The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-31

pressed a gigantic rebellion, that had for
its object tho division of the union. and
the destruction Of the government
No one would take from our people
single one Of these great holidays Our
people-young and old-welcone the joys
of Christmas As a Christian nation.
blessed beyond any other people. we glad
ly keep a day Of general Thanksgiving;
as long as the republic lives, we shall
not cease to celebrate the anniversary Of
the immortal Declaration of lndepend-
ence; and it follows as night follows day.
ulat so long as we honor the men who
founded this nation, we shall not forget
the heroes who preserved &C.
These question will be easily and cor.
rectly answered by those who understand
the true purpoes and object of this Me-
mortal Day, and the real spirit with
which the peoVle of the Moth participate
in it's observance The object of this day
is not to boast over the vanquished
South; not to perpetuate sectional strife;
not to revive the prejudiCes of long ago;
not to fan to flames the awful fire of hat
red, that burned in the breasts OF the
American people, during the bloody
struggle from 61 to Go This day, has
higher and nobler purpose. The exercises
OF the day are to honor the dead; 20
cheer and comfort the living; to show our
gratitude to those who gave their lives
to preserve the union; to cultivate the
true spirit of patriotism ITO inculcate
in the youth of the land the virtues of
good citizenship; to bring all our people
TO a higher appreciation of this republic
and the sacrifices that have been made
for it's preservation; to enable every citi-
zen to more correctly understand the
achievements # the past: to aid him to
more fully realize the great possibilities
Of the future; to implant I'm the minds
Of old and young alike greater admira-
ton for our free institutions; and to
impress upon all the necessity OF absolute
the public halls. decorated in national
colors, and conduct these services? Why
do even the children Of our land, gladly
participate ir these exercises, and, load
ed with flowers, in step to patriotic music,
march in the solemn procession? Why
are the gray-haired mothers actively par
ci, ating in the exercises of the day?
Why is it that you carry at the head
Of every proce, sion, anC pl~ ce upon every
rostrum the ood-stained banner of our
country?
fidelity to the union, and supreme loyal
ty to the flag.
HONOR TO THE DEAD
In round numbers two mi.lions six hun
dred thousand mon enlisted in the Union
army, during the war of the rebellion
Three hundred and sixty thousand of this
number did not live to see the triumph
of the cause for which they fought. Sew
enty thousand were killed in battle For
ty-fve thousand died of wounds, and two
hundred and twenty-five thousand met
death from exposure, pestilence and dis
ease. Where is that Grand Army of over
a million men, who were mustered out at
the close Of the war? A vast majority
have been called beyo'd the silent riv-
er. They are with us no more Their re-
mains slumber in the cemeteries all over
the land The number of living eX-union
when there will not be living
q single soldier, who enlisted in the fed
eral army during the great Civil war
This, indeed, is a sad thought This ma
ton would gladly prolong your lives, as
living examples Of those who We're will
ing to die for their country's sake. 1t
cannot be. You must soon follow your
departed comrades.
Soldiers, we,n not! Tie nation will not
forget you. Decoration Day is now one
of the fixed institutions of this republic.
When you shall have teen called to your
eternal rest, when the great civil war
shall be know only in remote history
when there shall not be living a single
person who participated in that deadly
Decoration Day will live
Your graves will be strewn with flowers
These exercises will be repeated year af-
ter year, and so long as we remain a free
and enlightensd people in every approp-
riate way, honor and praise will be shown
the soldiers OF the republic
HONOR TO THE LIVING.
Hail, Veterans! Benefactors OF the hu-
man race! You were Gods chosen in
struments. In your presence we uncover
our hearts. We inscribe your names high
up among the worlds greatest and best.
Providence has heightened the spans
of your lives. You are permitted to be-
hold the fruit of your sacrifices. The
country once divided, is now reunited
The North aid South have indeed, and
in truth, clasped hands over the graves
of those who wore the gray, and those
who wore the blue. Through your un-
SNliSHiltSS dccuSt lHlS lldNlOu ODldlHeu Il
new lease oil life, and power OF greatness
You saved this government. The growth
and development of this country during
the last thirty-five years, enables you to
at least partially comprehend, the great
prize at stake in that mighty conflict.
Yours was the cause OF humanity. The
overthrow Of this government in 1861
would have blocked the progress OF the
world; it would have halted the human
race IT. it's onward march TO a higher