Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-05-29
NECORATION DAY or Me

"
day, as many of us love better to
call it-had it's real inception, not
in the north, but in the south. The senti-
ment which makes it sacred originated in
grief-strickenf families not of the victor
ious. No arbitrary day upon which to garland
with flowers the graves of the nations he
roes was decided upon, but the Grand
Army of the Republic until some little time
after this became the springtime custom in
southern battlefelds and cemeteries, The
first real memorial season in honor OF the
nations slain was not that which followed
Gen. John A. Logan's proclamation in
May, 1868. The custom is older than that.
1t first took root, not from the stroke OF
a generals pen, but from the kindly lnsplra-
ton of southern women. Chauncey M. De
pew tells the story in a famous Memorial
day grafton delivered in the Metropolitan
Opera house in New York, May 80, 1879.
when" said the well-known after-din-
ner speaker and orator, 'Sthe war was over
in the south, where, under warmer skies
and with more poetic temperaments, SYM
bols and emblems are better understood
than in the practical north, the widows,
mothers and children of the confederate
dead went out and strewed their graves
with flowers, at many places the women
scattered them impartially also over the
unknown and unmarked resting places of
the union soldiers. As the news of this
touching tribute flashed over the north, it
aroused, as nothing else could have done,
national amity and love and allayed sec
tional animosity and passion. Thus out
of sorrows common alike to north and
south came this beautiful custom
For what, then, does Memorial day stand?
For the success of the north, considered as
a military achievement? We are no longer
a divided people. Shall one section con-
tinue forever to faunt in the face of the
other it's own superiority at arms! No.
The day means more than this to the true
American If not, it's observance has little
meaning, and will be forgotten. There is
common ground upon which the whole
nation may meet and give thanks-the tri-
umph of the right. Now, after lapse of
years, we rejoice together over the out
come. In the words of Robert Ingersoll,
than whom no orator has offered more elo-
quent tribute to the nations ''heroic dead"
"At last, with clear eyes we see that the
triumph of right was the triumph of al.
Together we reap the fruits of the great
victory; we are all coneuerors around the
graves of the heroes north and south,
white and colored-together we stand and
with uncovered heads reverently thank the
saviors of our native land
It was not until the spring season of 1868
that a day was set apart by the G. A r.
for the commemoration of the glo- tous
deeds of departed comrades. Upon May
5 of that year came the first official ~ecog-
milton of the southern custom. This was
made public in the form of general order
from the adjutant generals Office which
bore the signature of John 4. Logan, com
mander in chief This official document is
in part as follows:
Headquarters Grand Army of the Repub-
lic Adjutant Generals Office, 446 Four
teenth Street,
Washington, D. c., May 5, 1868.
General Orders No. IL.
l. The 3Oth of May, 1858, is designated for
the purpose of strewing with flowers or
otherwise decorating the graves Of COM
rades who died in defense Of their country
during the late rebellion, and whose bodies
now lie in almost every city, village and
hamlet church-yard in the land. In this
observance no form Of ceremony is pre-
scribed, but posts and comrades will in
their own way arrange such fitting services
and testimonials of respect as circum-
stances may permit. We should
guard their graves with sacred vigilance.
All that the consecrated wealth and taste
of the nation can add to their adornment
and security is but a fitting tribute to the
memory of her slain defenders. Let no
~anton foot tread rudely on such hallowed
grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the
coming and going of reverent visitors and
fond mourners. Let no vandalism of
avarice or neglect, no ravages Of time tes
tify to the present or the coming genera
tons that we have forgotten as people
the cost of free and undivided republic.
If other eyes grow dull, other hands
slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn
trust, ours shall keep it we'll as long as the
light and warmth of life remain to US.
Let US, then, at the time appointed gather