The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-31

This custom originated, believe, with the
decoration of the graves of Union
soldiers, who lost their lives in de-
tense of their country. lspilling their blood
upon the battlefield to preserve inviolate
and intact the great and glorious nation Of
Wnich we form part 1t was fitting to so
honor such heroes. But subsequently, the
| custom was Widened and extended so as to
include IN its observance the decoration OF
the tomos Of Confederate soldiers those
| who wore the grey instead of the blue, and
fought with equal bravery and with equal
sincerity for their ''lost cause" Shut it
did not stop there: it grew and expanded
SUN, until 1t became general observance,
and the custom. as it is to-day, to remember
everywhere the honored dead, civilians as
well as soldiers, and strew their graves
with flowers. 1t does not fall to
the lot of all men to WELD tine
sword, shoulder the musket, and shed
| their blood upon the battlefield. Yet there
are heroes and heroines equally worthy OF
| honor, who have worn out their lives con-
tending for right, using pen and tongue, or
whatever faculties they possessed in the
| defense OF truth and righteousness -princi-
| pies esteemed by them sacred and divine.
! Many OF tnem lie here around US. We come
together this day to honor them, and cover
! their tombs with garlands
| 1t was lifting, indeed, that so beautiful
| custom should not have been confined to
any particular class. Had it been so, we
might well have doubted the divinity of the
inspiration which suggested it. 1t might
| well have been considered a mere man
made custom, and like its maker perish
able The chief beauty of all true princi-
pies is their breadth, their charity, their
| impartial and universal philanthropy
Because of the breadth and extent of this
beautiful observance. [ can see God in it,
and can therefore believe that it will en-
dure. 1t originated like the flame of a
| candle, or fire on the hearth to give
light and warmth to those only within the
house. But now it shines like the sun, the
great lamp which God lit in heaven, to
shed forth its warmth and bril-
lance over all. This is proper
and right for we are all the children of
God, equally his sons and daughters,
equally the creatures of his benevolent
care. rejoice that we can meet here upon
the plane of our common brotherhood and
slsterhood and regardless of religious or
political differences, Join hands in doing
honor to the noble dead.
l can honor any man who is sincere,
however much his opinions may differ
always in the right, but it is al
ways right to be sincere. The hypo-
critic is despiGabte, but the sincere soul is
always to be admired. l honor the men
who wore the blue, who fought under the
stars and stripes, giving their lives in de-
tense OF their countrys. For believe that
this nation was founded of God; that its
constitution was written with an inspired
pen, that the Almighty nerved the arms of
the patriots whose swords and pens carved
out the immortal legend: sAll men are
equally entitled to life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness" | therefore honor the
hnrnpC norr1n onA
extend in later years the boon of freedom
and maintain the integrity of the union
founded by our fathers. l believe God was
IN II; that 1t was written in the great book
OF destiny that slavery must perish and
that the union should be preserved. But
L turn from them to lay a garland also
upon the grave of the confederate hero.
who, though mistaken in fighting against
the old flag, in seeking to shatter the union
did so In sincerity and laid down his life to
prove the earnestness of his convictions. |
was ordered out Of house In Ohio, dozen
years after the war, for expressing as
much-that those who fought and died for
the south were equally sincere with those
VINO fought aud conquered for the north
But do not expect to receive such treat
ment here; perhaps 1t would not again be
accorded there; for times have changed
since then and mems minds have broader
grown.
was walking once through cemetery
"a private cemetery-in the city of Lam
caster, Pa. Wandering among the tombs
IN that silent city of the dead my eye
CHANGED to rest upon stone on which was
inscribed the name of Tha6deus Stevens,
once eminent as an American statesman.
and prominent figure of that pc
Rod of our national history to
which l have referred-the period
OF the civil war. Underneath his
name were engraved these words, doubt
less penned by his own hand in anticipa-
ton OF death, to form his epitaph: II
repose IN this quiet, secluded spot not
from any natural preference for solitude.
but finding other cemeteries limited as to
race by charter rules, have chosen this.
that L might Illustrate in my death the
principles which | advocated through
long Hfe-equality OF man before his
Creator" Now L do not suppose that the
dead statesman, or the living statesman.
when he penned those lines meant that ali
men are absolutely equal IN all things. Life
Is full OF Inequalities. The very face of
nature Is rife with contrasts. These ma
jestlc mountains that tower heayenward
are as unlike as possible the meek and
loWly valleys upon which they frowu. So.
too, in society, some men, some women
tower aloft like mountain peaks above
their fellows by reason of superior intelli-
gence, by reason of power and position.
hereditary or representative; some, as
Shakespeare says, being born great, some
achieving greatness, and some having
greatness thrust upon them. There are
kings and princes and presidents swaying