Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY THOUGHTS


our heroes fell to rise no more. has been
visited by sorrowipg friends. and made
fair to look upon by the scattering OF
beautiful flowers, natures emblem OF
purity. II is a grand spectacle. this Of
an entire nation worshiping at the
graves Of its defenders. II is q holy
rite that We have performed ON this day.
one peculiar to America, n OF which
we may Justly feel proud rs a people.
To us our soldiers never die. With each
recurring Spring the memory Of their
valor springs anew to life in our CRATE
| full hearts, even ~ the flowers with
which We deck their resting places
awaken from their long Winters sleep.
For those gallant heroes who lay down
their lives In defence u their county.
there can Ia NO oblivion. Theirs Is an
Immortality in the hearts Of their u
trymen. well earned and nobly pre-
served.
But this solemn memorial day sug-
gesis other thoughts than those Of mere
gratitude to our fallen heroes. 1t il a
very sad reflection that no have so many
dead soldiers thus to honor. Our Re
public Is but just beginning its second
century Of existence. and yet there is
scarcely q home in the land which can.
not point to at least one chair made va
cant by the terrible agency Of war.
Scarce a burial place can DO found with
in the bounds Of the Republic, North.
South. East or West. in which does not
repose one or more heroic men who
fought the battles Of tho nation. and.
fighting them. fell. This. We say. Is q
sad record in u country 30 young US
ours, but it Is q record which was forced
upon Us by the unAlterable DEGREES OF
Fate. In looking over these graves.
all blooming as they are to-day with the
freshest and brightest Of sarth's flowers.
il Is we'll TO bear this fact in mind, and
learn from Il those lessons Of wisdom
which il Is 10 e~minsnily calculated to
inculcate.
What caused the raising Of these
mounds which We are decorating on this
day. How can we prevent other com.
panion mounds from dotting our hill
sides and disiiguripg our beautiful VAL
loysg These are questions which are
spontaneously suggested by the services
Of Memorial Day. To say that the
Southern people rebelled against the
authority Of the Government, is not q
sufficient answer. The southern people.
az q mass. did no better and no worse,
than We Of the North. or any other peo-
pie, would have done under the same
circumstances. They were the agents.
the mere machines. through which the
first great causes Operated. They fol.
lowed their leaders. killed and were
killed. like brave men. They are not
primarily responsible Tor the awful car
mage which made Memorial Day a pos
sibility. That responsibility is to 10
sought elsewhere.
All the misery which the rebellion has
entailed on the children Of this gener-
alton. all the graves which We honor to-
day by these touching ceremonials, are
due to one great cause, Democratic
supremacy in the councils Of tho Re-
public. Southern Democrats, ncour
aged by such Northern d~oushfaccs as
Tildsn and VOORHEES,. led their people
blindly into the great crime. At this
time We can well afford to throw the
mantle OF charity over tho treason OF
the past. aud God knows w have done
so But wa cannot afford 10 ignore
the lessons which tho dire results
OF that treason teach us. When WI nee
q nation decorating the graves OF its
dead. and at the same time see the cause
which produced the graves which we
honor. operating in the same channels
as Of yors. Il is our right, it is our duty.
to take note Of the fact. and 10 check
the evil before it again passes beyond
our control.
The men who raised the mounds
which We have this day carpeted In
flowers are at this very moment plotting
treason airesh. and preparing to double
the number OF graves which will In
future claim u tributes on Decoration
Day. Some Of them. like Alexander II.
Stephens and David II. Key. have es.
psrienced a change Of heart. shrink
from plunging the country anew into
tho 6sry ordeal. and loyalty send forth
notes Of warning to the patriotism Of
the nation. But the Democratic leaders.
a. q body. are the same to-day rs they
we're In 1860. They have laid the train,
and now ask the voters Of the Republic
TO come 10 the front in November next
and apply the torch. 1t is for tho peo-
pie who on this day have laid blooming
flowers upon the graves OF u heroes.
with loving hands and tender hearts. to