The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-05-30

80 and Gentlemen and Fellow
i ens; Members of the Grand Army
or the Republic and Ladies of tn
women's Relief Corps: The day we
have met to honor is inseparable frors
the customs of our country. OF a
the various people of the earth, none
has a natal day of similar sentiment.
In a few rural districts of the Old
World g aves are decorated as a loca'
rite. ~ other nation pays this
flo al tribute to its dead. It's national
observance is recent even here. Me-
mortal Day has not yet attained the
age Of many who are now assembled
these. perhaps. christened it's birth
with the first flowers of spring. and
we're even then at the meridian OF
life. The occasion has sustained a
apid magical growth from a SIM
ole act Of loving remembrance int
he amplitude Of its splerdor. By
'atural evolution Of human sympathy
t has come to mean something more
han public veneration for the Federal
lead. That initial ceremony at the
oxen to a sold er's grave. 1t mani
sested the unforgetfulness and fond
egard of the survivors of that great
oeril. for the comrades who had fai-
'en In Their country's cause. But the
1owers they placed above the dus;
IF those who died so well. did not
ften wither in sun. before their bloom
sad crept across the way to other
raves.
The soldiers of the South had prov
IN warriors not unworthy of the
Northern steel They exhibited the
'ame valor and determination through
,ut the war: they showed the same
-pirit of humanity In every battle.
nd net their fate with the same firm
eellef of dlty done. Their cause was
ast. but twas their fortune not the'r
'ault Every exertion that men could
rake was made. but ''the end wa
What the Deity pleased" There was
othing after that to dep i've them Of
1g In the hearts of the soldiers of
he Union-of hatred. anger or revenge.
0 ga nTay their vanquished foemens'
~er't to all the honor that becomes
he brave. And soon this spirit of
,rotherly love made the lowly beds or
he Blue and Gray to glow alike with
he fairest hues of May.
The ceremony OF adovning these
raves esviftlyss61s ~oed In popular es-
sem. and on the inception of Memorial
Day. the original corps OF floral pill
rims had swelled into m ghty throng.
rhe sentiment which prompted the
1rst observance of the custom KEEP;
oace with its growth. and together
hey have rounded into this sacred
occasion which now stands In the fore.
'front.' of all our cherished annive--
-arie-.
What a conge3ial change has come
about in few fast flowing years! On
every Decoration Day the public cen
ateries are no longer half arrayed bu:
zach solemn plot Is turned into YER
nal scene. Every mound that marks
he spot where a mortal rests beneath
his country's soil is ga nished with an
equal share OF flowers. Nor does sue
general decoration mean a falling or
In kind regard for the men who fought
in defense of the Unior. Their brave
leeds are still remembered with pr de
and gratitude by this generation and
will be applauded by all posterity.
gloss. All the accumulated patriotism,
which the he. eafter holds connot make
heir memory less revered. II means
the same reverance of yore for then.
and also marks respect for each of
.heir many kindred that have passed
away. Not alone the victors. but tn
vanquished as well. not those only. so
many and 81 brave. receive the honor
which this day accoids. but crowned
with flowers and blessed with a COM
mon payer is all the nations dead
This happy expression of the oiden
truth that there is on inequality i'm
death. Is the genius OF Memorial Day.
1t endears II to the living and ded'-
Gates IL to the most distant futur ty,
The simplicity of the custom is also
an enduring quality. and therein lies
natural elegance. OF all the mani
fold ways In which humanity attempts
to perpetuate the memory of departed
mortality none is more beautiful tina
this simple use of flowers. A longing
to live In the minds of succeeding
generations seems to have been g
p' imai passion of man. To crafty
that deep desire he has sought to e~ec
memorials of his reign on earth thai
would stand against the tread of time
The rude stone at the head of Q
peasants grave. the granite shaft thai
towers above the monarchs berth
were alike des gned to secure a longer
lease on life.
Upon many of these monument: