The San Francisco call., 1898-05-30
DECORATION DAY.

n IL the solemn and patriotic services of the a1i- l / \ nual> decoration of the graves of those who
 gave their lives that the republic might live
 will be observed to-day with ardent and fer
 vent feeling than has been felt for many year past
 The ceremonies may not be statelier the processons larger or the orations more eloquent than those to which we have been accustomed but it is certain the responsiveness of the people will be tender and more earnest
 While We decorate to-day the graves of the heroes of the that freed the slaves and kept the Union whole cannot be oblivous of the fact that are now dedicating generation to the same arduous service of war in the of the nation Around the sacred graves, beneath the glorious banner ot the nation there will gather to-day along with the Grand Army veterans host of youths forming the Volunteer Army of the younger generation, who in their turn have taken up the sword and placed their lives at the service of their country.
 The thought which will be dominant in the minds of all to-day will be that of the complete success which under God has blessed the of the heroic Grand Army To-day the Union is restored not only in ter rtory and power but in the loyal love of all hearts North and South. Lee and Wheeler and Butler, men who wore the gray with distinguished valor and mili
 ary skill are types of thousands of veterans of the armies of the South who under Davis fought against the Union and are now demonstrating their genuine
 loyalty to the flag by going forth under its folds to fight for the restored Union against foreign foe.
 It is significant fact which should be widely noted and profoundly reflected that this is the first in which the whole people of the United States have been united During the Revolution there were many 1oyalists in all the colonies Almost every family had one or more members each side of the struggle. In 1872 the republic yet nation and the war was not cordially supported by thousands who be- 1ieved that we ought to have sided with England I bers of patriots of the North regarded the with Mexico as an act of aggression the part of slave holders for the requirement of further slave territory and in that, therefore, in previous wars there
 lack of that unity of sentiment which constitutes the true harmony of national life
 There dssensions among us in this war There sections States of the Union holding back from it, large classes of people averse to it. no poets who denoupee it as Lowell and Whittier de- nounced the war with Mexico. We not only mighty nation, we are a united harmonious and mighty people with common love of the flag, common reverence for the constitution and common aspiration for the accomplishment of national des tiny of the highest moral and political grandeur.
 For this great and momentous result are prirl- arily indebted to the heroes of the Grand Army. The battles they fought won for the strength and power to wage not only this of to-day but all that are lO COIHc fAS we SldAu ny Sid'Co ing what they did considering what duties are re- qured of the young volunteers around and with patriotism striving to solve the vast problems which already rising upon the horizon before we can but recall the solemn words of Lincoln:
 Tt is for dedicate ourselves to the great task remaining before us-tha from these honored graves we draw increased devotion to that for which they gave the last full of devotion-that the nation under God shall have birth in freedom and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth