, 1888-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.

~
the dead. The simple dress and
solemn ceremony OF these old soldiers,
in connection with the thoughts sug-
gested by the day, arc very impressive.
There is no fuss and feathers about
them. The plumes, and brass buttons,
and gorgeous display form no part OF
their ceremony. The "pomp and cir
cumstance OF war" arouses no enthu'
siasm in the breasts OF the veterans on
this day. They arc now plain, liberty
loving, loyal citizens Of the republic.
With banners draped, drums mufiied
and bowed heads, they quietly march
away TO pay tender tribute to the
nations dead, and TO fire q salute in
honor of those, their comrades, who
perished in the great conflict.
The column formed yesterday
morning in front a the REVIEW Office.
Watching the ceremony, we could
not help being struck by the aged ap-
pearance of many Of the men who
swung into line. Time is fast con-
quering the Grand Army. The bent
forms and gray hairs OF many of them
bear evidence OF the burden Of years,
and very soon the campaign of life
will be over. 1t is to their eternal
glory that they participated in saving
q great nation and in severing the
chords that bound four millions of
beings in human slavery.
To these men it doubtless seems
but a day since they we're mustered
into the service. To the writer it
seems an age. The recollections Of
childhood are those of stirring APP
peals, the solemn but hasty marching
away of long blue columns to the
clatter of drums, the screaming OF
flies, the cheers of thousands, and alas,
the tears of those who looked for the
last time upon the forms of husband,
father, son, brother and lover; and
the march of those glttering masses
was the funeral march Of many who
remained behind. The well worn
picture in the album is all that was
left in this life to many wife, mother
and sweetheart.
1t is gratifying to see these Grand
Army men thus honor our dead. 1T
is almost personal courtesy to many
of us. Our fathers, brothers, sons
and sweethearts sleep, God only
knows where, but this we do know
the nation asked for their lives, ard
their lives were given. Given, too,
in the prime of manhood, in the flush
of hope; but while the dream OF life
was suddenly ended, it was the death
OF these hopes, and loves, and dreams
that gave us Il new and united nation.
Therefore, while we mourn. we cannot
regret.
| Watching the lines form one might
think bitterly as he unavoidably noted
| the absence of those who fought and
fell by the side of the men we shall
always honor, il he did not think
wisely. But one who thinks wisely
has no bitterness in his heart. 1t was
not u war Of hatred. 1t was n remark
able war, in that the men in the op.
posing ranks often loved each other,
personally; often extended personal
favors; often wished they were fight
ing together under the flag created by
the combined genius of the north and
south. For the rank and file of the
| confederate army no manly man en-
tsrtains any but kindly feelings. The
shattered armies of LEE and JOHNSTON,
returning TO ruined homes and
n country devastated by war
and filled with graves, touched
; the heart of the great union
leader. The two military mas
ters clearly understood the situation.
Grant appreciated the condition Of
LEE and his army and sympathized
with both; LEE appreciated GRANTS
sympathy and kindness and was
thankful for it.
The questions that had for one
hundred years agitated the fathers
was at last settled by the sons on the
battle field. 1t was settled bya fear
full sacrifice, but the debt to justics is
paid, and now all that remains for us
to do is to ."care for the widows aud
the orphans and to assist and en-
courage the once stricken south in re-