Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-06-08
A National Day.

Ai'AN ~ 'hiN u h"b 4" tiN
future Memorial day-the 30th of
May-will he observed by a united
country. In the past the north and
south, while decorating the graves
of their soldier dead. chose different
days or confined their ceremony chief
ly to the federal or confederate
graves, according to locality and
sentiment. True, in the past few
years there have been instances i'm
which nc Partially was shown i'm
the decoration of graves, but the
practice did not become general until
this year. The present conflict which
has again united the people under one
flag and in the strongest ties of
brotherhood. has erased all animOsi-
ties growing out OF the civil war.
The observance of the day i'm the
south gives ample proof of this. 1t
was the happy thought of an officer
of the regular army which did much
to touch the noble impulses of the
south. Gen. Coppinger and staff We're
at Mobile when the grave of Confed-
crates were decorated in April. They
attended the services and with barred
heads Joined in the ceremony. The
hearts of the magnanimous souther-
ners were touched at once. No hon
Ors or cOurteSies were too great to
extend them. From that hour they
Were among friends as warm i'm their
regard as those they had left in the
north I'm rlA .tnt IA Of Nov tl,n n-,, x,n,
of Union soldiers who fell at Mobile
were decorated. Heretofore the col
Ored people had been chiefly instru-
mental in seeing that the graves of
Dur heroes Were remembered. Notso
a week ago last Monday. The day
was generally observed. The regi-
mentS there from north and south.
citizens and veterans of Lee and
Longstrcet and Stonewall Jackson
joined hearts and hands in remem-.l
boring the pr~cservers OF the Union
1t was an inspiring sight.
The memorial services at Washing
ton and Gettysburg are themes for
poets. On every hand was manifest
the spirit OF unity. 1t was a field
day forp patriotism. The blue and
the gray were blended by the tears of
veterans ON both sides. and America
moved along Il generation in its ca
reer OF progress.
ON that day two notable addresses
Were Ipadc, one by Senator Thurston
at Arlington cemetery, neal Wash
ington. where 10000 Union soldiers
aud many noted officers are buried,
and al Gettysburg, where Webster
Davis, assistant secretary OF the in
terror, spoke i'll the absence of Presi-
dent Mckinley. who was detained at
Washington. Mr.. Davis is from Mis-
souri,, and. while he had some local
fame as an orator. it was hardly an
ticipated that he would rise so COM
pletely tn the occasion. He did not
disappoint his hearers, for his elo-
quent words held them spell-bound.
Some of his remarks We're most pa
thetic and worthy Of reproduction
and remembering:
But the republic still lives. fresh
in eternal youth: and these monu-
ments which mark the spot where
patriots fought in its defense are the
raised letters. as it Were. which spell
out for evil prophets everywhere the
sacred words. Liberty and Union
Forever. ON this field OF carnage.
after the smoke OF battle had cleared
away, the survivors went out to
bury their dead. BY the side OF a
fallen tree they found a poor soldier,
with a picture of his three little chill
dren, which he had taken from his
pocket for "a farewell look before he
died. firmly grasped in his hand. And
yonder, where the gallant Maryland
ers fought hand to hand i'm that aw-
full struggle. two young brothers were