Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-30

| Der who wore the unl1orm OF this country
in the days of its great peril, the growth Of
the order has for the last four years been
phenomenal, but the death rate will be an
ever increasing one, and in comparatively a
| few years the last veteran will sleep his
long silent Sleep Memorial Day cannot be
disassociated from the Grand Army. 1t is
national day indeed, but it is peculiarly
sacred to the members of the Grand Army
of the Republic, both living and dead.
Who first proposed Memorial Day is not
now known. Early in May, 1868, Adiutant
| General Chapman of the National Encamp-
ment, received letter from some comrade
then living, but whose name passed from
his memory as time passed, in which the
writer referred to the fact that he had
served as private soldier in the Union
army; that in his native country, Germany,
it was the custom of the people to assemble
in the springtime and scatter flowers on the
graves of the dead, and suggested that the
Grand Army of the Republic inaugurate
such an observance in memory of the Union
dead
General Chapman regarded the sugges-
tlon as most opportune, and at once made a
rough draft of q general order covering the
subject, and laid it, with the letter referred
to, before General Logan, who warmly ap-
proved it, and adding a few paragraphs to
it, designated the 30th of May for the pur-
pose of "strewing with flowers the graves
of comrades who had died in defence of
their country during the late Rebellion and
whose bodies now lie in almost every city,
village and hamlet churchyard in the land. 3"
First General Observance of the Day.
The observance was very general that
year, though there were many who at first
doubted the wisdom of its institution,
claiming that it would unnecessarily keep
alive memories of the war, and foster ami
mosities which should be buried in oblivion.
Still others objected to the expense, insist
ing that the money fer music and flowers
could be more wisely spent on the living.
There have always been those who inquire
ITO what purpose this waste" and urge the
selling of the alabaster box of precious oint-
ment, on the plea of giving money to the
poor The Grand Army has nobly
answered the latter objection, by con-
stantly increasing its benefactions to
the poor, while as to the first obiec-
tion, it answered itself 1t will be sad day
for the country when the glorious memories
of the war for the union are suffered to be-
come dim. 1t is naturally matter of re-
gret that the name of the comrade who first
suggested Memorial Day cannot now be
recalled. During the war there had indeed
been instances of decorating soldiers graves
with flowers, and earlier than the date of
General Logan's order Decoration Day.
had been quite generally observed by e1-
Confederates in the Southern States. Gen
eral John B. Murray, then a resident of
Waterloo, n. Y, on Sunday, May q, 1866,
marshaled a number of ex-soldiers in that
village, who decorated the graves of their
dead comrades with appropriate ceremonies,
and General Murray claimed during his life
that he had spoken of this to General Logan
at one of the army reunions.
1t is also a matter of history that several
posts in Cincinnati, upon the suggestion of
T. c. Campbell, afterward Quartermaster
General, paraded in 1867 for the purpose of
decorating the graves of their dead COM
rades. General Chapman, however, dis
tinctly remembers the incident of the letter
above alluded to as resulting directly in the
issue of the general order instituting me-
mortal day.
The fitness of the institution was at once
recognized, and it may be called the one
holiday which has not suffered perversion
from its original purpose. limo less than
IA Of the Northern States has the holiday
been recognized by law, and everywhere
custom and patriotism has hallowed it. 1t
is a misnomer to call it Decoration Day."
Its observance brings again to mind the
story of valor and patriotism, and service
and sacrifice of life which brsve men laid OF
the altar of devotion to country.
The Grand Army has been termed ''the
organization of the soldiers
and sailors of America, the one great asso-
citation which includes the veterans of every
army and all ranks; the men who followed
the flag upon the land and who fought be-
meath its folds upon the sea; men of every
nationality, color and creed; the officers who
wore the well-won stars of general, and
the private, whose only badge of distinction
was in patriotic and faithful service in the
ranks, all upon the common level of COM
rades of the flag," and Memorial Day is the
choicest in the calendar of this organization,
a day of sweet remembrance, dear to every
loyal heart.