The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-06
THE SPIRIT OF MEMORIAL DAY

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In contrast with what occurred In a
Pennsylvania town on federal memo
rial day, an account of which was pub
lished in yesterdays Messenger. we
give the following from the New YORK
Sun of an account of the memorial adj
dress by Ex-Governor Beaver, of Penn
sylvania:
The best Memorial Day address was
made by an alien. General Cronie. the
Boer veteran. who surrendered his
shattered force at Parde burg to 4 SUI
perior %enveloping British army
commanded by England's greatest
soldier. To the children who say him
decorating the graves of soldiers In
Greenwood cemetery the Did hers
said: "Children. when Won place How
ers or the graves CT men who fought
and died for their country. remember
tina although war is often necessary.
it is the most dreadful thing on earth"
Another address which breathed the
right spirit was that of James Adams
Beaver. of PENNSYLVANIA. formerly
governor. whose family. Of Huguenot
descent. a furnished soldiers for
every American war Stree the middle
Of the eighteenth century. General
Beaver was the orator of the day in
the national cemetery dedicated by
Lincoln in an immortal speech on No
vemner 10, 1863. gettysburg. and all
for which it stands said General
Beaver. is the common heritage Of ali
our people. Was there Eeroism here
1t was American heroism. Was there
devotion here? 1t was devotion to
principles-no less honest. no less sin
cere. no less profound on the part IF
the men who wore the gray than on
the cart of those who wore the blue.
Was there endurance here? Tell me
who excelled in endurance. a you
tell me, after seeing it or after read
ing it. that the men who charged
across yonder valley from Seminary
Ridge TO Cemetery Hill had less of en-
durance than those who withstood the
shock of that mighty charge? Let not
him who wore the blue Judge and
condemn the man who wore the gray.
for in sincerity of conviction. in de-
votion to duty. in endurance and in
all the manly virtues that tend to
make men u there was no differ
ence."
And then General Reaver paid q
beautiful tribute to Robert E. Lee. He
imagined Lee pacing the al of
his home at Arlington. in sight of the
flag IF his country waving over the
Capitol at Washington on the further
hank of the Potomac. a prey to a men,
tai struggle which wrung his soul
The more we learn of the character
OF General Lee" said the orator. and
the more closely we observe his con-
duct after the surrender of his army
ut Appomattox. the more we can I'M
darstand the motive which Influenced
him and those who. like him. severed
the allegiance to their country and
turned their back upon it's flag. which
they undoubtedly loved and cast their
lot with what was at best On expert
ment. and what to nan of them was
from the first a doubtful one. Lee
severed the associations of a lifetime.
He surrendered the practical certain
ty of the command Of the army of the
United States and went out from his
home not knowing whittier he went,
uncertain as to the way by which he
would journey AMI least of all assured
CT what the final result would be.
Was ever a decision so momentous
more reluctantly reached Have we
fairly weighed and given due credit
for h considerations of duty. unten-
able as we. regard them. which com
PEELED such q decision ?"
The spirit of Memorial Day. inspir~
ing the orator and reflected in COM
memorating act and celebration.
should be the spirit Of peace. sympa-
tny, Justice ana COlefttJ1On. ClOr11cd-
ton Of war. militant pride. question
ing of motives. cenSure of an hOnora-
BILE foe and. above all. national boast
ing. should have no place in Memorial
Day exercises. "FOur hundred CraW-
ford county boys. said another ora
tor yesterday. followed me to the
fields of battle. which they made glo-
rious by their valor." The sentiment
would be more appropriate at a regi-
mental reunion. 1t vas not the spirit
that breathed in the address of the
gallant Beaver. the most indomitable
of Pennsylvania's soldiers. returning
to field after field still weak from his
wounds but among tho first when
was made to do justice to the
motives Of the Confederate soldier and
to admit his equal courage and fOrti-
tude. Side by side from a house in
Brooklyn Yesterday the Union Stars
and Stripes and the Confederate Stars
and Bars We're displayed by an Ala
bama veteran. and the act was not
resented. for it showed the true Me
mortal Day spirit. From the house of
a Southern IN in another state
tht same flags were waving, but on the
Deremptory demand OF a Grand Army
post the Confederate colors were taken
down.
Immigration as a Factor.
Pv q crria,rc .oipciIonaa We -