The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02
MEMORIAL DAY.

L
the imminent prospect of new ano
rich sacrifices on the altar of Patriotism
might seriously detract from the In
terest in the sacred observances Of Me
mortal Day have been most happily
disappointed. They reasoned that in
the day of momentous new things, the
momentous old ones would have little
attraction for the popular mind, and thai
people would be rather thinking of the
men who might soon be called upon tc
die for their country than remembering
those who had died for her years ago
To the superficial thinker this would
seem probable. To the one who studies
more deeply the reverse would appear
likely.
So it has turned out. Never has
Memorial Day appeared so deeply i'm
portant to all our people as it has this
year. Never has it been so generally
celebrated, and in such an earnest,
heartfelt way. The profound stirring
Of the National spirit by the present
war has turned mems attention to and
aroused their appreciation Of the men
whose services and sacrifices have made
the United States tie greatest country
on earth. Though they be dead their
works vet live. But for them, and ali
that thew did, dared and suffered, there
would now be no great, united, prosper
Gus Nation, mighty in present achieve
ment-mightier still in future posi-
bilities. All that is being done to-day
is the direct result of their glorious ex-
amples. Mighty legions swarm in re-
spouse to the Presidents call, because
myriads did in 1865, and it was
then emphasized that that was the
high duty of American manhood. They
proudly offer to 90 anywhere that the
Flag leads, and obey any orders that
the constituted authorities may give,
because we fought out that question
during the rebellion, and established
the principle of implicit obedience and
seif-sacrifcing loyalty as the high die
tate Of duty and honor. The men are
now in camp, eager for any duty that
may be assigned them, either on this
side of the globe or the other, because
of the example set them by their fathers
80 years ago. Because, in 106l-'65,
regiments marched thousands of miles,
and encountered any foes, and any form
OF peril, regiments to-day are ready to
go tens of thousands Of miles, and en-
counter any danger into which the Flag
may lead. Dewey and his gallant men
emulated at Manila what Farragut and
his valiant crews did at New Orleans
and Mobile. The boys now wearing
the blue are eager to repeat at Habana
their fathers siege of Vicksburg; in
the jungles of Matanzas, to copy their
fathers resolute march through the Will
derness
The present war is great and i'm
pressive object-lesson to every heart as
to the character, the valor and self-sac-
rifice of the volunteers of 1865.
Every father and mother of son who
may be called into the war now appre-
ciates what it cost parents 81 years ago
to give up their sons. Every young
man @ho even thinks of going to war
has impressed upon him as never be-
fore the elevated sense Of duty which
stirred the young men of the last gen.
Grafton to offer themselves upon the
country's altar.
Therefore, Memorial Day becomes a
more impressive occasion to every mind.
The graves of those who died that their
country might live become hallowed
places. The sheer Of the soldier-hater
has been shamed into silence; the hiss
of the Copperhead is hateful to the ear
the spots where lie the bodies of those
who fought for the Nations life become
the peoples most sacred shrines, and far
more than ever the Both of May is the
All Saints Day of every true American.
RUSSIA is reported to be exceedingly
anxious to get foothold in the Philip.
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