The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-06-02

ring Memorial Day 1t is the lesson TO
the living and not the dead.
The da, is one of Inspiration 20 the living
Look up and own. in gratetulneas OF
submission to the win Of Heavens high
see your angel soldier pacing there
ENpectaut at his post
see the rank ard file of armies vast
That muster under one supreme contro.
I hear the trumphct sound the signal /
T6e calling Of the ron
The grand division falling into line
And forming. under voice ut one alone
who gives command, and Joins with tone /
The bymn tnat shakes the throne.
Need l ask why we celebrate this day |
and commemorate the hour with sacred |
services2
Lucien Bonapart, think It was, who !
said: 1--WE stand amid the graves OF the
old aud beside the cradle of new inst tu-
tiOns.
This day marks new era in our ma
tional history. The tomb Of slavery is
behind ms, and the cradle OF liberty and
free institutions IS before us, while we
drop the choicest OF earth's flowers over
the graves OF our comrades. With the
dawn OF a better day and with more en-
larged ideas OF good government we press
on 20 greater civic achievements. We
read from the unsealed history OF the
past and draw lessons for the future A
well organized civil society based upon
correct principles, with her citizens i'm
bued with the true ideas OF freedom and
Justice is the most beautiful temple that
can be erected by human power TO the
Supreme Architect OF the Universe.
Liberty, Law and Peace were the
three words engravened mp the en-
trance to the Shrine of Delphi. May
they be writtan n upon our temples as well
as upon the tomhs OF our heroes.
There is tradition, which seems 70
have some historic foundation, that the
original suggestion OF this beautiful cere-
mcny Of decorating the graves OF our
dc ad comrades came from letter written
by one who had served as private
soldier addressed TO Col, N. Z. Chipman,
Gen John A. Logan's adjutant general,
when the latter was the first commander
in-chief OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public. The ettaxwn~..s->s.--s.a--s from
Cincinnati, and the writer, native OF
Germany, spoke OF the custom prevailing
In the fatherland of assembling In the
springtime and scattering flowers upon
the graves OF the dead. He suggested
| that the Grand Army inaugurate such an
observance IN memory OF their dead, 1t
is much TO be regretted that the letter
was not preserved, and the writer's name
J IS now unknOwn. Gen. Logan, however,
warmly approved the Sugges ion, and 90
| the 5th day OF May, 1865, issued General
| Order No IL, fixing the Goth day OF May
as Memorial Day, TO be observed by the
members OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
| public, in c0mmoratinR the deeds OF our
fallen comrades In that now famous
order our first national commander said,
| in speaking Of our dead, who made their
| breasts a barrlcade between our country
and its foes
Their soldier lives were the reveille Of
H.. 49,. 60 In oh nd hrf
deaths the tattoo OF rebelliOus tyrany In
arms We should guard their graves
with sacred vigilance, All that the con
secrated wealth and taste OF the nation
| an add TO their adornment and security
| is hut fitting tribute TO the memory OF
her slain defenders Let no wantOn foot
tread rudely on such hallOwed grounds
Let pleasant paths invite the coming and
going of reYerent visitors and fond
mOurners. Let no vandalism OF aYarice
| or neglect, no raVaRes of time testify 20
] the present or coming generations that
we have forgotten, as people, the cost
of free and undivided republic. II other
/ eyes grow dull and other hands slack and
| other hearts grow cold In the solemn
trust, ours shall keep 10 well as long as
the hight and warmth OF life remains
TO us
gather around their sacred remains and
garland their passlonless mounds above
! them with the choicest iluWcrs of spring
| time: let us raise above them the dear
| old flag they saved from dishOnori let us
I'm this solemn presence renew our pledge
10 aid and assist those whom they have
/ left among us as sacred charges upon a
nations gratitude-the soldiers and
| sailors widow and orphan.
The author OF this first order for the
observance OF Memorial Day has pitched
| bis tent upon fame's eternal camping
/ a D. i.sll
Logan is hushed in DEATH but we are
| thankful this day that an Allwise PrOV-
/ dence put " into the heart of the German
! soldier TO write the letter he did, and
/ that our first commander chief issued
the order which has made the day so
sacred and universally observed.
/ This day has given To us some OF the
| choicest literature in our language, aud
/ IL inspires within our breasts thoughts
! akin 10 holiness. 10 serves 10 remind us
/ Of our heroes aud embalm thtir deeds Ina
the eternal pyramids OF fame. ~ Upon
each return Of this day, as theyear come
and 90. We reconsecrate our lives TO the
| immortal prec p and purposes for
which our comrades died We re-write
the history OF the conflict, remembering
| that each year the minority upon this
side OF the silent river Is growing less.
But We love the history We have made,
not for the sorrows and grets 10 has
brought or the immeasurable loss 10 life
aud property Incurred, but FOR the great
lIcsults accomplished for free government
aud more extended liberty This day Is
indeed the guardian OF the history of the
Grand Army which Is fast passing from
view, 10 be mustered upon the eternal
plains, where no soldier becomes weary
or fOOtsore, but finds eternal rest after
the battle march OF life is ended. IL Is
said that truth stereOtyped In blood lasts
longer and is more impresslyely read than
when published by any other means.
Let then the eternal truths which
our comrades unchangably fixed upon
our nation with their blood be and
ever remain ia perpetual memory, 10
be read and cherished for all time.
The manly forms Of our fallen com
rades may be but as the dust OF the
earth, but their deeds aud the princi-
Piles for which they fought and
died will live Ii is said by
Guizot that after the seige OF
Troy there was found IN every city
OF Greece men who collected the ira.
/ ditions aud adventures OF her heroes,
and sung them for the recreation OF
the people till these recitals became .
national passion. q national poetry,
which became the Inspiration for a
better civilization; so the heroic period
Of Christianity during the Middle