Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-06-09

gle as they learn 1t from their
histories, or hear it from gray
haired veterans. In the better
day. which has dawned for
their coming manhood, the silver
cord of affection will bind all parts
of our great land into one magnih-
cent whole, and the dark memories
of carnage and battle shout,
through which many OF us have
come, will from a beautiful back
ground for the nations picture
translucent with the light of peace
and freedom. No tree that pushes
its roots and fibers into better soil
and sends its branches far upward
and outward thai is not toughen-
ed 10y conflict with the tempes'.
No human character becomes
broad and sturdy, full of sweet
iucies aud rich with fruitage, that
is not kept moist by the dews OF
sorrow, or disciplined by the sharp
strokes of pain as with trees and
men, so with races and nations I'M
abated prosperity and unstinted
luxury make state effet, and never
breed heroic men. Each annual
Decoration day carries us furthur
from the DAYS of strife when scars
were unhealed, and wounds yet
ached, and there go more love aud
gentleness 10 the act of devo-
ton with which the dear memories
of the dead are honored. How
peacefully they lie on fair hill
slopes in Southern cline; by
water tide and inland lake /; in
valley and on mountain pass
these wore the blue and those the
gray this one rode with Fitzpatrick
or Sherman in the famous march
to the sea, that one rushed in gall
liant charge with Jackson or Lee.
Remembering only that they died
bravely, we veil every grave with
flowers. The tender tribute is paid
to those who fought for the lost
cause as well as those who helped
to win victory for freedom and
union. No one can afford to nurse
angry pride or selfish malevolence.
No, not without showing an igno-
bic soul, Withholding allegiance to
that which is magnanimous, forgiv-
ing and christian, yet the golden
age has not fully come; though
our country is rejoicing in the
midst of prosperity, yet poverty
J and ignorance reigns in many parts
there are some portions which are
/ but half civilized life is not every
: where safe; feuds are not every
where quenched; the school house
and church do not everywhere
= reign supreme, but, we follow on
} under the blessing of God, step 10y
: step toward law and order, intel
ligence and peace, until wherever
5 our flag floats the infiunce OF the
D Bible and spelling book, shall be
q the wonderful leaven to raise these
( waste places and desolate parts
!. with their hallowed fermentation
h So let our drums beat and oul
: bugles blow, bring the star-eyef
: daises, and the fragrant lilies, and
!. the velvet pansies, sand clinging vines
q to strew in fading beauty, or better
8 still, to plan on the lowly hillocks
:, where our brothers sleep. Nature
8. has done her best to help us, am
If she will bi God lovingly over ever,
It green thing set to grow in tn
d ground which she wraps aroun'
Is the brave. Let us not think our
q selves alone in this floral Offering
is to-day, for all over our land show
d ers of spring flowers have fallen
n waste cemeteries where the grea
General Death has mustered in hi
1, ranks have been made gorgeon
.e with bloom; statutes have bee
d crowned with garlands solitar
In graves with no tombstones bav
~ been sought ont and sprinkled wit
~ blossoms. Our war sloops shoul
g leave our ports and anchor owe
lr sunken vessels, where thousand
of are sleeping, shrouded in coats
a blue, hang over these garlands
n bright roses and lilies, that lookin
at down in tender memory OF I'll
at sleepers, shall mirror their brigh
ID ness in the CLASSY oblivion belo,
Is, The first flowers fell upon bal
or clay and stones. Fresh earth ar
fresh sorrow were not then clothe
err upon with the beauty of pity al
D. pardon. But now above these, Il
y. tall grass waves, and the dash
u, creep, and the meadow lark buil'
rs. her nest. To-day where pluckt
G. flowers have fallen the wind W
x sigh and watt over the land as oil
Die wave of incense the fragrant brea
he of their yielded lives, and to-nig
nd the dew is weeping over the ear
he sacrifice of their brightness al
by beauty, nor asks where they gre,
to for every buried love, sweet fiowe
ice fall. Such memorial Of war on
en a christian land could know, al
vs. only our own land has known. II
ian well that it should come at IL
season Of the year, when the wi
I'VE ter of discomfort is passed, and t
he summer of peace has alrea
ce. planted her footsteps on our field
ty- the glory of this day is the glo
on Of peace. II comes not with
m roar IF cannon. bnt with the mu