Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-06-04
HARsHALL MCCLURE. Propneto,
J. @. WARNOCK. Editor |
THE DAY We DECORATE.
etc live IN hearts we leave behind, is nc

THE DAY WE DECORATE.
"Tc live IN heats we leave behind, is not
TO die''
The annual recurrence OF the 3Oth of
May calls up memories of the past that
are sacred in every heart and home in
our nation. Millions yet live who well
and sadly remember the parting pangs of
1861 when father commended wife and
children TO the care of the God in whom
above all he put his trust; when son just
entering upon his early manhood with
all Of life's hopes and ambitions before him
took leave OF his chnging mother, whose
anguish only mother and her God can
ever know; when the young man renew.
CT the pledge of fidelity to his affianced
and received hers in return, went forth
IN answer to their country's call to brave
the storm of battle and defend tic old
flag under Whose protection they were
horn and reared.
Millions yet living recall. "a if but yes
terday, the anxiety with which the terri
ble conflict Of arms between those who
fought o. only American soldiers can.
tight, was watched; when one by one the
officers, and thousands by thousands The
phalanx of soldiers, were mown down 0y
the terrific tornado OF shot AMI shell that
resisted every step of advance; when from
the little sk,rmishes in Missouri and Vir.
giuia the struggle grew into the great
battles of Bull Run, Pea Ridge, Fort
Donaldson, Shiloh, Gettysburg, Chlca-
manga, Chattanooga, Petersburg, Cedar
Creek and the hundreds of others of less
but still appalling mortality that make
up the fonr years epoch in our natio as
history, neatly every line of which IS
crimson with the blood Of the slain.
These scenes and times are indcllibly
stamped upon the memory of countless
thousands and arc being impressed upon
the minds OF the younger generation by
fathers and mothers whose sons and
brothers were among the nnreturning he.
roes whose patriotism aud self-sacriiice
the ceremonies of tins day are designed
to commemorate.
Today the veteran who is growing grey
with the flight Of years Will recall to
memory with special vivitlness the com,
'ades who fell upon his right and upon
his left upon the field of battle or have
since in peace sunk into the grave by the
attack of that fell destroyer whose powe,
rs omnipotent, whose aim is nncrring and
whose order ls irrevocable.
The vast army of two million seven
hundred thousand men that responded to
the different calls of President Lincoln TO
meet upon the battle fields nearly an
equal number OF equally brave men from
the south was decimated nearly three
hundred thousand, the bones Of most of
whom now lie buried in the Sunny South,
while every cemetery in the north from
Maine TO California ,nta,ns the remains
Of some of the veterans who have since
fallen prey TO disease and accident
which are yearly diminishing their mum.
a'er by the thousand.
II has come to DC considered patriotic
duty TO hold this day sacred to the mem
Ory Of the soldier deaf. and it is custom
which is happily growing rather than d.
in interest ard observance. IT.
is ct time when the FIST blooming and
most fragrant flowers of the year are in
their glory and are fitting emblems with
tues Of our nations defenders as well as
to represent the noblest emotions and
purest sentiments OF gratitude for their
services.
1t is also one II the perpetuating vir-
tues of the observance OF this day that il
softens the asperitles and sweetens the
bitterness that stimulated the contending
armies 10 deadly strife before the war and
ncrvcd them 10 heroic deeds of valor dur
ing its progress. Those soldier foes in
an ended strife now lie side by side in
peaceful slumbeis upon the field where
the ground drank up their life blood.
The fair hand Of lovely woman makes no
distinction in the bestowal Of these beau
tifnl and fragrant memsntoes whether
they fall ON the grave II soldier who
wOre the blue or the grey, and the mag
unanimous SURVIVING veterans of both sides
look appr0vingly upon the tribute Of res
pect paid alike TO each. ..as
While treaso is odiOus and the leaders
who prec,pltated the South int, rebellion
should forever bear the Odinm, he soldier
whether now dead or alive, fought as the
good soldier fights, obeying his comman-
der without question as 10 the right or
wrong at issue, and a magnanimous ma
ton can well afford to respect them for
their bravery even though it cannot COM
mend them for their cause.
'rHr official Tenure of Hon lin I'll 4