The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-05-05

NJ. BlaCK0urn an article IN which the
history Of the two days Is clearly set
forth.
Mr.. Blackburn's article follows:
ITO the Ladies' Memorial Associa-
tion: In answer to the honor i'm
piled In your request that prepare
an article, defining the difference be.
tween Memorial day and Decoration
day. In order that these days may
never be confounded by the children
Of the South, it gives me pleasure to
submit the following, as the truth OF
history
Memorial day is of Southern or
the day initiative, when honor Is done
to patriotic soldiers, who fought and
fell in defense Of q cause as sacred rs
heaven Is just. 1t was adopted more
than two years before Decoration
day was even suggested In the north.
THE incident that suggested this
epiphany Of the Southern cause is one
that adOrns q distinct page in the
glowing volume which has made his
toric the Southern character, accent
uating the couplet.
p" The tenderest are the truest,
The loving are the daring
a number of ladies' representing
the Soldiers Aid Society, of Colum-
bus, Ca, visited on March 12, 1859,
Linwood Cemetery, t. give a spring
dressing to the graves Of Confederate
soldiers. While thus attending this
duty they observed the little daugh.
ter OF Mrs. Williams gathering wild
flowers and placing them on the
graves OF the unknown Confederate
dead. Thus the immortal suggestion
OF organized remembrance was given
to these loyal Southern women by the
inhorn patriotism OF little child :;
Memorial day had its origin in the
Impulse that gave birth to the Con-
federate cause; Innocent devotion
to the Southern home.
"On returning to their homes
| these true Southern women decided
that day to organic, the first Memo
rial Association that was instituted
In the South, and with a view to
making it general, Mrs. Mary Ann
Howard Williams gave her name, and
the names OF her associates to glory,
by addressing letter to The Coum-
| ooo l-hSoj VIII ONCl IelIulu Il
part CT the impershable service
From this eloquent appeal l extract
the following stirring sentences
The ladies are now and have
been for several days, engaged in the
sad, but pleasant duty Of ornamenting
and improving that portion OF the
city cemetery sacred to the memory
OF our gallant ConSederate dead but
we feel 1t is an unfinished work, un-
less day be set apart annually for
Its special attention. We cannot
raise monumental shafts and in
scribe thereon their many dee6sof he.
roism, but we can keep alive the
memory OF the debt we owe them, by
dedcating at least one day In each
year to embellishing their humble
graves with flowers.
Let the soldiers graves for that
day at least, be the Southurn mecca,
to whose shrine her sOrro wing women,
!, like pilgrims, may annually bring
their grateful hearts and noral offer.
ings. When we remember the thous
ands who were buried with their
martial cloaks around them," with
out Christian ceremony Of interment,
, we would invoke the aid OF the most
thrilling eloQucnce throughout the
land, to inaugurate this custom, by
, delivering on the appointed day, 26th
day of April, this year, eulogy on
J the unburied dead Of our glorious
} Southern army. They died for their
country.
The proud banner, under which
they rallied in defense OF the holiest
, and noblest cause for which heroes
, ever fought, or trusting women
prayed, has been furled forever. The
country for which they suffered and
died has now no name or place among
the nations OF the earth. Legislative
enactments may not be made to do
honor to their memories, but the
} -verleStJAdlcal- thaat t. u7C-- zoo iii lis
geneao!ogY back to the deck OF the
MAY flower, could not refus. us the
simple privilege OF paying honor to
those who died, defending the life,
honor and happiness of the Southern
women"
Ia order that the lofty courage Of
this patriotic appeal, which reflected
the unbending character OF the
Southern woman, may be appreciated
at this late day, 1t must be recalled
that 1T was written at time when
Georgia was under the most oppres-
sive and suspicious military rule ::
when even breath OF Confederate
sentiment invited the eagle eye Of
some suspicious military despot.
The suggestions met with prompt
and loving approval, showing that it
had been nurtured In the breast OF
the women Of the South since the
first soldier fell at Manassas, and the
10th day Of April became throughout
the South, holy DAY. Here and
there we observe caution, born of
extreme crecdism, that would seem to
indicate lack OF orhdepce in the
sanctily OF the day the sacriligious de.
parture that changes the date when
1t falls on tie Sabbath), but the
truth and the beauty OF the day IS
exemplitied only when 1t Is observed
on the date fixed, without regard to
the day CT the week on which 1T may
fall. In truth the Sabbath Is the
only day OF the week that comports
with so holy an observance. This
OCCASIONAL departure is all that inter
feres with It's consistent and univer
sal Observance in the South. This
exalted view Of the day is so domi-
nant in Georgia that the heads OF the
different institutions OF learning
| in this State IN apouor 70 c,,,,