The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-31

Memorial Day in Gadness With
Haowed Associations in Which All Glasses
Share With Pride.

when limited to those who gave their
lives in the holy cause of liberty and
justice it is closely allied 10 patriotism and
national gratitude.
Back to Their Youth.
1T is wrong to suppose, as 1 fear too
many do. that Memorial day is made the
occasion of idle compliment, or sulsome
fiattery of, the living soldier, to cease
altogether wheu the last OF their num-
bers shall have passed away. If this
were so. a sense of manly modesty would
forbid that any surviving veteran should
be present At and much less take part in,
these exercises. But beyond the charm
of oratory. the inspiration OF song. or
ported to the sweet old homestead OF
their youth, where first they heard the
ominous mutterings of the coming con-
torn from its mast. and the flag Of dis
union and rebellion usurping its place.
They hear the first call to arms and sue
ceeding. calls. and from all the avoca-
tons of peace they see their companions
rushing TO the defense of their Imperfect
country: They hear the bugle. CALL the
long roll sounded. the boom of cannon,
the rattle of nusketry, and see brave men
go down in the shock OF battle. In the
quiet of a. truce or the security of
dearly-bought victory they survey field
of the dead, and with scant ceremony
hastily bury the manged forms of their
comrades in shallow graves where they
fell. They reach the hospital and prison
TO hear again the cries Of wounded and
once more through four years of relent-
less war on land and sea. with all their
varied scenes. incidents and consequences.
And TO the memory OF those who never
returned do they reverently dedicate all
YOU say and do today. Do not wrong
them or disparage the holy ties OF COM
PIRATE even the least OF these honors 10
themselves. When. Therefore, they ac-
knowledge their sense of gratitude to their
countrymen everywhere for these touch
ing tributes TO the memory OF their dead
comrades they but speak for those who
can no longer speak for themselves.
'One who followed the fortunes OF the
Union flag 10 final victory may well feel
a sense of embarrassment in attempting to
address q mixed audience composed Large
Iy of those who once wore the blue. as we'll
as a respectable number who wore the
gray lest he should laud the one and
blame the other unduly. But in the face
OF our country's new dangers, PIT. OF
every true patriot, besides, my sense OF
courtesy will not permit me to avail my
self of the complimentary presence OF
our late foes 10 abuse them. We may
frankly admit that they were sincere In
their doctrine of primary sovereignty or
states and assumed right OF secession, Tor
such had been the teachings OF their
political school for more than three
quarters OF century. and that they fur
Their believed the time had come when
their peculiar lfl>tlkaliVt " NRdiH
only be saved by an exercise Of those sup
posed rights And il their sincerity is 10
be judged by the desperation with which
thew fought all my comrades here viii
join in certifying that they were thor
oughlv sincere. II Is not probable Pick
EFT thought his cause unjust ani wicked
when he led the flower OF Lees army 10
slaughter at Gettysburg, or that Cieburue
pushed his corps to our battle line al
Franklin for the vaingior.ous satisfaction
of dying in the midst of his brave follow
ers But admitting the sincerity OF their
motives we can nSver ccncede that they
were right or that we were wrong. His
tory has so written il down, the inexora-
bic logic OF which all must accept But
the war left them a record of courage,
devotion and daring not excelled by any
left them the graves OF loved ones: and
the grief OF mothers, wives and orphans
was like that Of our own. / shall not
ask them TO break these idols before they
may bow with me AT the affairs of
reunited country.
To-day the sons OF the North and South
respond alike to the same cali 70 arms,
peace together IN the same TENS. and.
under the banners OF Washington and
Lincoln. VIII triumph over n common foe.
(Applause, Excepting our common ser
rows the South may we'll rejoice with
Us today eyer the victories that Kept our
country undivided.
Hit of tnwritten History.
Pardon me for calling your attention
here 20 a bit of unwritten history. II may
assist these younger persons 10 under
stand the spirit OF the times after the close
OF the war and refresh the memories OF gAe