The daily tribune., 1903-06-02
WHY WE DECORATE.
Continued from Yesterday.

put flowers upon the graves of those
who wore the blue. hut also on those
who wore the gray. This decora-
tion Of graves is not to perpetuate
those feelings of hate and spite that
WAS born during those dark days of
our country's history; but to per-
petuate that feeling of love that Amer
leans have each for the other.
Now. l am an Englishman by birth.
don't you think l revere this decora-
tion and love our Fourth Of July
celebration. Yes, indeed / do, as
well as the best of you, not because
the English were whipped, not because
the south laid down their arms; but
, because it celebrates the period that
made it possible for me, foreigner,
to become naturalized American and
enjoy with you the blessings of this
great America country, where is offer
ed royal welcome and home to
all who are willing to abide by and
be governed by its laws and customs,
No. my friends, this day will never
die, but viii continue as long as time
itself shall last; not because of any
our united country and 5an put aside
one day out of the three hundred and
sixty five to commemorate a period
Of national bravery both north and
south, for they were all Americans)
such as is without parallel either in
ancient or modern history.
One very attractive feature in to-
days exercises is this; there is no dis
tinction in graves-the mound that
covers the humblest soldier is treated
the same as the one that covers your
commander. The flowers are all the
same, they are the free offerings of a
free people TO all their dead alike. To
show what ! mean is this death makes
no distinction when it calls, it mat
ters not to it; shoulder straps, gold
lace or plain blne or gray all must So
So to all alike we give these beauti-
full flowers.
There is today in those mounds
yonder, no rich. no poor. no high and
no low, but comrades all who died for
a common cause, and receive from you
this patriotic observance. No north,
no south, no east, no west. but an un-
divided happy country, and now after
years of sorrow all join hands to deco.
rate the graves of Americas noble
sons who died in a common cause and
all rejoice with us in having coun-
try that is not divided, but solid in
devisable government ulder one flag,
which we all love. If any doubt the
love of country. and desire to protect
that flag within our southern brothers
just turn back few short years when
Spain and this country were in trouble
men were wanted, officers were need
ed. Did any stand back; no. but
with one accord from the south came
the soul cheering cry Here | am,
Uncle Sam, put me where you want,
only so can help protect our flag. -
And when those brave officers of the
Confederate army offered their SER
vices were they rejected No sirs,
they were not. But our martyTed
president. Mckinley. knowing their
mettle gave them positions compensate
with those held in the civil war.
There were those who questioned the
advisability of this act very much but
be trusted them and they proved that
his confidence was not misplaced.
Side by side went the old wearers of
the blue and the gray. That act
alone did more to cement the brother
ly feeling between the north and south
than anything before or since. Thank
God. that chasm is closed forever.
Methinks I sea tlam tnarchipg uida