Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-06-05
Decoration Day.


unworthy oil men ana women OF
larger growth. Governments owe
their origin and perpctuity more
perhaps to sentiment than We think.
The best life of nations was crystal
lied around a name and place.
The sentiment of nationality has in
spired the noblest deeds of heroism
and produced the best our literature
affords. Our nation has found its
chiefest potency in the sentiment of
loyal attachment to all the interests
typifed by the word American. AS
once it was a noble thing to be a
Roman, so to-day the true citizen
holds the word America the dear
est of earthly names.
This sotb day of May owes its
observance to sentiment, but SEN
timent which intimately concerns
our national life, and which dignifies
our ideal of patriotism. This day is
a memorial of our illustrious dead.
But it is far more. 1t not only
marks our appreciation of their past
services, but it is in fact a fresh dec
laration of our adherence to the
principles for which they died. 1t
is memorial day, but it is also a
declaration to the world of the vi
tality of the idea of nationality for
which these men fought, bled and
died. May it never be degraded
from that high function, as our
American Fourth of July has been!
The organization known as the
Grand Army of the Republic is the
living representatives of that mill
tant host whichin former years waged
the republics battles. 1t is fitting
that these survivors Of that conflict
should bear their dead comrades on
their hearts to-day. 1t is time of
sacred memories, yet not altogether
sad. They themselves would not
have it so. The cause for which
they died lives, and such cause is
greater than any man or band of
men. The principles for which they
faced shot and shell have triumph
ed, and been re.affirmed for all time.
The stars and stripes float proudly
over united country, and there ex.
lists but one national government on
American soil. Think you they
would have us sad on this memorial
day? Nay, not SO. Not with sad
ness do we best honor their valor,
and show our appreciation of their
services. We rejoice in the results
of their services, though it cost their
lives. We exult in freedoms vic
tory, and regret only that it had to
be bought at such price.
There are some who decry the
observance of this day, saying that
it tends to perpetuate the animosi.
ties and antagonisni Of the past.
Their criticism can apply only to the
misuse of the day, and can have no
reference to it's proper observance.
They have woefully mis-read history,
and failed to catch the significance
of this day, or they would commend
such occasions as these. ! believe
that the memory of our civil war
may not, and ought not to pass
away-that were to cast away the
priceless boon it bought-that we're
to rob the present age of the lessons
of the past, and even make the re-.
petition of that sad past possibility
No, let US rather cherish the memory
of the past, and take heed to its
voice of warning and instruction.
This involves no bitterness on our
part, the bitterness belongs to those
whose error the failure of the war
betokened. Generosity well be-
comes the victor. We accord to the
vanquished purity of motive and
chivalrous courage, even while we
must condemn the error of their
course. We forgive their error
though we can never approve it.
The facts which our soldiers made
history, we, of this generation, learn
from books and heresay. The rec
ord, oft.repeated, tends to make us
patriotic people. 1t fosters the