The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-05-24
What is Due to Memorial Day

The Boston Post recently expressed disap-
probation of the 'Memorial Day. order OF
Commander Evans, of Mass, in which he urg-
ed that every form of amusement like dancing,
boat racing, etc, should be given up on that
day. The Posts comments have drawn from
Rev. W. G. Haskell of Lewiston. former Com
mander of the Department of Maine G. A. r..
reply of which the following is the conclll-
sion =
The animus of the successful movement to
make of the 30th day of May holiday was
specific. 1t was not merely that our people
| might rest from their ordinary labors. 1t was
that by the peculiar exercises of the day pat
riotism might be stimulated and fostered
Dancing, boat-racing, or similar sports may be
well in their way, but they are not well when
they tend to destroy the purpose of an occasion.
The Post self would hardly argue that they
might consistently follow Il prayer meeting
nor that they were exactly the reereations in
which one would be expected to indul ge i'm
mediately after a visit to the grave of ones
friend. Are not the graves of our soldiers the
graves of the nations friends? The day is Il
purpose it would better be stricken from the
brief list of legal holidays.
The people can make what holidays they will
for the mere sake of recreation. believe they
ought to have more. Let them create them.
and spend the time in such heathful ways as
may please them, and the veterans will not be
found behind others in contributing to make
the days enjoyable.
The Post speaks of reasonable recreationS
''after the sacred duties are done to the dead
heroes Ii has in mind, perhaps. some local
lty where the sacred duties are performed in
the earlier hours of the day. But such ocali-
ties are few. Mostly, | think, in the larger
towns and cities, the comrades of the Grand
Army are busted in visiting cemeteries and
decorating the graves of soldiers buried there
until noon. Decorations within the towns, and
an Grafton or an euogy, are the order OF the
afternoon in many places, while in others the
Grafton is given in the evening. So that rec
reation," even if betting the day, must be
wedged in between the decorations of graves
and the Grafton, or in the evening following the
afternoon gathering.
But the truth of the ease is that the gettorS-
up of the races, dances and skating rink enter
tainments given on Memorial Day are wholly
OF mostly those who care not fig for the day
or IFS meaning. They are after the dollar And
most of those who patroniZe them are after the
sport. They do not ask. they do not care as to
the meaning of the day. | have even known
the members of two college base ball clubs tC
organic match game to be played at the very
hour when the commemorative exercises were
to be held by posts of the Grand Army in both
places where the colleges were located. | am
happy TO say that, being department commander
of Maine at that time, the game was postponed
at my request. and with the utmost courtesy on
the part OF those who had arranged it,. As
everybody knows. the younger and more
thoughtlesS of our population are more intent
upon .'having good time" than anything else
| would not for moment hold them back from
il at proper seasons. | would not compel them
to give up their good times if ! had the pow
| er; no, not even on Memorial Day. But
would appeal to their own perceptions Of the
fitness of things. and [ believe the appeal would
be respected, at least. The soldiers of the late
war will soon be out of the way. But | believe
every one of them would say with his dying
breath, Let the children be taught the mean
ing of patriotism.'