Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-07
TWO VIEWS OF 1T.
The QOesIiOn Of SGreWing Flowers
on Lne Graves OF Loyal and Rebel
HOIdIes Altke-SentimentRlity and
Patriotism.

The QUesItOn Of SGrewing Flowers
On me Graves OF loyal n Rebel
AOIdIes AItke-Sentim entRlity and
Patriotism.
Senator F. M. Cockrell, Of Missouri,
who was a rebel general, says in a letter
to the committee having in charge the
decoration ceremories in st. Louis.
God will smile in tender love upon
the true men who, some having worn the
blue and some the gray, shall on such an
occasion meet as countrymen and be
strew with flowers, the tokens Of afec
ton and tenderness, the graves Of their
fallen countrymen. They will thus mani
fest to all the truth and the fact that on
Whatsoever side the dead fell and the
living fought they were equally honest
and sincere. The living meet as coun-
trymen and friends over the silent graves
Of their fallen, their loved. Why? Be
cause they know and they feel that they
are all they creatures OF the same great
Creator, owe obedience to the same Di.
vine authority, the guide for their inward
and their outward lives; are of one peo-
Pile, OF common nationality; love the
same common country, their home; love
republican government; are equally in
terested in the peace and prosperity OF
their common country, aud in the pre-
servation and perpetuiiy Of their iepub-
lean form Of government; are all equal
ly benefited by good government and
equally injured by bad government;
have the same legitimate objects and
aim in life; the same hopes and aspire.
tons for the future; aud that the ques.
tons involved in the late war are forever
settled, and the result fully accepted"
Referring to the proposed decoration
of the graves Of Union and Rebel sol
diers, the Chicago Advance says:
"If we were publicly honoring the dead
soldiers as soldiers, it would be highly
proper TO recognize the heroism of Stone
wall Jackson a. well as Of Col. Ellsworth
But we are a Christian people, aud re-
gard war as only a last desperate resort
Of men obliged to defend their liberties
and nationality. The only ground on
which flowers have been forthcoming for
hODored Gead has been that they ave IN
their lives for the Union. We have nc
such tribute for military prowess, and te
honor the Confederate dead precisely az
We honor the Union dead ia to c~oniound
moral distinctions and to put 4 premium
on treason. IL il is understood that in q
few years after n tremendous civil strife
it makes no difference to the public on
which side we fought, then it would Ger
tainly be harder in the future to muster
recruits for country sake and freedom
sake We honor private grief, and cor
daily extend to the friends Of those VIII,
died in defence Of the Lost Cause Oh,
privilege Of strewing flowers over theil
graves, yet when a public aud solemn
ceremony is inaugurated, let us honor
those who died TO save the country. W,
have no animesitiea, no hatred 10 ~,
South, 10 bury. We never bad any. w,
have nothing to be forgiven for, ant
never had any interest in perpeluatiD,
strife. If Decoration Day is 10 be uset
for the Qualification Of mere military
proves, or for the carrying ont OF poliii
cal purposes in contempt Of eternal dis
iiuelions, the sooner il is dropped th,
better"