Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-06


held as such until it may be new and
grander experiences come into life
The fourth of July is the natal day of
the nation. We do not allow ourselves
to forget it. Memorial day has been
fixed upon arbitrarily to remind of a
struggle to keep the nation alive more
intense and bitter than any other nation
ever passed through and lived. What
experiences may come to us hereafter
that may give rise to days that shall
overshadow this, we cannot tell. The
4th of July is day for orpatriotism. We
observe it with "A shout and gunpowder
and much of noisy demonstration. No
shadows iall upon it. We seem TO be
in the midst of the battle and almost
iubilant in the immediate prospect of
victory. Memorial day IS a day upon
which to stir up patriotic impulses, but
there is less of noise and hurrah. There
is vein of sadness running through IT,
1t seems more like going over the field
after the battle and dropping tear here
and there over the body of fallen COM
rade and pausing a moment to think
for what he gave his life. The first
day connects itself with definite act
in our history, an act that was treason
until success wiped out the crime. The
second day connects itself with series
Of events reaching through years in
which after persistent struggle the
right triumphed and much that was
wrong went down into darkness. There
is more that is ideal connected with it.
There is not only the memory of the
dead as dead which comes forward in
the minds of those whose friends went
down in the strife, but the memory Of
the dead as having died for principle.
Ii may not have come into the minds of
multitudes who perished on the field Of
battle that they were giving their lives
for their country, but the issue was the
same. The life Of the nation came up
out Of the deaths Of these men. And
we know that many went right forward
into the perils of the battle willing to
die that the nation might live rather
than live and be witnesses of national
ruin. This is the spirit that makes he
roes Of men. This is the spirit we de-
sire to keep alive and strengthen. BY
means oft we keep a preparation for
any emergencies that may arise. Our
strongest national defenses are in the
hearts of the men and women of the
republic. Memorial day not only looks
backward but forward. 1t may be
said that it is through the backward
look that the best influence of the day
Is carried into the future The day
should impress great principles, and
the memories and losses of the past
give touch Of sentiment that softens
the hardened surfaces Of human hearts
that the impress may be deeper aud
more abiding. The accessories Of its
observance are small matters. The |
professions and the music and the flow
ers are little in themselves. They are
only signs and where they signify moth
ing the day is idly wasted. When they |
are connected with truths and senti-
ments that educate the man for citizen
ship, making him strong and brave for
advance and defence, their rightful pur-
pose is served. The day should be
for reflection and not all for demonstra-
ton. This nation is built up on prin-
ciples. 1t is weak or strong according
as sound or weak principles take hold
upon the minds of its supporters. 1t
is a good day upon which to teach po-
litical truths, to point out the errors of
factions, and the fallaeies of visionaries.
We have much faith in the wisdom of
the fathers. We have not yet outlived
the worth Of their political dogmas. 1t
is upon occasions like these Memorial
days that we should take new hold OF
these teachings. There is wisdom en-
ough among US to adapt them to the
relations into which we enter with each
new generation, and thus, rightly un-
derstood and rigidly enforced they may
guide us safely along the track Of time.
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