The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-30

In thirty-five out of the forty-five
states Of the Union this is legally rec
ognized as Memorial, day. Everywhere
the day is practically considered a le-
gal holiday, but only in the number Of
states mentioned is it SO by law. Most
persons consider it what is known as
a national holiday. Surprising as the
fact may seem,u there is no such thing
as national holiday. There is no pro-
vision in the constitution Of the Unit
ed States which permits such a thing.
Congress has from time to time recog-
nized certain special days for business
purposes, but not even the presidents S
proclamation of Fast day makes it a
legal holiday in. any state unless the
I. Legislature Of that state has so signi-
fed by legal action.
1t needs no presidents proclamation,
no legislative action to make the Unit
I ed States observe Memorial day The
descendants of the 2,77S.3O4 soldiers who
constituted the Federal armies which
fought from 81 to IS need no reminder
to perform what they consider a sacred
duty. The 340610 members of the
Grand Army of the Republic, who fol-
AON GU Liz ldlS VI Lie anu stripes
some Of them from Fort Sumter to
Apprenticeship not require admoni-
ton to honor the comrades whom
wounds or diseases have taken from
among them. Thus it is that at least
from Mason and DiXon's line to the
boundaries of the queens dominions
every cemetery where a soldier lies
will witness the advent Of flowers to-
day.
$ Theresis another event which has
gradually been. blended with the day
set aside for decorating the graves of
men who wore the blue. It is the time
when those who loved the men. who
wore the gray remember their own
dead the men who fought honestly and
bravely for the cause they believed to
be right. The grave knows neither
friend nor foe. Both rest.
''Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the judgment day.
Under the roses the Blue,
Under. the willows the Gray"
There are far fewer of the gray to
remember than of the blue, for the
total of those who fought for the
Southern Confederacy is placed at 6OO,-
000 The graves which are decorated
mortal Of men who perished on The
battlefield, but of hundreds of those
who were taken from the cares of this
world years after the sounds of strife
had ceased. It is the principle of the
Grand Army. of the. Republic, as we'll
as of the Confederate associations.
that any member thereof shall be hon.
oredxin death with the same tribute
that is paid to the comrades whom
death claimed during the war.
The origin of Decoration day lies
with the origin OF the Grand Army Of
the Republic, in 1866, the year follow
ing the close of the war. The first
post thereof was organized at Decatur,
ILL.,, April 6, 1866. In May of that year
of the soldier dead was carried out
to limited extent, but the movement
was not given full force until the
meeting of the first national encamp-
ment at indianapolis, Nov. 20, 1866.
Here Decoration day may be said to
have been really given BIRTH OBJ
served in small way at first. it has
gradually grown in extent and honor
until now there is but one day in the
calendar which it ranks equally with
in patriotic minds-July A.
The United States government is err
roneously supposed to have taken
special action in reference to Memorial
day as above other holidays This is
not the case. In common with custom,
the government permits and endorses
the aid of it's officials in commemorate
ing the honor and love the nation feels
for those who defended it in time Of
war; That is ALL Decoration day is
not a legal holiday in ten of the states
of the Union. although there is not
state in the Union where it is not OBJ
served to greater or less extent
The ceremony Of decorating the
graves, as almost every one knows,
consists of the placing of flowers there
on, together with tiny flags, minia-