The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-05-31
AN ETHICAL HINT RESPECTING MEM.
ORAL DAY.

IollSlOa. Auu II is d mistake, not TO
say grave error, to do so. If it is
religious to keep the Lords Day holy,
it is also moral. If it is moral to mani
fest respect for the nations patriot
dead by decorating the graves of de-
parted soldiers and joining in solemn
services with the living members of
the q. A. R., it is also religious.
But, dear me, how great is the num-
Der of people who have no respect for
either morals or religion. 1t is to be
feared that both Sunday and Memorial
Day are suffering from irreverence
Is it not likely that plea for the one
will also be an argument for the bet
ter observance of the other2
For decade and half the increas-
ing perversion of the national holiday
known as Memoirs Day, has been
noted with deep concern by thought
full men and women. Picnics, noise
and fireworks may not conflict with
the sentiments prompted by Indepen-
dence Day, but there is absolutely no
relation between the sacred meaning
of the May holiday and the bicycle
races, ball games, and tennis tourna-
ments which now solicit and so much
engage the attention of the public. Is
it not shame for the sake of these
fieeting pleasures to leave to grand
army posts and few elderly or patri-
otto citizens the remembrance of the
heroic dead, the recollections of a
great war, and the expressions of a
grateful patriotism? 1t is pitiable
to see the veterans upon Memorial Day
receiving so little consideration and
aid. 1t is positively harmful, nay,
also damnable. for men and women,
youths and children, to be hurrying
off to hilarious games and picnics
while the old soldiers, with thinner
ranks every year, march by with their
drum corps and drapped flag to decor
ate the graves of their beloved com
rades, and to engage in religious ser,
vice in their honor.
I, myself, may have no uncle OF
father whose body lies upon a south,
ern field Of battle may have no blood
relative who has recently died in Cuba
or the Philippines, but if my neigh,
Dor has met with such loss I shall
observe the Christian principle of cour,
tesy and love, "to rejoice with them
that do rejoice, and weep with them
that weep"
The editor of a weekly periodical,
the Baptist Standard of Chicago,
speaks significant words: "We must
broaden, not narrow, the in fuence OF
the holiday. 1t must take in the fall
len heroes of all wars, and the young
victims of the fever camps of '99 shall
, have no less honor than those who fell
in 80 the lives laid down in The
Philippines must be as precious in the
sight of our people as those sacrificed
in southern field and forests. Oul
great debt to the past must be recalled
but our greater debt to the future
, must be steadily insisted upon. How
seldom in discussions of the presen
problems of the nation regarding thu
future of acquired territory do we heal
this consideration mentioned; wha
! we owe to these islands because of thu
precious lives that have been freely
spent in their behalf. Liberty and thu
rights of man should be guarded fol
their sake, if not for the sake of the
races for whom they went to war. LIE
them never be, as recent poet said
"dislaureled ghosts, robbed of theil
rightful honors by the lowering of &
standard, the breach of a trust, the
atrophy of an ideal.
Whateverthe past record of the days
observance in this community, let pub
lie officials by proclamation or other
wise lend, the weight of their influence
to the deeper and broader and better
keeping of May 3d. Let all conscien
tious citizens join heartily in the sol
emnities of the occasion, and thus, dc
| honor to themselves as we'll as to theil
country and their country's benefac
tors. Let the people of this historic
city prove that Memorial Day is no
an outworn institution.
FRANK E. r. MILLER,
Pastor First Rantist Church