Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-23
DECORATION DAY.

The wise men If ancient times prevented
the construction of permanent monuments'o
the soldiers who were slain in civil WARE,
upon the ground that the memories and an
tsgonisms epgendered by such contest
should not be perpetuated. Influenced 0!
these examples many thoughtful citizens,
who believe that any recurrence to the SAD
pat has a tendency TO perpetuste 7ectioh1'
hstrede. are anxious TO see the annual cue
tom OF decorating the graves oil noth 'is
FEDERAL and Confederate dead discontinued'
rvIfevs me UecoraIIon OF these graVes
sibaerves a good purpose, for it remindF
both sections of the folly OF civil discord, and
the surrow that has been brought upon SO
many hou-ebolds BY the unreasoniDg pas
sious Of the people of both sections. So far ar
the South is concerned, the war is ended
The appeal to the arbitrament of the sword
has decided that the States are indestructi-
bic. and the Southern States have taken
their place in the circle they attempted TO
leave, and the people of the South recog-
nize the fact that their future is inseparably
linked to the Union The voice which called
them to the field now bids them heal the
wounds of war. The path of patriotic duty
ia open ind plain. 1t is to cast out the ami
mosities which were engendered, and TO
work together for the honor, prosperity and
welfare of united country. But this ODE
dience does not require US to forget, repu
diate or disown the past-smong these our
noble dead. If we ever blush for the past,
ii we ever cease to honor the memory OF
those who suffered and died for the cause
they believed right, and which the Southern
people told them was holy and patriotic, We
will be traitors to the dead and to ourselves
and thereby forfeit our honor and throw
away our self-respect. In standing upon
our record there is nothing disloyaI to tn
government. We therefore see no -ohjection
TO the annual decoration of the graves Of
the Confederate dead. We are again about
TO engage in this beautiful ceremony, and we
hope the outpouring OF the people will show
that the living still cherish & loving
affection for the noble dead. Yester-
day evening, in obedience to a published
suggestion, those who oppose the decora-
ton Of the graves on Sunday, met at
Elmwood and honored the memory of those
who died for what they believed to be a
righteous cause, and Sunday next has been
selected as the annual decoration day. The
orator, minister and marshal have been Sc
lected, and the occasion promises to be one
of UNUSUAL interest aud solemnity. No
sweeter sentiment belongs to humanity than
that which Is signalized by honoring the
memory Of the heroic dead. In all time it
has been the custom, sacred duty to visit |
the graves of kindred and friends, to shed |
tears TO the memory of departed loved once,
and to scatter flowers as yotive offerings.
The sentiment still lives. The members of
bereaved households know no purer graft
heation than that of placing flowers upon the
graves of the loved and lost. That which
was regarded as domestic duty has be
come a public obst rvance, and Sun
day next the sorrowful signing of
the widow and orphan, the father,
mother, brother and sister will be mingled
with the responsive sympathies in the pub
lie honors paid TO the memory OF the brave
men who sleep in Elmwood. On Sunday
next nothing will be done to offend the most
sentiments of the most loyal fanatic
Extreme men both in the North and at the
South on former occasions, inspired by the
mad passions born in war, perverted Decora-
ton day into dissertation day by grovel-
ing appeals to sectional hatreds. But time
has softensd the asperities of civil war,
and such appeals would now be regarded
with pain and sorrow by both sections. The
grave of the Federal and Confederate soldier
IL l
which all hostile and diverse elements can1
unite and strike hands in hearty and
fellowship. Party capital should
lever be made out of the heroic dead,
whether Federal or Confederate.