The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-05-30
THE PASSING ARrlY.
The Irresistible Conqueror Is Thinning the Ranks
of the Veterans of the Civil War

i
~ II now thirty-six years since the
hrst flowers were strewn upon the
graves Of the men who gave their
Ape1 that the nation might live. Observ-
I'd 1t first In a small way by isolated
communities, this decoration Of the
grassy mounds has come to be recognize
"a a. an established custom and Memo
rial Day has long had fixed place In
&hs calendar. With each successive anni-
veFsary the day has gained wider OBJ
eervance and has been made the occasion
Tor many appeals to the patriotism Of the
Deopie. The verdure Of each returning
Apring covers more deeply the scars Of
hattie which once scanned the hillsides
and valleys Of the sunny South. On this
&Ay Of precious memories It 10 well to re-
eall the sacrifices Of bygone years, and It
- also Atting to express the hope that
1Aooe who are now charged with the
guidance Of our national destinies win
sperform their duties periodically and
Wsll
When the gfay-haired veterans Of the
oreat war for the Union meet together In
0nmual Observance Of Memorial Day, few
viii bear h mind that the day itself, a.
j. part o. the national life, II the result
- the inspiration Of one Of the greatest
~ ~ tie volunteef soldiers who fought
- ~ Aae-the late Gen. John 4. Logan
~ Illinois. Few, indeed, Of those not
associated with the organization Of old
oeldlsrs viii remember this. The soldier
Statesman who won his spurs IN actual
init and refused to accept peaceful hon
- while the war was still on-one Of
- Arst, Il not the Arst Of the List Of
A0noted comrades who headed this or
ganisation the originator Of the day
q sorrowful remembrance Of the bravery
and virtues Of those who fell In battle
~ who have crossed the dark river since
- confict ended.
The apple tree Of Appomattox never
olossomed 20 full and 70 fair ~ to-day.
tn nowars and it, fruit were never %
llne and fragrant. The Union which APP
pamattox established and cemented was
neveF - strong and glorious. Its sacred
oonds have been welded, not merely by
Nhe mutual pledges Of devotion. but BY
~ Are Of heroic service, side BY side
Under the common nag, on Z distant soil,
md they never before bound up 20 much
~ national pride and hops and high A.
pdratlon.
The great chieftains- Grant and Lee,
INDUSTRIOUS products OF the same national
ochool ct West P0int-met ct AppOmat-
tcx with mutual respect and honor, and
together typihed the spirit Of . reunited
country. That historic hour dates new
Union, which u now . true union Of
~ ~ ~ ~
30 long % the dag remains unfurled
Memorial Day cannot cease to be q great
and tender memory. Each anniversary
6ecomes more pathetic from the fact
that many Of the "boys In blue are pass
1ng away to Join the vast army In the
silent land. Every year the ranks NJ
the veterans en- this side the river grow
thinner, and the steps Of the marchers
slower. Within twenty-five years nearly
al will have Joined their regiments on
the other side. But their deeds can new
q die. Future generations will read
them. deep cut, defying the tooth Of time.
on the marble Of the country's greatness.
They will blaze on the pillars Of the
Union and In the springtime OF each year
Z grateful people. bearing choicest how-
ers-nature's sweetest emblem Of love
and a6ection-win decorate their graves;
Tor those grassy mounds will be known
o. ahrines forever more: shrines SO long
- the republic shall endure; shrines
where patriot knees will bend and pat
riot eyes will weep 30 long as freedom
has worahiper and equality Of rights
devotee.
Grant and Lee are no more, and Sher-
man and Stuart, and Jackson and Hook
Or. Mcclellan and Hill. Early and Meade
-all are gone, and the great spirit Of
change broods over the scenes Of their
former activities. The grass grows green
On the deserted battle6elds, and all ID
quiet along the banks Of the Potomac.
The James and the Chickahominy, the
Rappahannock and the Rapidan, wind
their course to the sea undisturbed BY
wars rude alarms. The former turns
the earth In the fertile valleys which
drank the blood Of the flower of Ameri-
can chivalry: the feathered songsters Of
the wood make melody in the tangled
thickets Of the Wilderness; but the great
captains and many Of their devoted fol.
lowers have departed. They pitch their
tonts on other camping grounds-not be-
neath the staFs that shine on Southern
acsnss, but above the stars on the fair
Aslds Of Hlysia. There they commune
and there thsy hold sweet intercourse.
We may not know their employments
there; ~ may not conceive the rapturous
hellgAts hat attend them In that blissful
otatioa: bat Of this We may b assured:
1hsy ~ net uAnisdful Of tie comrades