Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-05-30
DECORATION DAY.


.,., r,vs will fall with an impartially tender
,,ncb ON the graves. Of both Union and Con-
s.i,r,te soldiers. So, this day, as over all
,p;s great land mourners 90 from the silence
.,r .orrauiul homes, laden with flowers, to
decorate the graves Of the brave men who,
cn IN the late unfortunate struggle, let
.,n~g ~, wreaths alike for the friend and the
ior.
Memorial Day" with US is the revival Of
beautiful. but very ancient custom. The
habit OF rayiug respect to the memory ofthe
r,norrd dead is older than civilization, In
,n ages and among all nations and peoples,
from those who dwell within the gates Of
the rising sun to those who behold his
mighticr light giving Pl.ce to the dreamy
dominions Of the evening star it has been
usual to celebrate the virtues of those who
died for their country with the highest fun
etal hOnors-
This generation is not so far removed
from the scenes of the conflict in which our
dead heroes fell, but, there still plays a sad
and tender hight around their memories.
Uar entire land is filed with the Golgothas
Of our kindred. While the Federal Gov
eminent has most generously endeayOred to
gathcr the remains Of the dead soldiers from
,ar various hattle6elds and deposit them in
oar National cemeteries still there are
thousands of soldiers who fell on both sides
whose graves are unmarked. In uameless
valleys, on rugged mountains, in wild aud
solitary swamps the noblest and bravest
;ai highest Of American man
food are sleeping in shallow and unknown
crave, Many mother than bore him
Knows not Of the lowly bed of her lost boy
.,r can >l4 cast one flower upon his grave
.-Iay. Aud vet this nation listened to the
Tar OF that boy.s musket and watched with
cart aglcw and blood on FIRE as he stroye
8, r,,cr the arch of Empire through
a,ch;ng flames and glittering bayonets.
Vii. u,i some kindly stranger hand this
a.y pull apart the quivering blades of the
--aye-grass and place flower on the spot
where h. sleeps without inquiring whether
h, wore the blue or the grey.
What matters it now whether his was the
cause Of Right or Wrong? Right and
Wrong are absolute only in eternity. Dur
.ng time they are but relative phrases. If
these poor men who died in gray uniform
wore par,icipa,ors Of error, in their cases
the virtue Of sincexity has made error a
truth So viewing il in that ligh, the flow
rs planted on their graves to-day will be
homage To them as heroes Of truth. While
lroidering the graves of the Blue with gold
le, us also mellow the graves Of the Gray
with gold They were pitted against each !
other in life but they are comrades in death.
Together they are sleeping.
Tle-r ju the robing, Of glory,
Tl..,, ir the gloom Of defeat,
All with The hattle-blood goTy,
In the l.,k OF eternity meet
TaG~r the I'D and the dew
A,aiy.nS ,he judgment day
Love aud tears for the Blue,
T..=> and love 'or the Gray.
III th- hoaorS we show to our dead
to DAY by decorating their
yraycs are as much shown to ourselves, and
sill more to humanity. Let this above all
other days be to the American people a day
of universal brotherhood and generous feel
I'm, for in It's touching ceremonies disaP
l,ar an the auimosities cngenderei o! war
:,nd sectional prejudice.
"Ia,y l,,ut>h cur anger mrc''r
Whrn the, laurel thr graves ol our lcai.'