The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY.
n RElALBEzoRIEs Of TIE PAST

whea Heroes Disd Ihss nay mIsat
aiss - she WsrIa ne oFAnasa
Aekless0sas 81 Maa-1he AneEi-
eaa Rspublis.
This is a good day to look back into
the days 80 long gone b., the days
when Washington led The armies Of
the true and the brave to the greatest
victory the world has ever seen.
What a magnificent page in the
worlds history.
The thirtieth Of May, 1899
Dsy-is a national holi-
day. The Institution OF national
holidays, in commcmorstion Of great
events in which the whole world has
figured, is, almost without exception,
= thing of quite recent times, and
belongs in a peculiar senee to repub-
Iicau, OF at least, popular government.
Formerly, though holidays might be
numerous, they had almost invariably
= religious significance. They were
saints days or church celebrations Ct
some kind. This Is still true in most
of the monarclsal countries Of the
GID world.
The United States was one of the
irsf nations to set the example Of
creating public holidays which bad
"a direct. reference 10 the peoples
achievements In their. own behalf.
The observance. Of Memorial Day
dates from its first anniversary, and
has never been interrupted since the
establishment Of the Republic.
After nearly a hundred years Of
hfe the Republic stands . colossal
monument among nations, to govern
ment by the people. In . single
century we have made more progress
In science, art and manufacture than
did Greece and Rome In any i've
hundred years Of their ascendeney.
And to whom do we owe the pros
perity Of our country Why 10 the
bravo old soldiers whose graves We
this day decorate, and who fought,
bled and died on the battle fields,
protecting the stars and stripes which
now hoat over this land Of the free.
The Light of Liberty, lighted By
the people and maintained by the
people has made all the nations Of
the world better Of. There are 9 few
shabby Americans who don't like TO
admit these facts aud who seek to
belittle our Memorial Day ceremonies.
This Is about the only feature in our
domestic relations that places q blot
upon the glory Of our country.
We think of the heroes whose dust
mark the highways and byways
~traversed by the continental armies
at q time when 10 be a soldier Of free
dom was q crime In the eyes Of our
oppressor&.
Liberty was sacred enough to fight
for. Ifis forever saefsd enough to
eeHslipcyAsidQ shenex those vine
fought and died to maintain 1t.
Hence, this thirtieth day of May,
1891, the day set apart as Memorial
! Day, We decorate the graves Of the
brave old soldiers who have proceed
cd us to that brighter aud ,faireE
world beyond, where we win all find
eternal peace and happiness.
The services at the grave yard In
our city very short on account
Of the heavy rain and d~isagreeable.
ness Of the weather. At an early
hour Monday morning the reaths and
bouquets Of flowers, donated to help
decorated the graves of tho old
soldiers, began arriving at the court
house where the committee, appoint.
ed for this purpose, were ready "a
receive them.
Notwithstanding the roughncss Of
the weather the G.. A. r. Post and
maay of our citizens turned out to
do the occasion justice, and to show
that the memory Of those who died
In protecting the stars and stripes
was fresh in their memories, ever tC
remain o
So ends another year, and maj
many, many others endin Ike manner
is our sincere wish.
We hail the stars and stripes first
last and always, which now waves
over the land OF the true, the hom'
Of the brave, fair America KRAE