Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-30
Memorial Day.

.--.4r. 81 - 8emorsAD Oay.H '-''"t
AGAIN has come the day when from
the Atlantic to the Pacific the memory
y, our patriot dead is honored, and the
tributes OF love are placed on every
grave where 1t is known a soldier
sleeps.s Forty years have passed away
since Apponattox and the martyrdom
Of the immortal Lincoln; 40 years since
the fall Of Richmond and the grand re-
view in Washington: 40 years since the
great Grant said Let us have peace"
and the work of reuniting the bleeding
and sundered Union was begun. 1t Is a
long, long time when measured by the
standard Of our lives or by the stand
ard OF our country's lie. and yet the
nation remembers AMI IS grateful. In
spite Of the fact that L new generation
has come upon the scene and taken up
the burden OF life, in spite of the hustle
and strenuosity and matcrialism Of our
Goth century existence, our country does
not fail In observing this day dedicated
to the memory Of those who saved the
Union and purged the land Of the
leprosy Of human slavery.
In every city and villa &c and in many
OF the country towns through the North
and the West exercises appropriate to
the day are being held. Some Of the
long parades Of earlier years are given
up on account of the Increasing infirmi
ties of the veterans, Du. the graves are
covered with flowers ard flags, the
words Of loving eulogy and patriotic IN
spiration are spoken. the flags are at
half mast. the activities of business are
suspended and of all our many holidays
this is also given some Of the attributes
Of a holy day. The tendency to devote
the day to sports Is marked in many
quarters. but it is at least reassurins
that a general inclination is shown to
which will not conflict with the exer-
cises of the day. 1t is doubtless too
much to expect that spring holiday
can he kept wholly free from games and
outings and pleasures in the open air.
One Of the significant and commend
able features of the day is the partici-
patton OF the young people, and par
ticuIarly the school children, in the
Memorial exercises. This does not only
refer to tho special exercises i'm the
schools. but also to the custom. more
common In the villages than i'm the
cities. of having the children partici-
pate in the parade ard in the cere-
monies at the cemetery. These young
people. who thus learn a most impress
sive and lasting lesson in patriotism,
ROW. 1t is upon them that will fall tho
duty of carrying out the rites Of Me-
mortal day when the last Grand Army
veteran has been mustered out. 1t is
upon the boys that may fall the duty of
carrying the old flag into battle as II
was carried there BY the boys Of 81
and of bringing It home as it was
brought home in 1885, unstained and
unsullied.
Memorial day suggests many ques-
tions and impresses many lessons. The
holiday Is peculiarly American and sts
perIetuatiOn guarantees the continued
existence Of those principles which in
spired the men who saved the Union
Today the Union is truly united again
and the scars Of the great conflict are
healed. The South is as loyal to the
Union as the North, and in lts
heart there is no bitterness or
resentment. No land ever honorei
or rewarded its soldiers as this
country honors and rewards the
veterans of the Civil War, and they
deserve all that Is given them. They
have the great satisfaction Of knowing
I'm their declining years that the land
they served and saved in its hour of
greatest peril Is sincerely appreciative
and grateful. that it has recovered and
profited from the awful war. that sec
tionalism Is no more. and that the sons
are worthy Of the sirc5 and would do
their part today. should the need arise.