The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-21
HoSoRs 10 THE HEROES.
Memorial Day this Year When knd
How it kilI be Observed
Proclamation.

Unfortunatef. il it be unfortunate
memorial day MAY 30th-this yssr falls
on Sunday. Ids an i'll fortune because
the coming of holiday on such an oc-
casion.. alFaysI creates a degree of divis-
ion. if not dbsention on the Sunday
question. It does more than this. too.
for the entirk nature Of our memorial day
exercises comes up in review, with ten
dcncy toward apathy in the observance
of this solemn anniversary. There is a
prevalent notion that anything like a
drum beat or the display of arms or of ma
tional colors on Sunday, carries with it
kind of Dissertation. But drum beat is
not much louder than church bell, and
il the one breaks the "restful silence" of
the day how can the other be borne7 And
as to the solemnity soldiers experience
must have been very slight among the
shadows of the war cloud, if there is any
more impressively solemn pageant than
the reversed arms, the measured tread
aud muffied drums of the dead march.
Even the salyoes of musketry over COM
rades grave, or the minute guns which
make the earth tremble, are to him bur.
dened with decorous solemnity. He
knew no dissertation of the Christian
Sabbath in unfolding the flag of his
country on that day, and could not post
pcne exercises at Shiloh, Gettysburg or
Vicksburg. in behalf of "restful silence"
Sunday was the'day of all days for these
solemn marches from the hospital to the
cemetery 10 do all that remained for hui
man hands in behalf of fallen comrades;
nor did the most exscting christian SOL
dier dream of any Dissertation in the vol
leyed farewell over comrades new-made
grave.
Saturday has been generally adopted
as memorial day this season by the peo-
Pile of Illinois, though for what reason, it
would be difficult to know. To change
the date of these memorial exercises,
whcn the true anniversary falls on Sun
day, is in a nature of an admission that
the exercises are not what they should be.
or that the whole system of decoration
| observance is kind of farce or mockery
1t detracts from the dignity of any habit
usl observance when it is forced to yield
its proper and stated time to any other
interest. If our memorial services
are such as to profane the Sabbath, then
they iprofane the memories which they
are designed to cherish, and it is time
they be abolished
But the object of this article is not to
carp at arrangements already made, or in
progress for our approaching memorial
day. The change which has been made
as to the date this year, has been done
with none but the best interests at heart
and perhaps without the thought that
there is solemnity in the proper observ
ances of the anniversarJ day which does
not come in conflict with the proper OBJ,
servances of the day of rest. Tie most
earnest adherents of the exact anniversa-
ry, come on what day of the week il
may, are of class who will not throw
any obstacle in the way of beauti
full and impressive commemoration OF
year in this city without donbt. TIT
season is far advanced, and there will b,
a wealth of floral tributes hitherto un-
known in this locality.
| 1t will be day of even deeper interes
in Rock Island than ever before, as Blu
ford Post is to have charge of the deco
rations at the national cemetery on the
island. The higher grades of the publ,
schools will be dismissed early one weel
from tonight to prepare the wreathes
and the Grand Army and Sons o
Veterans, Rodman Rifles and the sew
eral civic societies of Rock Isl
aud intend to do their utmost to max
the day memorable one. Bleuer's bant
has been engaged By Buford Post for tn
entire day. In the early morning tn,
square will be decorated by Bufor
Post, strictly according to the G
A. Il. ritual, and in the afternoon ther
t will be a parade through the principe
streets, when the societies will prOcee
to the island, where, with the assis,anc
of the posts and societies of Davenport
r aud Moline, the annual tribute will b
t paid to the patriotic dead Gen. Clar
f. Carr, of Galesburg, will be the oratc
. of the day. Let all join with solem
earnestness in these national exercises.
= THE GOVERNORS PROCLAMATION.
The following proclamation has bee
issued by Governor Oglesby:
" STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEpARTaEN
=, springfield, ILL.,, May 18th, 1885.
The annual return of Decoration da
brings with it sad memories of the dea
o who fell in the cause of the Nations
|, Union during the late civil war. Til
beautiful ceremonies observed upon thes
occasions cherish the spirit of genuir
patriotism, and rekindle in the heart tn,
G unselfsh love Of country so essential
the safety of the republic. The feveris
din of social idiscord will be silence
IS upon such hallowed day, and all pair
d otto hearts will melt into fervent suppl
d pication for the perpetuation of free il
IN situations and the reign of law.