Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-05-24

| ''FotfauSos anu departments were sci
| up ia the various States.
The second national enc impmcnt met ID
Philadelphia on Jan. l5, ls6s The order
had gained amazing strength In the mean
time, aud the roster showed the txisteuc.
| of 1850 posts. with a membership oi
| 300 600 Of the best men OF the war Gen
| John \. Logan was elected comma uder iu
chief, and to that gallant and typica
| volunteer belongs the honor of issuing
| the tirst order for the observance Of Mem.
| orial day. To whom the credit should be
given Of originally suggesting the besuti-
| full ceremony of decorating The graves Of
| dead comrades is not fully settled. II l.
| thought, however. that the trst sugges
| ton came from former private OF the
army, who addressed a letter on the
subject to Col n. y. Chipman. Gen.
Logsn's sdiu,ant geuersl. The letter came
| from Cincinnati. and die writer. a native
Of Germany, spoke of eustom prevailing
Ia the fstherland OF assembling 10 the
spring-iime and scattering flowers upon
graves OF the dead. lie advised that the
Grand Army lnauguIate such an observance
in memory OF their dead. 1t Is much TO be
regretted that Col. Chipmsn failed 10 pre-
serve the letter. and was unable 10 remem-
ber the writer's name.
THK FIRST MEMORIAL DAY
General Logan. however. warmly ap-
proved Of the suggestion and issued this
npw famous general order:
HEADQUARTERS GRAND Amy
or TltE RErUHLIC,
NAsHIS6roS, l.. C.. May 8, ISsss. J
GENERAL ORDERS NJ n
/ The Ash day OF May. lsss. IA desix xnate,i for
the purpose of strcwing with flowers. or other
wise decorating the graves Of comrade. who died
in defense Of their casntry during the late rrlel
Hon. and whose bodies lie in aYnos, every
CIV, village aud hamlet churchyArl In the land.
In ihis ob-crYaDo no form OF ceremony Is pre-
scribed. but posts and comrades Will. 10 their own
way. arrange such atiing services and iesslmo-
mails OF respect Is Circumstance. may permit
We are organized, comrades, A. our regulations
tell Us, for the purpose, among other things, cot
preserving and strengthening those Kind and
fra;ernal feelings which have bound together the
soldiers, sailors ami marines who united 10 sup.
press the late rebellion" What can all more ID
assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the
memory of heroic asad who made their
breasts barricade between our couHtry and IT.
foes Their colder lives were the reseillc Of
freedom to 5 race in chains. and their deaths the
tattoo OF rrbeliious tyranny ia arms. We should
guard their graves with sacred vigilance. An
that the consecrased wealth and taste OF the
nation can add to their adornmeut and security
IA but fitting tribute to the memory OF her -iaiu
defenders Let no wanton foot tread rudcly on
such haliowcd grounds. Let pleasant paths
Invite the coming and going of reyercnt visitors
and fond moarners. Let no vandalism Of srarice
or neglect, no raTages OF time testify to the
present. or to the coming generations that we
have forgotten a. people the cost OF free and
undivided republic.
II other eyes grow dall and other hands slack
and other hearts grow cola In the solemn trust,
ours shall keep /, well long the light and
warmth OF life remain 10 Us
Let Us. then, al the time appointed, gather
around their sacred remains and garland the pas
sionless mounds above them with the choicest
flowers OF 4pringiime let raise above them
the dear old flag they saved from dlshonor. let
usfn this solemn presence renew pledges to
aid and assist those whom they have left anon <
u, a sacred charge upon nations gratitude
the soldiers and sailors widow and orphan.
IL II Is the purpose of the comma nder in
chief 10 naugurate this observance, with the
hope that II will lie kept up from year TO year
while a survivor OF the war remains 10 honor
the memory OF his departed comrades. lie earn.
cstiy desires the public press call attention to
this order and lend It's friendly aid In bringing
II 70 the notice OF comrades In all parts Of the
country in time for simultaneous compianc
Herewith.
III. Department commanders will use every
effort TO make this order effective
BY command of
JoHS A. LOGAN,
Commander-in Chief.
\. p. CHIraAS. Adju,ant, General.
The order met with the most enthusias-
tic response throughout the land.
Ten years later the national encamp-
ment, which was held at Washington,
May. II, 1870, adopted the following as a
part OF the rules and regulations, and
made the celebration of the day perpetual
The national encampment hereby establishes Il
Memorial day, to be observed by the members of
the Grand Army OF the Republic, on the S0th day
of May, annually. in commemoration OF the
deeds OF our fallen comrades. When such day
occurs on Sunday, the succeeding day shall be
observed. except where, by legal enactment, the
preceding day Is made legal holiday when
such day shall be observed.
One of the first declarations of principles which
the Grand Army of the Republic put forth was.
that 1t was organized 10 maintain In civil life
those grand principles for which It stood In arms
under the national flag; that 1t stands pledged to
crush out active treason, to advance and support
loyalty, to secure sound constitutional liberty to
all men, and to yindicate everywhere and at all
times the full and complete rights Of every loyal
American citizen against all combination OF
force and fraud that may attempt to deny or
deprive them of such rights.
ALMOST WRECKED AT THE START.
These principles were certainly sound
and in themselves unobjectionable. but
during the exciting campaign preceding
the presidential election Of 1868, when
Gen. U. S. Gran: was first chosen chief
magistrate, partisanship ran high, aud
many impetuous young men within the
| Grand Army argued that under the dec
laration quoted. no soldier of the war
could conscientiously oppose the repub-
| iican candidate The result was the
widespread dissemination of q belief
that the Grand Army was organized
wholly on political lines, and that its
aims were mainly political. The con.
| sequences were deplorable to the organ.
ization, and the result was that when
the heat of the presidential campaign died
away. it began to disintegrate even more
rapidly than it had formed. Many predic.
ted its utter extinction. An additional
cause at this time of dissatisfaction was
. change in the ritual, creating three
grades of membership-the recruit, the
soldier aud the veteran-with signs, grips
and passwords 10 each degree. A IRE
cruit" Of two months could be advanced
to the grade Of 'soldier," ami the '.sol.
dier" at the end Of six months would be.
come . veteran But the change was
excessively distasteful to men who had
| entered upon actual service through the