The herald., 1897-05-30
DECORATION DAY


Ing the graves Of the Union soldiers
who fell in the war of the rebellion
and Of those who have since deceased.
It Is day respected throughout the
nation, because in every part of it flow
ers bloom and can be procured as a
fitting token of the countrys gratitude
to those who gave their services and haz-
arded their lives to preserve the Union
and to perpetuate human liberty and
popular government among men.
Decoration Of the graves of soldiers
Is an American custom of recent adop-
ton. but erection of monuments over
the graves and in commemoration of
chieftains has been common practice
in many nations from the earliest ages
Their deeds have also been commence
rated in poetry and in song. The men
who have carried the bow, the sling, the
battle-ax and the musket are generally
without monuments to designate where
they sleep. AS their individual achieve
ments are scarcely mentioned in the
archives Of time, so the earth which
covers their mortal remains has rarely
been moistened with the tear of affec-
tion. The greatest and grandest results
of war have been, in largest part,
achieved through the courage. forti-
tude, labor and suffering of the un-
named In history. whose resting places
are unmarked.
The late internecine war in this coun-
try was the most remarkable in history,
on account of the area of the conflict,
the numbers engaged, the intelligence
with which destructive agencies were
employed, the multiplicity of sanguin-
ary battles, the genius and skill of CON-
manders, and the hardy endurance and
manhood of the soldiers. 1t may be
said Of soldiers in all countries that they
are brave; but none have SO much intel
ligent bravery as Americans. The rea-
son is obvious. Americans never fight
for a man, nor for gain; they are I'M
PEELED by an idea-a principle. Being
volunteers from the people, they go out
to fight for popular rights only. The
United States was never engaged in
war, except for independence, to main
tain national honor, the union of states,
the liberty of the people and to promote
the highest interests of mankind.
Through our wars international rights
have been enlarged and the principles
OF International dealings have been
made to conform more nearly to the
golden rule, Shackles have been broken
from the limbs of the oppressed and
the enslaved, and intellect and con-
science have been unclaimed by the
bayonets Of the American soldiers, but
no tyranny has been imposed on the
bodies or souls of men by an army bear
in the flag of the nation
To honor our dead patriots does them
no good, nor can their moldering bones
reciprocate our tokens of respect. Dis
plays Of gratitude and honor are for the
purpose of benefiting US and the genera
tions to come after us, in keeping alive
the spirit of patriotism and transmit
ting 1t to posterity. We cherish memo
ries of them and scatter flowers ove.
their graves, because they lost their
lives in efforts to gain victories in war
that mankind may be able to achieve
and enjoy the victories of peace.
Remarkable as was the war in the.
display of great qualities the conduct
of the combatants on both sides, after
the conflict ended, being widely in con-
trast to that OF disbanded armies in
other times and countries, was still
more remarkable AT the close Of the
contest one-half the country was pros
trate in power and property, and the
ordinary hopes which tend to buoyancv
and steadiness had no place in the
bosoms of proud and spirited people
and there was no restraint upon tAeir
action by local government in the SEQ 3D.
Ing states. The disbanded ConfedeAtes