The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-30
THE SPIRIT OF '6l.

The mercy and the favor OF God be
| rightly observe IL Upon this day tho
| people OF this magnificent Nation go
| into yearly mourning for the heroes
they have lost, and especially for those
| who gave their lives 10 preserve the
Union Of the States, The day has also
come to be a day Of decorating graves
In general and OF memories sacred TO
those who have gone before. In both
| capacities It Is a holy day for AIneri-
cans: a day when every heart is bowed.
and every tongue moved with devotion
and love for country and for the ties
of blood
1t Ia good for the people to cease for
the day their ordinary pursuits and de-
vote It to the high memories which are
appropriate 10 this occasion. It is we'll
to bathe the heart at least once year
In the rount OF patriotism, and 10 re-
call that not 40 many years ago there
were In this country hundreds OF thou
sands OF men who not merely professed
patriotic devotion but acted II; who Of
repel the irruption of tho Nations foes,
and whose blood cemented the Union
with frmness that 1t was not possi-
BILE otherwise to cement It.
The glory OF that high sacrifice. the
utmost that man can yield, lay not su-
premely In the fact that the sacrifice
was not In vain, that the Nation was
held firmly together with bonds made
indissoluble. 1t is not triumph that
decorates with the highest and most
perfect laurels the offered sacrifice; but
the poblest thing OF all Ia that there
were In the Nation the men who were
capable OF this devotion, and not only
willing but eager to lay 1t upon the al
tar Of their country. And the Nation is
secure as long as 1t has such sons who
will spring to It's defense when there is
need.
And the daughters OF that Nation:
what of them? They too. were of he
roic mold. The sacrifices were for
them, also; and right royalty did they
make them. In broken hearts, in an
guished waiting, In the sudden horror
Of the stupefying blow on the news
Of loved husband, father, brother, or
son slain on the battle line or dead Of
wounds or disease, the harrow OF af
Fiction mangled and destroyed them.
Or. did they see an opportunity to help
In nursing or In forwarding supplies,
delicacies. or cheering words. all as es-
al he fa OF
the front, they were more than eager
and effective In meeting every require
ment, even before the need had been
realized. 1t was not the men who de-
voted their lives to their country in
those days, who alone won the reward
1t was the men and the women togeth-
er who saved this Nation.
And what of the men and women of
today? Would they be found less fer
vent patriots, less devoted to their
country In Its need (God forbid that 1t
should ever again be In such needD
than were the men and women of 1860
to 1865? 1t is a glorious thing to say
that they also would be found equal to
every requirement. measuring up to the
highest ideals of patriotism and sacri-
fee. There cannot be the least doubt
about this. The same patriotism, the
same devotion would be seen over
again; the same spirit. The men and
women Of this day would be found fully
the equals Of those of that former gen
GRAFTON. And as long as this can be
said truly Of the Republic. 1t Is secure
against all assaults. either from within
or without.