Of virtue to the living
They appeal, not to human avarice or
human vanity, but to human love.
They are ceremonies, calculated not less
to promote natural gratitude upon the
one hand, than love of country upon the
other.
Patriotism is indeed the first and
highest national virtue Without it
there is no national strength, no politi-
cal power, no reliable government. 1t
matters not how populous country,
how varied its resources, how wealthy
and intelligent its peop.e, or what its
natural advantages, either offensive or
defensive, so long as it be lacking in
patriotism; for without that essential
element of strong nationality, it may be
as giant shorn of his strengthen
object of pity or contempt That is
the best government which secures and
retains the confidence and affection of
its citizens. 1t matters not whether it
be an absolute or limited monarchy, a
democracy or republic, its strength
must come chiefly from thelove and devo-
ton Of its subjects II we would preserve
the nation we must Undue the people
with spirit Of loyalty; for patriotism