The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-25
RESPECT The DEAD
Union Veterans Union Re-
quest a Proper Observance
ON THEIR MEMORIAL DAY
Ask That Games and Sports
be Dispensed With.

The Union Veterans Union has issued
the following memorial day manifesto:
To the Public:
Fellow Christians, patriots. and coun-
trymen-Allow US with kindly pleadings
to recall TO your minds the fact that at
the instance Of the surviving soldiers OF
the Civil war. the. S0th day of May. called
Memorial Day" was set apart as the
anniversary Of the death of Union
soldiers. to be observed with appropriate
ceremonies.
The grateful people Of a saved republic,
through its congress, made this day a
legal holiday in order that the surviving
comrades, families and relatives of de-
ceased soldiers, and patriotic citizens
with their families might be free to par
ticipate in PROFESSIONS and solemn cere-
monies Of the one day dedicated to our
heroic dead.
Memorial Day. therefore. is a hallowed
national holiday, exclusively provided
that a grateful people may extend more
tenderly and universally its righteous
remembrance to its noble dead, thus
recognizing that our national spIendor
has its root in a soldiers grave
Through the thoughtlessness of youth,
the greed OF gain and the pleasures of
debauch, Memorial Day is being more and
more changed from its original intent
and devoted TO base purposes. To such an
extent has It been prosttuted, that its
hsllowed friendships, its reverence for
thu dead and the sanctity of the graves
it honors have been so disregarded and
dishonored, that fearful degeneracy Of
patriotism is imminent, together with
the loss Of al sense Of sacredness of
human feelings and sacrifices.
Races Of all kinds, ball games, theaters.
card parties. dances, banquets and the
like. on this national funeral day are
as great an offense against good taste
and patriotism as for children, or other
members Of a household, to turn from
the funeral orstion or the grave OF
dead father to similar revelries.
The boys ought to stop playing while
the fathers funeral is taking place and
not make G gala day of an occasion, when
even the leaves sing a requiem and the
flowers yield their choicest perfume for
the nations dead. A republic which Dies
not frown upon its citizens, whether
chief magistrate, tramp or vagabond.
who prostitutes things sacred and holy.
will soon fall by reason of the weakness
caused by its own moral corruption.
The use of Memorial Day as a dav of
revelry is an affront to the living
soldier, and to the widows and orphans
Of the dead. whose virtues we rehearse
as we uphold the cause to which thew
gave the fullest measure OF their devo-
ton, when on that day We decorate their
tree draws its life from hearts that once
were happy with US in our country's
service.
We feel that civilized public, to say
the least, should refrain from counten-
ancing, by enther presence or words
such prostitution and dissertation of
patriotism, death and the grave, and we
are convinced that the liberation of such
invasion indicates and entails the de-
generacy of our country. and is a men
ace to its liberties and perpetuity..
The public should respect the rights
Of the solemn procession, which with
suppressed weeping, breaking hearts and
sad memories. is marching all day long
to our country's cemeteries to honor our
heroic dead.
Unless the sacredness Of Memorial Dav
can be maintained. it were better that il
were stricken from the calendar as a
national holiday
For these reasons, we, a remnant Of
those, who in the dark and bloody davs
from 1861 to 1865, stood shoulder to shout
der and touched elbows on the firing line.
or we're wasted by wounds. disease. or
horrors of prison pen, that gov
eminent of the people. by the people. and
for the people might not perish from
the earth appeal to the press, the pull
pit and the patriotic to assist US in
stemming the tide of dissertation of the
day dedicated to the memory of our ma
tons dead, TO The end that the purposes
Of Memorial Day may be maintained and
the youth of our country educated in
all those heroic virtues that shall qualify
them for the exalted duties OF American
citizenship.
We, therefore, request all regiments of
the C. V e., Department Of Kansas. to
adopt this memorial, the newspapers of
the state TO publish it, the teachers of our
schools and colleges TO cause il to be
read before their schools and the Christ
ian ministers of the state TO read it TO
their congregations, and We earnestly
nope that young and old win for ali
time refuse to be partakers in, or pat
rons OF, dissertations of Memorial Day.
Attest: A. ]. WEAVER, Maj. Gen.
Commanding Division of Kansas Of the
Union Veteran Union.
i. +. HARSON, Asst AdJt Gen