The Republican journal., 1892-05-26
The Origin of Memorial Day.

so strongly to the human heart, as when
winter has fled, and the springtime opens
her doors to the sweet, glad visitors who
come as harbingers of love, and symbols
of the sweet and beautiful season which
she ushers in. Even while l read this, the
beautiful Easter season is being ushered in
amid scent of ivory tinted lily and pink
Tipped rose There are but few among us,
who are too busy OF too callous to pause
lust a moment and admire the lovely flow
ers which are so lavishly displayed in the
windows of our florists at this season; and
on Sunday, alter and chancel will blossom
and be sweet in commemoration OF Him
.'who rose from the dead, and became the
first fruits of them that slept When
we contrast the grim, bare, and austere
lives of our pilgrim ancestors, unsottened
by the charms of music, and unadoIned
and take courage for the liberal and es-
thetic AGE in which we live. Any observ-
ance of Easter, or even any array OF flow
ers in the bare old meeting house would
have savored too strongly of Porish Gus
toms to have been countenanced. Happl-
Nv the former things have passed away,
and now we can not only 'see God III the
cloud and hear him in the wind but we
can hear his voice and see his hand in the
beautiful flowers whose incense is CRATE
fu alike in Joy and in sorrow.
The custom of strewing flowers upon
the graves of friends and loved ones, is
not a modern one. The old tales of my
thology tell it to u.s. for the ancients prac-
ticed many things which are comparative
" new to U.S. 1t has long been a custom
in Germany to strew flowers above the
Graves OF the dead soldiers. the ceremony
being performed by the surviving com
radeS: so it was not strange that Thought
full German who served in the great civil
war, should remember the beautiful
custom of the Fatherland, and sus gest,
shortly after the organization of the Grand
Army of the Republic, that it be done for
our own fallen braves. General Logan
was then commander in-chief of the
Grand Army, and the suggestion appeal
ed warmly to his fine and romantic spirit,
and if | may be permitted, l will give here,
the first Grand order from him on the
subject. dated May ), 1868.
The 3Oth day of May is designated
for the purpose of strewino with flowers,
or otherwise decorating the graves OF
comrades. who died in defense of their
country during the late rebellion, and
whose bodies now lie in almost every city,
village and hamlet churchyard in the land.
'We are organized for the purpose,
among other things, of preserving and
strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings which have bound together he
soldiers. sailors and mariners who united
to suppress the late rebellion. What can
aid more to assure this great result than
by cherishing tenderly the memory of our
heroic dead, who made theil living breasts
y
foes? Their soldier lives We're the reveille
OF freedom to a race in chains, and their
deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny
in arms. We should guard their graves
with sacred vigilance. All that the con-
secrated wealth and taste of the nation
can add to their adornments, is but fit
nil ~, he m nf her slain
defenders. Let no wanton foot tread
rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let
pleasant paths invite the coming and 60
ing of reverent visitors and fond mourn
ers. Let no vandalism of avarice OF neg
lect, no ravages of time. testify to the
present or coming generations that we
have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a
free and undivided republic.
''If other eyes grow dull, and other hands
slack and other hearts cold in the solemn
trust, ours shall keep it as long as the
light and warmth of life remain to us.
Let us then, at the time appointed, gather
around their sacred remains, and garland
the choicest flowers OF spring time. Let
us raise above them the dear old flag they
saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn
presence renew our pledges to aid and
assist those whom they have left among
us. a sacred charge upon a nations graft
tude. the soldiers and sailor widow and
orphan
1T is the purpose of the Commandel-in-
Chief to inauyurate this observance, with
the hope that it will be kept up from year
to year, while Il survivor of the war re
mains to honor the memory of his depart
ed comrades. BY command of John \.
Logan Commanders in-C hief.
1t was not all at once that the public
could be made to see the beauty of the
custom. and many old soldiers themselves
feared it would serve to keep alive the
bitter memories of the WAY. That fear
was happily unfoundctl, and ii is safe to
assert that strewing the graves with flow
ers has had beautiful influence, both
north and south. remember reading,
more than 20 years ago, little poem,
very short, but very significant.
Cover their graves with flowers,
Al