The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-05-30
aIEMoRIAL DAY.

This is a general holiday, made so by
territorial statute. That is not for the
purpose of boisterous merry-making,
feasting and earousing, but to give
opportunity to every one to show
respect to the dear friends who have
left us and whose graves should keep
them in our memory.
It was called Decoration Day because
it was originally devoted to the strew-
ing of flowers on the graves and tombs
of the departed heroes Of the great
civil war. That beautiful custom has
been extended, until not only the brave
soldiers who wore the blue but those
who wore the grey, and all the loved
ones who have gone before" are re-
membered and their resting places are
decorated with fresh flowers by the
hands Of surviving relatives or friends.
1t is now Memorial Day, for it is sacred
to the memory of all our kindred dead.
It is perfectly natural for soldiers
and their surviving relatives to talk
over the chief events of the sad episode
in our national history which gave oc-
casion for this holiday. But this may
now be done in manner free from the
bitterness which at first made Deeora-
ton Day time of recrimination and
party defiance. The issues that pro-
voked the war are dead as well as the
warriors whose graves we decorate,
and so it is useless to try to revive
them. They should sleep in the tomb
with the heroes who fought for them.
The sorrows and tears. the losses and
horrors that have passed away and are
covered up with bright blossoms and
green leaves, should be sufficient ex-
perience for this nation as to the fruits
Of civil strife. Union should be the
motto of every patriot. Our country is
one. our efforts should be to maintain
its unity wherein is it's strength And
while every citizen should be secured
in his freedom of thought and opinion,
and in that exercise of his belief which
does not trench upon the rights of
others, all should feel that it is a uni
versa1 duty to uphold the honor and
obey the laws of the great government
under which our liberties can be best
maintained
This need not be a day of mourning,
though it is or should be devoted to the
memory of the dead. Whatever may
be our faith or unfaith as to the future,
we are the living and may enjoy ex>
istence if we will. Death will come all
too soon for most of US. and we Will
join the great majority, whether it be
in the unseen world in which most peo-
pie believe, or with the buried hosts
that are in the dust of earth Life is
here. life is real. life is earnest, let us
make the best of it while it lasts. And
whether the dead know anything of
the living or not, it is beautiful to keep
them in memory and bedeck their rest
ing places with lovely flowers.
The Herald hopes that nothing will
occur during this holy day to cause
strife or disorder, or in any way to
detract from its purpose. Only good is
in its observance. In view of
the graves of our loved ones. let every
heart be softened and every hand be
extended in friendship. And let no
tumuIt or excess, no lawlessness or
undue excitement disturb the serenity
of the day, which should be fragrant
with the perfume of fraternity and
glorifed with the halo of peace!