Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-05

not long ago.
Memorial Dhy.
Twenty-Five years have rolled away
since the last gun was fired in our civil
war, and tweuty-nins years since the first
Delaware troops marched out from Camp
Brandywine to take Shair part in the
great struggle for the perpetuation Of
1.-THE union end the constitution, nov
and forever, one and inseparAble." To
those of us whose memory goes back to
the exciting times which ushersd 10 that
terrible conflict, it does not seem very
long ago that the streets OF our city were
eohoing 10 the tread Of armed men, mus
tering for departure ITO the front /" that
the ladiee of Wilmington were preparing
flags and banners Tor presentation to
companies and regiments and waving
proudly through tears that would not be
repressed fond adieux TO departing hu7-
bands and sweethearts; that our City
Council was voting appropriations for
the public defence, and our city hall re-
sounding with Appeals for volunteers.
Yet, when we look around us, we see on
every hand bearded men, the fathers OF
families, who have grown up since then
and to whom that war is only known
through history. and, az a part OF our
country's history, does not Reem much
nearer than the struggle Of 1912 or the
~ ha A
stalwart, mature men to whom Abraham
Lincoln is As purely an historical hero as
George Washington Is to us.
/ To those Of ia who recall so wildly on
each succeeding Msmorjal Day the strife,
the turmoil and the heart burnings OF
nearly thirty years ago the sight of these
4 grown and bearded fathers OF families
who were not then born and the thinning
ranks and silvsring locksof those who are
left to march to their comrades graves,
bring q realization that We are getting
farther away from the dark days that
memory would make more recent While.
on the ether hand, to the younger men
who have come upon the stage OF action
within the past thirty yasrs, tha same
veteran bauda help to take our civil wal
DOT of history and bring 1t nearer, as a
struggle n wbich hundreds whom they
know took part and survive TO strew will
totana OF Rttecslon the resting places o.
brothers in Grms who fell therein.
But the memories that cluster arount
Memorial Day arc bsppil gro louges dom
mated by the CLASP o. arms and tht
groans Of shs dying AS We get ,srtne
away from the echoes Of conflict ant
the smOks q battle we descry more full
, that tue day commentaries moi0 grand,
tie dawn of tho era Of reunion am
peaaa; Of ire birtn ot rgcemente
! union made infinitely moro stron
through tbs ordeal winch had b5en suc
Cesafuiiy 6aIn9unted. A. Ge !GUk bac
through history to the days OF 1876, soc
lag leas Of the prica 0ur forsfatEers pai
Tor what they Won imam OF lie govern
mont OF the people, FOR the people aa
BY the people which they called into o.
istcnce, 80, looking bscs throlg
:, memory TO The days OF 1865, We 81
growing 70 lhink more o, that union on
: Inst constitution then restored 10 d
:, never to re endangered by ~
power outside OF ours Ives, al
: Of tie trast btqaesthld to i
- to kesp this government Of ii
!, whole people, IN which the watchWord
the greatest good to the greatest numb
:, must lie always kept IL view Sna the ",
I fare Of the mAay be held sAcredly psr
, mount 10 The selfish interests OF the ie
We are going through another s,ruggl
i, with tine torum Instead OF the field for
= battle ground the struggle OF Dem
4 oracy against pintocraogi OF the rights
i, 4 masses a3viaat the eucroaoumens
{ the c!aGses hut Bg sutsly As We remG
=, tFde to lhe living principles OF popu
N government founded in 1916 ii
grounded in 1860 We shall come on;
~ th!sst-uggie aisotriumuhautan aud. with o
/. Eiaut iipihB once more Unstaokled fear
q no rival anl RskiJG no f4y1rs, go on
"a make this tht most lfospe youq as well
n The fr9est ard rael enlightened nation
20 earth.