The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-06
CORRESPONDENCE.
Memorial Day.

| Deys
CHICAGO. Ill, May, 30th, 1889.
To the Editor of the Banner :-DEAl
SIR Not fulfilling my promise TO you
readers this time, on account of gettiDI
ready for the Memorial services whicI
take place here on the Both, | though
best to give the readers a short accoun
of what Is gong on this week in doinI
honor to the comrades who sacrifice,
their lives for their country's honor AM
safety. Many are those whose grave
are being strewn with flowers today
This is noble act to do, and what NOR
can be done, only to beautify thes
sacred spots with Natures flowers ant
moisten them with our tears.
These interesting services will brint
to the memory of the thousands whit
are today living monuments of Cod
mercy, scenes and incidents never to b
forgotten while life lasts. The fathel
and husband who heard OF the first firI
on Fort Sumpter left his business Of
whatever character it might have been
buckled on his armor bidding adieu tt
wife and children more deGr to him
than life itself. At his country's call ht
laid down his life on the field Of blood
and carnage, to secure to us one OF the
best governments the sun ever shone
upon,
This is Memorial Day, the day of all
the year when the veteran drops silent
tear and places sweet spring flowers
upon the graves of his comrades. 1t is
the Veterans day; the reminder to him
of time in the past when he wore the
blue and marched to the music of the
Union: Of battles fought and won, and
of final victory and peace. To some it
will never come again in this life.
Every day the veterans are answering to
the last roll-call on earth. Every day
the Grand Army of Heroes is growing
less and less in numbers. Silently they
march. In the darkness of the midnight
hour they close tn ir eyes to
a still darker night, or to brighter life,
illumined by the light of the Son of God
in land of peace, where tears are no
more, where their tramp brings back no
echo, peons Of victorious buges are no
longer heard. The drums are mutfied,
and they are camping on the other side
Of the river of life.
We, who on the Memorial Day scatter
the tributes of our love upon their grassy
uOL1to, VIII bUOu DINUudC WIN
Our work like their will be complete.
We shall lie down with them and rest
until the reveille of the Judgment day.
Veterans may not deck our silent rest
ing place with flowers and evergreens,
but the sons of veterans and the daugh-
ters will not forget these silent places.
No, no; they will cherish our memories,
though they see us not. We shall feel
their presence and the sweet incense Of
their heart-offerings will come to us.
While America remains above the ocean,
and freedom lives in her valleys and
upon her hills, no fear that veterans will
be forgotten on this Memorial Day. Not
until earth shall pass away will this
beautiful tribute of scattering flowers
upon the graves of the Nations dead
cease to be the yearly tribute of the
American people.
This 30th day of May, 1889, is also the
day set apart for unwilling the monu-
ment lately erected to the memory OF
the slaughtered police on Haymarket
Square, IN this city, some five years ago,
where brave band OF police stood in
front of the deadly flying missiles OF
death. On this memorable night was
decided the move OF the Anarchists to
establish the principles of what they call
no-government. These brave policemen
soon settled the question, here at least,
in favor of a Government the pillars OF
which will stand as firm as the rocks OF
Gibralter. The principles upon which
our Government was established was
cemented by the blood of bold martyrs
for truth and justice. No foreign ele'
ment or class OF men can or will be per.
mitted to come upon these American
shores to destroy Government that has
cost such sacrifices of treasure and blood.
No earthly cause for which men have
tolled and labored and died, is more
precious than American Independence
no government better than this to which
the Nations across the eea are looking ia
N refuge. Over the graves of its dead
soldiers we whisper
Tread lightly comrade in the city Of the dead,
For here It's brave and noble heroes are laid"
w. E. SHELDON,