The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-31


iinperishable words: LET us have peace"
10 mat sentiment the Confederate soldiers
nave given cheerful and patriotic re-
spohse' from the day at AppomsttoS to
TINS good sabbath they have Joined hands
ana hearts with the men who wore the
olue IN the work OF cultivating and cs-
'aolIshing fraternal union between the
SURVIVORS OF both armies and thus elm
mating bitterness and cementing the bonds
OF peace; they are here to dedicate their
hearts 10 that work this day, The day
ana the spot are alike appropriate and
ptopittous. We are here lat the invitation
OF the local camp OF the Grand Army OF
the Republic, whose Decoration Day this
ia day OF peculiar sacrcdnoss to them, a
day that is the thought of one of their
grand commanders, day that has been
made n legal holiday in the District OF
Columbia by an act of congress, day
that more than half the States in the Amer
tcan Union have likewise made legal
holiday, TO be observed In tho decoration
OF soldiers graves In order that the mem
DRY OF their heroic deeds may be cheri shed
and forever perpetuatod. The month and
the day were happily selected. II is the
tullness OF the spriugtime. nature is robed
In her richest garb and adorned with her
sweetest flowers waiting 20 be plucked
by loving hands to decorate soldiers
grave. The thought is grand, the seuti-
ment Is noble We catch the Inspiration OF
both the thought and the sentiment In
these beautiful services. and in the fra
GRANGE which arises like incense from
these gathered flowers. The beauty and
sweet solemniiy OF these services are en-
HANGED by the thought that everywhere
throughout this land on this day wherever
soldiers grave is found loving hearts
and gentle hands are decorating with
sweetest flowers the spot where he lies
buried; nor is this service confined 10 the
graves Of the Fed erai dead, FOR while 1t
was instituted Ivy the Grand Army OF the
Republic the Confederate graves are not
forgotten nor could they well be. for
sido by side on many Il battlefield and in
many silent city of the deal sleep the
soldiers who wore tho gray and the sol
diers who wore the blue whose silent dust
alike receive tn" loving tributes OF this
day. There is no distinction IN or over the
grave OF an american soldier.
II is the part Of wisdom, no less than
the dictates of philosophy that We should
strive to destroy all the auimusitios and
bitterness cngcndercd by AN unfortunate
war. The means best adapted TO that end
should he brought into requisit!un by every
patriot. and should be encouraged and uttl-
lied to heal every wound made 10y the war
No man expects the war Will ever be for
gotten. nor should it be. because it has
ittN 10 US NllA AlN EtiltI lNIh Atl 10 AtAll'
an heritage of yolor, horoism and glory as
unfading az the stars, but we want it TO
descend 10 our children and our children
children unblurrcd and unoucumhcrod by
blot of hate or a tiugc of bitterness.
One great senator in the congress of the
United States sought to throw the veil OF
oblivion over the memory OF our struggle
by having stricken front the victorious nag
the name Of every battle and battlefield and
bv tho demolition OF every monument
erected TO symbolizc a victory aud 30 per-
pctuate the memory OF that struggle; this
idea found no favor either with tho Federal
or Confederate soldiers they want their
battle flags preserved. their bstllehels re-
membered. they want their monuments
erected on every spo0 whore life was given
on the battlefield in behalf Of life and
liberty. All of those things bring MS nearer
together aud make us love each other
ana our country more The mutual work Z
of decorating The graves of our dend on a =
liked day In each recurring spring VIII do
more TO ailay bitterness. to raise the ven
Of oblivion between the past and the pres
ent. and TO keep alive the memory Of he
roic deeds performed by the soldiers OF
both armies. than the destruction Of all
the flags and all the monuments that re-
main as memcntoes OF that fearful sIrug-
gle Every tear that is dropped on
soldiers grave every prayer that is Of
ferod above his dust. every song that is
sung al the door of his narrow dwolinp
every flower that Is strewn. bring us nearer
To lasting peace and to more perfect
union. Whatever may have been the hopes
ana the dreams and the aspirations of the
past and however much we may have diff
fered as to the nature Of our government.
We are one people now, with one flag and
one destiny. ready to uphold and perpetu-
ate the blessings of our government aud
transmit them uutarnlshed TO the coming
ages.
After The Grafton and bcneilction tn,
crowd dispersed and proceeded through the
cemetery decorating with flowers the
graves that had been previously marked
by little flags stuck in the ground here and
there 10 indicate the graves of dead soldiers
and those who We're in one way or another
identified with the strife OF thirty years
ago.