The National tribune., 1903-06-04

ing beauty mocks the memories OF the
lurid He'll of Battle which burst forth
here 40 years ago, we are gathered IN lov-
ing remembrance, gratitude, pride and
thanksgiving, to commemorate this Ma
tional Sabbath of Patriotism.
Here must we say, as we look over the
fascinating loveliness of this scene, that
Nature sympathizes with mans exalted
moods and deeds; that the roses blush
deeper crimson because there was poured
at their roots the hearts blood of thousands
of the noblest men in the world, and that
the flowers have sweeter breath because
of the ineffable fragrance of the souls
which passed from here to God.
HOLY PLACES.
Places are made holy where exalted as
piration has reached complete self-sacrifce,
and Humanity's richest offering has eter-
nally sanctified these gentle, smiling slopes
with a sacredness second only to Calvary.
There the Savior of the World died for
mankind: here thousands who believed in
Him died for Man.
An eminent orator once said, How poor
this world would be without its graves
without its memories of the mighty dead"
The low mound at Marathon which COW
ers the remains of those who fell in saving
their country from the barbarian conquer
or has made little Greece far richer to
al tit SySiCS ehah III
dia, with her innumerable millions who
die and leave no sign.
We may pile brick and mortar into
cloud-capped towers and gorgeous pal
aces; We may carve marble and mold
bronze into enduring monuments; we may
choke every mart with the golden sands
of our streaming wealth, yet this land
would be poor as China without such
tombs as those of Washington, Lincoln,
Grant and the half million soldiers of the
Union who sleep in National Cemeteries.
One of the most powerful factors in
molding the Jews into that wonderful ma
tional unity which has been the astonish-
ment of the world, was the feast of the
Passover, annually celebrated with great
solemnity in every Jewish family. 1t was
the most democratic of ceremonies, for
each man was the priest who conducted it
in his own household.
At the anniversary Of the flight from
Egypt, each father of Jewish family,
whether at home on the banks of the
Jordan, whether signing in captivity by
the rivers of Babylon. whether sojourning
amid the marble temples of beautiful
Greece, or dwelling under the glorious
from Zion-gathered his family about
him, and standing staff in hand, with loins
girt, and sandals upon their feet as if for
a hasty journey, they partook of meager
meal of bitter herbs and unleavened bread,
and then the eldest son asked his father
the meaning of this impressive ceremony.
The father answered by reciting the won
derful story of Gods favor and assist
ance to His chosen people, when He de-
livered them out of the hands of their in
solent masters, and finally brought them
to the fruitful land He had set apart for
them.
This solemn ceremonial, scrupulously
observed alike by luxurious money lords
Of Nations and the poor peasant wringing
a scanty subsistence from arid acres,
brought the Jews into brotherhood that
was proof against all vicissitudes of the
centuries.
Conquerors might despoil their land and
carry them int" nj Countries inhabited by
all the races of the earth. and speak an
hundred different tongues, but forever and
always every Jew felt himself brother to
s every other Jew. They were united in heart
and thought. upon one common tenet, which
for 80 centuries has survived unaltered
changes that have swept away or remod-
eied every other institution established by
man.
Memorial Day is to us all that the Pass
over was to the Jews. 1t commentaries
time when We stood as completely in the
hollow of Gods hand as they upon the
shores of the Red Sea. The blood sacri-
greater than theirs, and Lincoln, the i'm
mortal leader He raised up for us from
among the common people, was as truly
inspired as their Moses.
THE AMERICAN PAscHAL FEAST.
Memorial Day is the American Paschal
Feast. 1t is the time for calling to men,
ory what our country has cost us; how
dearly was purchased by blood and suf-
fprInQ 1ii that and apiny
and for uplifting our hearts in gratitude
to the Lord of Hosts who carried US vic
toriously through the dire travail.
Memorial Day is even more than the
remembrance of those who died that the
National might live. Its still higher value
is that of teaching the rising generation
the infinite cost of our National existence
and the sublime duty of patriotism-of
striving, suffering, daring, enduring and
dying, to preserve unimpaircd to future
generations the glorious heritage which
was bought for Americans with the lives
OF one million sons of the soil
1t is directly in line with Biblical teach
lngs that our present leadership of all the
Nations of the earth is due to our having
endured 4 fiercer trial for existence than
any other people in history. Other peo-
pie have felt that the very utmost was ex-
acted of them when their frst-born was
taken, which was not often in all his
tory. Not only our frst-born was re-
quired of us. but the second and third
also, and even the much-loved little Ben
jamin of the flock. 1t staggers the histo-
rian and the statistician to find that we
SO loved our country that actually 12a
per cent of the population of the loyal
States went forth to fight in her defense.
That means that one soldier was fur
nished out of every eight persons Of both
sexes and all ages, or one for every four
males, including old men and children.
This is a proportion of fighting men to
the whole population never approached in
any war by any people, civilized or bar
barous, In any age or country
The fighting they did, the death-scourg-
Ing they endured for their country's sake.
equally surpassed that of any other peo-
pie in all the dreary annals since the
sword began to deyour.
The famed Roman legions felt that they
had suffered to the last extremity vixen
they were "decmated"-that is. lost ore
man in every 10. It was rare that this
happened to them.
Yet out of every six men who enlisted
to fight for the Union, one was dead before
the war closed.
INTENSITY OF THE wAI.
The war is so recent a thing that as vet
we have hardly begun to comprehend its
FNNN1AK