The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-14

a proper spirit, for I am not free from
mistakes-nor is any other writer on cur
rent events.
Now, IS. D. B." asserts that Decora-
ton Day is strictly Yankee" Let us see
about that first, and then take up Mem
orial Day." In Col (Gen) Isaac w.
Avery's History of Georgia," page 2i2,
referring to the late Gen. Charles j. VIII
liams of Columbus, Ga, he says; His
widow, Mrs. Mary A. Williams, originated
the beautiful Decoration Day that has
become an established custom" THIS
statement is made as historical TACT III
1881, but Decoration Day" was establish
ed by Mrs. w. and her associates of the
Columbus Ladies' Memorial Association,
on April 26. 1866. She published an aru-
Gle in the Columbus Times, March IL,
1866, Suggesting the Decoration Day
custom" AS late as April rs, 1874, the Of
fetal programme of the Ladies' Memorial
Association of Mobile, Ala, was headed
Decoration Day." and the same is true
of the Ladies' Memorial Association Of
fetal programme in Montgomery, Ala
same day. l might multiply these official
proofs, but my space is limited, and
these alone show that Decoration Day
is not strictly Yankee" Notwithstanding
many of the Southern editors fell into the
habit of calling it Memorial Day be-
cause the Ladies' Memorial Association
generally observed that day.
Again, IS. d B." says Of Decoration
Day" origin: IT have never heard any
one, North or East, call it anything else. :
OF course a statement so positive should
be made only by a person who has traV-
eled extensively in the North and East,
and is perfectly familiar with the subject
n fb0Ga what the real
facts in the case-the official reliable
| facts. On May 5, 1858, two years after
| Decoration Day was established in Co
| lumbus, Ca, on April IS, by General Or
ders, No. II, dated at Washington, d. c.,
Gen. John A. Logan. the commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie, established Memorial Day. for me-
mortal services and to decorate the
! graves of Union soldiers. However, as
/ the years passed on, and the Confederate
! Decoration Day. became better known
4 many persons editors included fell into
i the habit of mixing the two designations
and when the National Encampment OF
: the G. A. r. met in Baltimore, Nd, in
! 1882 a resolution was adopted calling upon
| the commander-in-chief TO issue an order
requesting c. A. r. men not to forget
| that it was Memorial Day, instead OF
! Decoration Day"
! Finally. 1t is not a question as to what
people, North or South now call these
respective days, but when. where, how
and by whom were they established
Then comes the question, Has there ever
been an official change made in either
designation If there has been, In either
case ! never heard of IT,, nor have
seen any such official announcement. II
] call the "Ordinary" of Chatham county
a County Judge" as he would be called
| in a similar position In Orange county
Florida. it does not make him such. Al
the people in the world may talk an1
write OF the Southern Memorial Day
and IL will still remain, as u was estab'
Iished, Decoration Day" And no amount
OF newspaper controversy can change tho
| G. A. r. Memorial Day to Decoration
Day" II a change is desired on either
| side let II be Officially done. and tho
| change officially made public.
Sidney Herbert.