The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-06-04

Once more we are assembled for the
purpose of performing what ought to
be, to every citizen of this Great Amer
lean Republic a sacred duty one, that
may be accompanied by feeling OF
sadness and yet always cheerfully met
and cheerfully done kind of reveren-
tial holy communion with the great
army of the dead-linked to us not
only by the sacred memory of valorOus
deeds nobly done in the service of
country the service of home and
loved ones, but linked to Us still more
wildly by the presence of these the
living remnant of the Grand Army of
the Republic-of those who performed
equally meritoriOus service in the
cause of freedom and whose lives have
been spared thus long seemingly for
the very purpose of aiding in more
forcefully teaching the lesson Of patriot
ism.
OF all the secular holidays this seems
have the greatest significance to touch
the tenderest and hottest feelings to be
fraught with most confidence to set in
vibration the very essence of sympathy
as no other holiday has or can New
Year is not to be underestmated-as
Il retrospective point it is valuable
we survey the past and note the errors,
make new resolves and plan for the
future. Washington's birthday is COM
memOrated largely in honor OF the great
iudiyidual-the father of his country,
and incidentally it calls to mind much
Of the herO>m of the revolution. The
Thanksgiving holiday has come to be
almost totally a time of gaiety, bun Is
nevertheless valuable. The 4th OF July
commentaries the signing of the Dec
laration of Independence one OF the
remarkable documents in the history
of the world and yet it grew out OF the
desire, the determination to overcome
political oppression.
But Memorial day was born of the
holy desire to perform IA loving service
to the memory of the dead--tO lessen
the sorrows of the widow, the mother,
The sister, and the orphans by cover
ing the graves of the fathers, husbands
and brothers with flowers and thus eX-
tending the bond OF sympathy to the
I'd RI ist mt
from the graves of their loved ones.
Then to it commentaries the most
gigantic effort the world has ever put
Orth for the purpose OF destroying
chattel slavery. While the 4th of July
commentaries political freedom, -
Memorial day commentaries personal
freedom.
If we should undertake to analyze
this question find the reason why
it is desirable to commemorate this day
most of US would perhaps assign three
reasons. First to honor the memory
of the dead soldiers: second, to honor
and encourage that division of the q.
A. II. still living: and third, to impart
a lesson of patriotism to the living who
have come upon the scenes of action
since the events of 1861, and to those
who are now coming upon the scene of
action and for the benefit of those who
will come in the future.
From the stand point of self peserva'
tion--from the stand point of the perpe
tuity of the gOvernment-from the stand
point of the maintenance of Eepub.
lican principles the last is the import
ant reason. Yet ! am glad that there
is ample evidence to establish the fact
that there is an Inherent desire in the
human race to praise meritoriOuS ac
liops--to render honor unto whom hon
or is due, recognizing ages before it
was penned by the TACT, that honol
I and shame from no condition rise, but
I that all honor lies in the faithful con
f scientions performance of ones duty
j acting well his part
= Most of our unwritten history
MYTHICAL stories had their foundation
in this very desire to perpetuallv com
: uemorate that which is worthy OF emu
:. lalion aud very much Of the esteemed
3 of the valued portions OF our writer