The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-05-31

difficulty therefore we go back to
those more primitive methods, which,
however feeble their utterance leave
no doubt as to their intent. Coming
more directly from the sources of
nature this sign language is charac-
terized by truth and sincerity; and
we are upheld by the faith that in
these acts we commit no error; that
in laying our floral tributes upon the
turf and the marks consecrated to
our dead, we are following an in
stinct and obeying an impulse which
are natures own.
In the silent language conveyed
by these flowers we reach the under
standing of all men. 1t is an uni
versal tongue. Go to the remotest
island of the seas; go to the darkest
recesses of an uneXplored continent;
wherever man is found, be it in his
highest development or in his lowest
degradation, the significance of these
acts are never misunderstood.
Flowers teach us the lesson of
hope. They bloom for awhile pleas
ing us with their beauty and frag-
rance. But soon their petals fall,
and all the purity of color and the
sweetness of perfume sink into the
darkness of earth. But they are
not lost. "Out of the darkness
shall come forth light" With the
recurring season we shall see them
again in all their loveliness and
charm.
Material atoms are never annihi-
tated. Physical forces and energies
of the world never die. They go on
in endless revolutions from form to
form.
Every anology in nature induces
the belief that those more subtle
forces which work upon human
minds, generating emotions and in
| spring us to action obey the same
universal law.
The voice of nature everywhere
proclaims, "that which thou sowest
cannot be quickened except it die.
Goodness, valor, truth and hero
ism are the flowers that grow upon
human lives. They will never be
lost. Though they go down into the
grave ten thousand times, yet shall
they rise again and bloom in new
forms of deed and duty.
The little scene enacted here to-
day is similar to thousands that are
taking place throughout that land
which so many of us call our own.
To realize the magnitude and
characteristics of a large object we
must if possible view it from such a
distance that all its parts will be
brought within the field of vision.
If then on the morning of this
day, we could mount in space, until
looking down upon the earth we
could see the oceans and continents
as they appear on map, our eye:
would rest upon scene magnificent
and impressive beyond description
AS the light of the sun fell upon tn
coast of New England and mornin.
advanced westward over the countr,
we would see the people assembling
at designated places in cities ant
villages from mountain, valley ant
plain.
AS the day advanced professions
would be formed. Old comrades il
war would again fall in side by side
The assembly would begin in the
East, and the roll of the drum and
the command of march would bt
taken up from village to village ant
carried on from state to state
Flowers would be gathered from
garden, meadow and hillside, an6
music would fill the air and gladder
the ear. The national cemeteries
those "bivouacks of the dead" botf
North and South, with their sole
ranks of companies and battalion!
will be covered with the sweet bios
SONS of the earth. The quie
church-yards will be visited, where
the people have gathered home theil
dead from fields of strife. Nom
will be forgotten. Wherever a sol
der has found his rest, banks upoI
banks of fresh flowers will testify ,
nations appreciation of heroic duty
Patriotic sentiments will be re
vived national anthems will be sung
and the day will be crowned will
flowers and gladness.
But while l now speak, the even
iEg shadows in New England, Vir
GINA and Ohio are lengthening. Tn
professions melt away and from Eas
to West over the broad land roll
along the curtain of night. Tn
last line of light fades across tn
golden gate and all is silence.
But bark! In the night. From
this island of the sea comes sound
The people in their homes pause l.
listen. Clear and sweet like musi
from the stars come answering bacl
the echoes of the day. The las
faint note fingers, dies and again
is silence. Taps have been sounds
and we know that the dead ar
asleep.
Rest on We brave unconquered dead
+ Dear as the blood We gave
{ No impiOus footstep here may tread
, The heritage of your grave,
! Nor shall your memory be forgot,
While time her record keeps,
9 Or honor guards the hallowed spot,
~