Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-31
Daily ksnneber Journal
AT THE NATIONAL HOME.
Continued from page %

AOl man al CENTURY lIlS
christian Queen ruled with rare wis
dom, purity and power, the United
Kingdom and the possessions of the
crown throughout The earth.
In America, Tor nearly a century,
our one great national holiday was
the Fourth OF July, the day upon
which the Declaration of Independence
was given to the world, that Magma
Charta of our liberties, that mar
Vicious document whose craftsmanship
has never been surpassed, whose terse
expression of the hopes and aspira-
ton of the people of the United States
can never be equalled. 1t was Presi-
dent Adams who said that posterity
should ON that day assemble and af-
ter the reading of the immortal words
Of Thomas Jefferson, amid the firing
of cannon and the burning of gunpow-
der, lift up Their voices in a mighty
shout for the liberty which we had
achieved.
But the march of civilization, re-
tlnement, culture and love of the beau
tiful is ever onward, and we are met,
today, to celebrate the greatest of all
our national holidays, the day of days,
Memorial day.
Greater than the celebration of the
birthday of the father of his country,
for the immortal Washington was but
one of the many patriots of our
Revolutionary period infinitely more
appropriate and broader in its scope
than the mere noise of independence
day, is the day we celebrate, the
apotheosiS of patriotism, when we
decorate the graves of those of all
ranks, the humblest private as we'll as
the proudcSt general. We strew ma
lures gariands, the most beautiful
gift God has given man, the lovely
flowers whose fragrance is the incense
Of gratitude we offer, the libation of
praise we pour out over the silent
mounds surrounding the men who died
that the nation might live.
Whence comes this celebration which
is the refinement of holidays, the evo-
luton of all the national days of the
worlds history?
Tradition says The loving women OF
the far Southland first inauguratcd
this beautiful custom as early in the
history of the CjEil war as 1868. We
know, however, that the honor and
glory of it's official birth is due to one
Of the Unions greatest soldiers and
statesmen, Major General John A.
Logan, Who on May 5, 1868, as COM
mander- in chief of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, ISSUED a general or
der from which we quote the follow
ing:
THE 30th day Of May, 1868, is desig
mated for the purpose Of strcWing with
flowers or otherwise decorating the
graves Of comrades who died in de-
Tense of their country during the late
Rebellion. ANA whose bodies now lie
in almost every lily. village and ham
let churchyard i'll the land. We are
organized conn AIDES, as our regulations
tell us, for the purpose, among other
things, 'of preserving and strengthen
ing those kind ana fraternal feelings
which have bound together the soldiers,
sailors and marines, who united to
suppress the late Rcbcllion.' What
can aid more TO assure this result
than cherishing tcnderly the memory
OF our heroic dead. who made their
breasts a bariicadc between their
country and its foes? Their soldier
lives were the rcvcille of freedom to
la9racc in chains, ana their death the
ttattoo Of rebclliOus tyranny in arms.
We should guard their graves with
sacred vigilance All that the con-
| ccntratcd wealth and taste of the ma
| ton can add to their adornment and
| security is but Il fitting tribute to the
memory of her slain defenders. Let
no Wanton foot tread lightly on such
halloWcd ground; let pleasant paths
invite the coming and going of reverent
visitors ANA fond memories. Let no
| vandalism Of avLrice or neglect, no
ravagcs of time, testify to the pres
ont or coming generations that We
have forgotten as people the cost OF
a free and undivided republic. II
other eyes grow duh and 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 around their
sacred remains and garland the pas
sioniess mounds above them with the
choicest flowers Of springtime; let us
raise above them the dear old flag
they saved from GishOnor; let us in
this solemn presence renew our pledges
20 aid and assist those whom they
have 1eft among us, a sacred charge
upon q nations Gratitude-the soldier
and sailors widow and orphan.
1t is the purpose of the commander
in-chef to inaugurate this observance
with the hope that it will be kept from
year to year. while a survivor of the
war remains, to honor the memory of
his departed comrades"
Maine was the first State to officially
celebrated the day, but the custom has
been followed by all the states until, to-
day, the entire UEion has 4 Decoration
| day, when the people meet to honor
| those whose names We're not born to
| die but shall be imperishaby prcScrv-
ed rs long as our Republic shall sur
vive.
"On fame's eternal camping ground
| Their silent tents are spread,
| But glory guards with solemn round
| The hiVouac OF thC dead"
| We are still too close to the events
| of the war for its true history to be
written. Famous writers, both North
| and South have essayed to give its
political, personal or military aspects.
| Horace Greeley mas contributed his ir-
/ lcpressiblc american Conflict; Alex
| andor stephens THE War Between the
| States; Parton, Bancroft, Coffin and
others have added their eloquent de-