Evening journal., 1902-05-30
FRIDAY. MAY 30. 1902
rnE INNING AM THE DEAD

Memorial Day. 1t is Of recent origin,
vet we have made 1t a holiday Of gen
eral observance. When that little band
OF generous Southern women metafew
years ago. and covered the graves OF
the Confederate dead with blossoms,
and not satisfied with their deed,
spread garlands on the mounds that
covered the boys in blue, they little
knew that they We're giving America a
national holiday. But the sentiment
they so eloquently expressed touched
a popular chord. until today in every
cemetery throughout the United States
the people come with their tribute OF
love for the dead who did so much to
make this great nation what it is, and
who have not died in vain.
In the parades that swing through
our streets today there are some strili-
ing contrasts. Here are the veterans
of the Clvil War their ranks thinned
until they are but a mere squad Time
has left its impress there, for has it
not been forty years since they enlist
ed? How brave they are yet, and how
proudly they march, heads up and
chests out. but there is a little INSTEAD
mess of the knees. and the eyes are not
as bright as of yore II is hard to
realize that these quiet, unobtrusive
men were participants Of the most gi-
ganuc struggle OF modern times and
when they sit around the fire in the
long winter evenings and tell us tales
of battle, it is difficult to believe that
they have been actors in the greatest
events of our age.
There is one thing to the everlasting
credit Of these brave old boys; they
learned the art of war in a month or
two, and fought as men had never
fought. yet when the clouds OF battle
rolled away, and peace was declared,
instantly they were transformed into a
vast industrial army, but now on
peaceful conQuests. This was as true
of the boys in gray as their brothers in
blue When the most gigantic strug-
gle of modern times had ended, both
sides accepted the verdict, and began
10 clear the fields Of weeds, to start
the wheels of industry. to rebuild their
towns and reconstruct the govern
ment There is another thing which
may be said Of the soldier; he it was
who first expressed a desire to bury
past differences. and in the work OF
rebuilding the fabric of government
and in developing our material prog
ress. he has done his full share. Gen
tlemen Of the Grand Army, we stand
uncovered as you passl
And These young men in their fresh
uniforms. are they warriors, too. OF
only holiday soldiers? We have IN,
answer Recently We had a littl,
furry which at one time promised Z,
be serious. Some men said our hoA
day soldiers had not the spirit OF thei
sires, and would hesitate before offer
ing their services for real warfare. Blu
that little war lasted just long enougl
to SHOW that the blood which flowed il
the veins of the men at Lexington, an
which flowed in full side at Gettysburs
was still pulsing in the veins of tn
American citizen, and that only tn
countrys call was needed TO arouse q
And the loyal dead-how they al
scattered, In the peaceful cemeteries {
the North they lie. at Arlington an
at Gettysburg, where rank on ranl
line on line, they are in eternal repos
In the sandy soil of many a Souther
battlefield, in the swamps and rive
where their identity is lost foreverl B
sides this in the faraway Philippin
and in Cuba there are many fires
mounds in token of American heroisi
So far any page we may turn has
splendid record a record OF the glol
Gus deeds OF the citizen-soldier.