New-York tribune., 1896-05-30

Common usage In the North seems 10 have
agreed In dropping the term Decoration Ia!
in favor of the more fitting ana euphohlc t'ic'
Memorial Day, for which we are Indebted 10 our
Southern fellow citizens. The decoration OF the
graves Of soldiers on this day Is n feature OF It's
observance that we would not willingly drop;
but the import Of the day Is far wider ana
grcater than that indicated in any mere decOra-
zion of graves Back OF the outward tribute
TO the dead lies the memory OF what th"y did'
which is often too sacred and deep to find nm
expression in any routine act Oh one distinctive
dov There nav come n time when the humble
graves Of the patriotic dead will he forgotten;
for sooner or later oblivion Is sure TO mark FOR
It's own all outward memorials. The m0nu-
ments we erect and The anniversaries we mp
point TO keep green the memory OF the worlds
worthless are, after all, only the abstract ana
brief chronicles" Of time, which will themselves
be swept into the common grave OF oblivion
The dend do not truly live in these material
memorials but I'm the lives Of those whom they
have upllficd and inspired by their virtues. In
itself the Individual llfc has no claim TO per
pctua remembrance; II IL "a little gleam Of time
between two eternities" The most TINT each
man can do Is 10 transmit to posterity some
lives OF others long after his memory has ceased
from the earth. The onward march Of the race
Is ever carrying us away from the past 10 the
future As today stands gazing at the vanish
Ing form OF yesterday. II IL startled TO newer
and grander possibilities by the living voice Of
tomorrow The past Is dead we must bid fare
well 10 II even as We strew It's myriad graves
with the mcmentos OF our love But the past
lives again in hearts made tender by the thought
Of It's achievements. and In lives made luminous
by the radiant light Of it, goodness.
They tell us that Memorial Day has become
dcsecraicd that II is no longer the sad yet Joy
ous anniversary OF the patriotic dead but a day
Of ihoughtcss hllarity and sports and pastimcs.
II is true that the day has become great pop
nlar holiday: but IL does not follow that II has
thereby become desccrated When II was first
Instituted its dominant note was naturally that
OF sorrow: Tor the chief figures In IFS celebra
ton were all friends OF the dead. But It's dom
nant note to-day Is OF patriotic JOY. Time. the
healer has assuaged the hearts that blcd for
a husband. father or son. and the feeling OF re-
grci for their death Il lost In the inspiring
thought that they died in order that their coun-
Try might live The common assumption that
death In itself. Is calamity, IL altogether erro.
neous There ls 10 good reason why the Nation
should for all time sit In sackcloth md ashes
because number Of its sons met n noble death
In lighting for 1t. Ruihcr would II be cause of
grief II. In iis hour OF extremity they had failed
10 offer II their lives Death Is not the greatest
OF evils; far greater is n life prolonged at the
expense OF duty and honor. These men who
died met n tragic fate. but they met II In the line
Of duty. and there can be- no sorrow or gloom
today because they did so. And who shall say
that some intuition OF this has not prompted
the mutItudcs 10 turn this day into n joyous
frslvali II Is not fair TO expect average people
TO keep themselves attuned to the tragic side
of the Nations anniversaries. though they all
have their tragic side. Human nature instnc-
lively shrInks from the thought Of ccnscless
sorrow, and escapes whenever II can from the
gloom Of regret. In order that II may dwell in
the sunlight of hope. The multitude does not
care Ovcrmuch for lntrospcctlvc thought. and 1t
Is we'll for the world that II does not. The race
TINT becomes morbid soon becomes moribund;
md the best way TO become worthy OF the
heroic dead Is not to spend our lives in chant
ing dlrges over them, but to realize full-orbed
manhood by throwing ourselves with all our
might into the manifold activities of our day
and generation.
After all. the real function Of Memorial Day
is TO stimulate patriotism. And, looked at from
this point Of view, IT is nobly serving It's pur-
pose II Is the festival Of the patriotism that
counted not life itself too dear to give In defence
Of the Nation. and as such il will continue to
be observed with increasing fcrvor and joy as
the years 20 on.