The National tribune., 1906-08-30
Memorial Day.

Editor National Tribune: Every now
and then the suggestion comes from
some quarter that Memorial Day be
abandoned. and that all Memorial SER
vices be combined and held upon Me-
mortal Sunday.
cannot believe that such a proposal
as this VIII be very seriously considered
at Encampments or anywhere. So far as
have heard veterans of the war ex-
press themselves their sentiment is over
whei'ningly against any change from
the present established arrangement.
1t would be a matter for profound
regret IL such a change as Is proposed
should be made. and this for the fol-
lowing among other reasons:
In the first place. To abandon Memo
rial Day would be to limit and contract
our Memorial services within bounds
too narrow for the great purposes for
which these services are designed.
We have now our beautiful and ap-
propriate service OF Memorial Sunday.
In which religion and patriotism are
combined. the emphasis being placed
upon the religious element of our Me-
mortal time. This service should be
quiet and reverent without bands or
noise. with no parade or spectacular
display.
We have now. too. our services OF
Memorial Day, in which also patriotism
and religion are combined. but with the
emphasis placed upon the patriotic
phases of Memorial time. In these SER
vices we want bands and parades and
decoration, with the Stars and Stripes
thrown everywhere to the breeze. In
this service. too, we want our orators to
be free to take a wider range of thought
n III ire NFtNa
pirate on the Sabbath. This day Is de-
voted at once to the tender and hallow-
ed remembrance OF our sleeping COM
rades and to a Joyous festival over the
mighty victory which was won. through
the sacrifices of the dead and the living,
for our country and for human kind.
To abolish Memorial Day would mean
either to crowd into the Sabbath what
Is not appropriate to the day or to
crowd out OF our Memorial services
what Is needful to give full expression
to the memories they are designed TO
perpetuate and the lessons they are de-
signed to teach; doubtless II would re-
suit in both these evils.
In the second place. Memorial Day
has history. For nearly 40 years the
sacred memories and associations grow
ing out of the war for the Union have
woven themselves about the 30th of
May and into its services. II has be-
come day beloved and honored; day
Of special sacredness not only to the
veterans. but to the thoughtful and pa
triotic people of the country. It has
been made a legal holiday by every
Northern State. believe. except one
Idaho.
Our banks, our post offices and mul-
titude of our business establishments
are closed on this day in Difference to
its deep significance and to participate
in its services. The tender recollections
which 1t awakens. the patriotic feeling
which 1t quickens and the lofty duties
which IL inculcates give il a value be.
yond estimation. 1t would be an irre-
parable loss to tear this day out of our
National life. 1t Is true that holiday
sports are intruding upon the proper
observance of this day; but they are
also intruding worse still upon the
Fourth of July. They are intruding up
on the Sabbath. 1t is not by change
OF day that we shall prevent the intru-
sion Of sports. but by change OF public
sentiment.
We should certainly all work persist.
emily for such a change in public senti.
ment as will bring about more rever-
ent attitude toward the days set apart
for religious and patriotic observance;
and we shall find that the most effec-
tive work which we can do to this end
will be to keep on observing these days,
making our services as full and impress
sive as possible. not allowing ourselves
to be too greatly disturbed by the In
difference of SONS or the encroachment
of others. The best public sentiment is
in sympathy with us and can be counted
upon to cooperate with US. >
To repeat. then. both these days. Me-
mortal Sunday and Memorial Day, have
become sacred days to the veterans and
t0 the DeOple We need them both Let
us keep them both. and observe them
faithfully. to keep alive, in the broad
est, fullest and most impressive manner
possible the memories of our great
struggle for existence and of the great
army of the dead who bore their part
in it-Joel NJ. Seymour, Alliance, o.