Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-05-29
NECORATION DAY or Memorial
i day, as many of us love better to

NECOhAIION Ia - or Memorial
~ day, as many of us love better to
call it-had its real inception, not
in the north, but in the south. The senti-
ment which makes it sacred originated in
grief -strickenfamilics-bu not of the victor
lous. Noarbitrary 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 s.~ne little time
after this became the springtime custom in
southern battlehelds and cemeteries The
first real memorial season in honor of the
nations slain was not that which followed
Gen. John y. Logan's proclamation in
May, 1865. The custom is older than that.
't first took root, not from the stroke of
general 5 pen, but from the kindly nspira
ton OF southern women. Chauncey NJ. De
pew tells the story in famous Memorial
day Grafton delivered in the Metropolitan
Opera house in New York. May 30, 1879.
When" said the well-known after-din-
ner speaker and orator, 1.-The 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 allaycd sec
tional luminosity 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 haunt in the face of the
other its own superiority at arms? No
The day means more than this to the true
American. If not. its observance has little
meaning, and will be forgotten There is
a common ground upon which the whole
nation may meet and give thanks--thc tri-
umph Of the right. Now, after a lapse of
years, we rejoice together over the ont
come. I'm the words of Robert Ingersoll
than whom no orator has offered more clio
quent tribute to the nations heroic dead"
at last, with clear eyes we that the
triumph of right was the triumph of all
Together we reap the fruits of the great
victory; we are all c)nquerors around the
graves of the heroes north and south.
white and colored-togcther we stand and
with uncovered heads revercntly thank the
saviors of our native land
1t was not until the spring season Of 1868
that a day was set apart by the G.. 4. r.
Cor the commcmoration OF the glorious
deeds of departed comrades Upon May
Of that year came the first official recog.
milton of the southern custom. This was
made public in the form of a general order
from the adiutant 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-
lie. Adiutaut Generals ONCE A6 Four
teenth street
Washington, D. G.. May 5. 1865.
General orders Ne II.
I. The Goth Of May. 1858. Is designated for
the purpose Of strewing with flowers or
otherwise decorating tho graves Of com
rades who died IN defense OF their country
during the late rebellion. and whose bodies
now lie i'm 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 cousccrated wealth and taste
OF the nation can add 10 their adornmeut
and security IS but n fitting tribute 20 the
memory Of her slain defenders Let no
wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed
grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the
coming and going Of revcrcut visitors and
ion0 mourners. let no vandalism OF
avarice or neglect. no ravages OF time tes-
lily 20 the present or the coming ucrsra-
lions that we have forgotten as a people
ihe cost OF free and undivided republic
III other eyes grow dull. other hands
slack and other hearts cold IN the solemn
trust. ours shall keep 10 we'll a. long aa the
light and warmth or life remain to us.
.let ns Then. At the time appointed gather