The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-30
United Daughters
 0 1he Confederacy

no name or place among the nations of the earth. Legislatie enactments may not be made to do honor to their mem ories, but the veriest radical that ever traced his genealogy back to the decK of the Mayflower. could not refuse us the simple privilege of paying honor to those who died, defending the life. hon. or and happiness of the Southern wo- men,"
 In order that the lofty courage of this patriotic appeal. which reflected the unbending character of the South ern woman, may be appreciated at this late day, 1t must be recalled that 1t was written at time when Georgia was under the most oppressive and suspicious military rule: when even a breath of Confederate sentiment invit- ed the eagle eye of some suspicious military despot.
 The suggestion met with prompt and loving approval, showing that 1t had . been nurtured in the breast of the wo- men of the South since the first soldier fell at Manassas, and the 26th day of April became. throughout the South u holy day. Here and there we observe a caution. born of extreme creedlsm, that would seem to indicate a lack Of confidence in the sanctity of the day, (the sacrilegious departure that chang es the date when it falls on the Sab bath,) but the truth and the beauty of the day Is exemplified only when 1t IS observed on the date fixed, without re- gard to the day of 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 oc- casionaI departure Is all that interfereS with It's consistent and universal ob- serance in the South. This exalted view of the day is so dominant in Georgia. that the heads of the different institu- tions of learning In this state, In an swer to suggestion, have discontinued
 college athletes as sacrilegious sport. Memorial day is more sacred, throughout the South than any legal holiday.
 Decoration Day.
 'Decoration Day" is of a Northern origin and application. It was evident ly suggested by the Southern movement, as 1t was neer generally observed in The day and its purposes are best de- scribed in the Encyclopedia Americana, vol. VI:
 Decoration Day. a legal holiday in all the states except Idaho, for dec0rat ing the graves of soldiers killed in the civil war. whether fin national or pri- vate cemeteries. The custom of "Mc-
  originated with the Southern States, and was copied scatteringly. and on different days, in some of the Northern cities, all in the spring, for natural req sons. On the 5th of May, 1868 Gen John A. Logan, then commanderin chief of the grand army of the repub- lie, issued an order, appointing the 30th of May. of that year. for grand army service. in so decorating graves; choos- ing that day possibly, as being the volunteer of the war. Since then all the states have adopted 1t singly. there being no national law on the subject"
 The above Is erroneous as to the adoption of Decoration Day by all the states. While the graves of union sol diers are decorated wherever found, largely by treasury appropriation, the Southern States. as such. have only adopted Memorial Day, the observance of which is made sacred by the vol untary offerings of the home. In ccr- tain localities of the South where cli- matic conditions retard the birth of spring, more suitable days are selected, generally with a view to commemorate ing some battle, but in each case car rying out the idea of Memorial Day.
 It does not appear from Mrs. Will Hams letter, or any authentic paper that there was any special reason for selecting the 26th of April. and we may therefore assume that 1t is merely co-incident that date was determined upon which represent sthe anniversary of the last death struggle of the Con- federacy.