The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-30
To-day's Celebration.

Decoration Day originated in the custom
oil the Southern Women to decorate WIFI
flowers the graves of tho fallen Confederate
soldiers before the Civil Wa had ended
The graceful practice was soon initiated az
the North 10 such an extent that, IN lsGS, me
late Gen. JoHN A. LOGAN. as Commander
in-Chief Of the Grand Army OF the kepnbhc
issued formal orders designating the 3W'h ol
Nav rs Decoration Day, with the hope
that it will be kept mp from year to year
while n survivor Of the war remains 70
honor the memory Of his departed COM
rades."
This indicated that Gen, LOGAN had in
mind an observance 81 the day no longer
than the life of the generation which fonght
tho Civil War. and already that time is APP
preaching. The Civil War began thirty
nine years ago, with the proclamation by
President LINCOLN Of April 10, 1861, ealing
for 5000 three months militia Ito repos-
eess the forts, places and property whlch
have been seized from the MO HE
time when no survivor Of the four years
conflict will remain "to honor the memory
of his departed comrades - will therefore be
reached before the coming century IL faT
advanced. The roll of Northern pen
sionerS still numbers about one miIlloh,
but about ~one-quarter OF them are
widows and dependent children, and the
list of actual participants in the war begins
70 diminish rapidly. OF the pensioned sur
vivors Of the War of 1912, only one remains
after the lapse of lightweight years; and OF
the Mexican War of 1si6-ls, there are now,
after nfty-four years, only about nine thou
sand survivors.
The Observance Of Decoration Day soon
became general throughout both the North
ern and Southern States. and it is now
a legal holiday in all Of them except ten
Southern States and one Northern State.
Idaho, but throughout the South the custom
of decorating the soldiers graves is still
kept ny,
As time has passed and the bitterness Of
the Civil War has been succeeded by a COM
mon sentiment of honor for the valor dis
PLAYED on both sides of the conflict, this
day has been changed gradually into a day
of rejoicing over the restoration OF the
American Union, and as such it is likely to
remain, "a permanently established among
American holidays as Independence Day
itself. 1t comes, too, at n season OF the year
which makes its celebration more agreeable
than that of any other Of our holidays.
The Fourth Of July is in the heat OF summer
Christmas and New Years, WAsHINoroN's
Birthday and the Lincoln Birthday are
in winter. and Thanksgivi & Day is In
the closing week of November when that
harsh season is near at hand.
The manner OF the observance Of Decora-
ton Day. as prescribed in the order Of Gen.
LOGAN, will be transformed the more radi-
cally the further the celebration passes be-
yond the limitation Of time he fixed upon
it. Instead Of remaining a day of mourn
ing, typined by the flying Of flags at half
mast, already funeral symbols have become
incongruous with the sentiment to which 1t
gives expression. 1t is no longer a day of
mourning but a holiday to celebrate the
integrity and the solidity of the American
nation as one of the most masterful OF the
great powers of the world. To-day we are
not weeping over death, but are rejoicing
in a new and larger national life. We do
not celebrate with lowered flags the indie
pendence won by the dead Of the RevOlu-
ton; neither shall we commemorate the
restoration Of the Union with the symbols
~ n