The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-30
ME YORIAL DAY.

The indications are that Memorial Day
will be more generally observed than ever
before and it is noticeable that larger
spirit of charity will attend its observance.
Heretofore, as perhaps was natural, sec
tional feeling has entered largely into the
observances of the day. In the first flush
of victory, or the gloom attendant upon
defeat, it was, perhaps, too much to expect
that the feelings engendered by the war
should be forgotten, much less overlooked;
and 80 we have seen general disposition
to honor the memory of only those who
fought, suffered or fell on the right side,
as each one should regard the right of the
contest in which this country was SO long
involved. Time, however, has brought
healing upon its wing, and, with rare ex-
ceptions, we have all come to regard with
charity and respect those who fought or
fell on either side in that long and bitter
struggle for liberty, pnon and independ-
ence.
While the north can never have but one
opinion in regard to the merits of the war
while, as we believe, the Judgment of the
future will be that as the war was forced
upon the north causelessly and without
provocstion, excuse or justification, and
that the freemen of the north would have
been recrcant to every principle of honor,
loyalty, patriotism and courage had they
failed to meet the issue as presented, and to
fight until lasting peace and reunion was
conquered so we believe that patriotism,
loyalty and the highest courage demand
that the issues of sixteen years ago and the
animosities engendered thereby should be
buried in common grave--and so we re-
joice that the indications come to us from
all parts of the Union, from the north as
well as the south, that to-day the almost
ties of the four years war will be forgotten
and that friend aid foe will be honorei alike
60 far as such honor and respect is implied
in placing floral tributes on the grave of
the soldier.
To-day, at least, the blue and the gray
will mingle harmoniously together, and
those who few years ago met in deadly
coniiit will to-day unite in rendering due
homage to the departed brave who, per-
chance, they met in battle array in the still
recent past. This tribute of respect to q
fallen fee does not imply an Endorsement of
the cause in which they fell docs not be-
token decay Of patriotism, or any less
love or veneration for the Union Of our
fathers. The war is ended, the Union re-
stored, and we are now all countrymen and
brothers Cannot, then, without impeach-
ment of their patriotism or loyalty, oar
Union soldiers pay the poor tribute of a
boquet of flowers to comrade and foe alike?
Such tribute is no recognition of The jus-
tice of the cause in which they fell, is it ?
1t is nothing more than recognition of the
fact that they were countrymen, that they
were foemen worthy Of each others steel,
and that they dared risk their lives, and
even die, for principle which, however
mistaken, they believed in.
Happily, in Vermont, we have no occa-
sion to make any such seeming sacrifice to
prejudice, as we have in our midst only the
graves of Union soldiers. These we can
all, with one accord, unite n honoring
without being called upon to give even a
seeming assent to the proposition that one
who died for principle, honestly entertain
ed, commits no sin. Here, then, in Ver-
moht, we can all join heart and hand in the
observance of the day, being assured that
all whose memory we honor agreed with us
In principle, and presented their lives
willing sacrifics for the faith we all pro.
fessed-and leave TO our brethren elsewhere
TO testify a broader patriotism, as strong
loyalty, aud more all embracing love of
country only tecause they have the oppor-
tunity.