The National tribune., 1895-05-23
MEMORIAL DAY,

]
be reckoned for thousands Of years th
greatest Nation in the world. She ha
100000 square miles more territor,
than the United States, and five or 81,
times the population. Russia would b.
the next greatest, for she has three time
our territory and almost twice our popu
lation.
But countries no bigger than few o.
our Counties, and with less population
than a single Chinese city, have been Of
a million times more importance tC
humanity in a short cycle of time than
China in her scores of centuries of ex.
istence.
Palestine was not larger than Yer
mont, and probably had not a much
greater population, yet think what the
people there did for the world.
Greece, in her palmiest days, was
scarcely larger than Ohio, yet she was a
lump Of leaven, the influence Of which
is still felt wherever civilization extends.
The real Romans occupied territory
less than that Of Indiana and Illinois,
yet they gave laws, language, arts, and
sciences to the whole world
The Dutch, in their days of greatness,
had about as much land as there is in
Massachusetts and Connecticut, with less
population than that Of Pennsylvania,
vet Holland led the world for many
glorious years, and taught it an infinite
number Of useful things in war, naviga-
tion, commerce, business, dairying, agri-
culture, the arts and sciences, and made
contributions of incalculable value to
law, literature, and religious thought.
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales
altogether are but little larger than Colo
RADIO, yet what part those people have
played and are playing in the affairs of
the world.
What has made these peoples great
above all others of the earth-what has
given them such measureless influence
for good-what has made them of such
incalculable benefit to their race and
humanity, has been their devoted, stead
fast maintenance of the highest ideals of
some kind or another.
They were not content to eat, drink,
and be merry, to gather to themselves
riches, and bid their souls be content.
They asserted that there were better
things than riches and ease, and that
the production Of noble, brave, self
sacrificing men was the highest achieve
ment Of National life.
As man is not measured by the dol
lars that he has in bank, or the acres he
owns, but by the measure of his soul and
the benefit be is to society, SO a Nation
is not estimated by its square miles and
the number Of its people, but by the
spirit and character of the men and
women who dwell under its flag. Better
Fifty years Of Europe than a cycle of
Cathay," better 1000 real, true Ameri-
cans than 100000 Chinese.
1t is with such thoughts that we should
approach the saced ceremonial Of Mem
orial Day. The celebration means
much more than mere tribute of re-
spect TO those who gave their lives that
the Nation might live. 1t is sacred
festival Of Americanism. II is true that
we should honor the memory of those
who died for their country because they
deserve it, and in doing so we reflect honor
upon ourselves. But in this we perform
a still higher duty, if possible, in honoring
its purest form, selfsacrifce towering into
saintliness, and devotion to the last full
measure Of devotion to the cause Of
Freedom, National Honor, and Justice.
Every grave that we decorate is an OBJ
ject lesson to our own people and to the
world that the noblest life a man can
live is that crowned by conservation Of
himself to a cause dear to humanity.
Every time we testify in this public
and impressive manner our esteem of
those who bought their country's saliva
ton with their own lives, We raise the
standard of true Americanism still
higher; we exalt our own character, and
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