The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-16
MEMORIAL DAY.

struggle of seven years gave us indie
Ipendence and a National existence and
the infinitely more colossal and san
culinary struggle of four years saved
that National existence from destruc-
ton, removed a great blot from oul
Flag, purified our National life ano
gave, as Lincoln aptly expressed, "a
new birth to which, under God, is
due all our present prosperity and
greatness. 1t is seemly, it is righteous
it is vastly instructive to the rising
generation that once year we should
halt in the feverish career which pros
perity has brought to us and impress
upon the people the memory OF those
who sacrificed everything that men
everything which they at present en-
joy. The debt which the present gen.
Grafton owes to those men can never
be too strongly impressed upon the
generation of today and those which
| shall come after it. There would have
been absolutely none Of this prosperity
| if the men who constituted the armies
from 1861 to '65 had not thrown aside
all consideration of money making, all
comforts of home, and dared dangers
such as no other soldiers encountered,
in order to save the Nation. That they
did sacrifice, with such unreckoning
lavishness; that they held their coun-
try higher than any other earthly
thing, entities them to the affectionate
| remembrance, the reverence of every
one beneath the shadow of the Flag.
We cannot possibly give them too much
honor and in honoring them, in holding
them up as the highest possible pat
terms of manhood, we are doing the
very best and wisest thing to assure
the perpetuity of our Government and
take proper precautions against re-
| currence of such disasters in the fu-
ture.
The sentimental considerations in
volved in Memorial Day will be abund-
antly set forth by writer's as the day
approaches, but there is another more
lost sight of. This is Government of
the people, for the people and by the
people, but in order that it shall exist
| it is absolutely necessary that there
shall always be sufficiency of strong,
able, resolute men, who will stand
firmly for it, even to the death, fight
with unfailing courage for its preser-
walton and overcome all who, no mat
ter under what pretext, shall attempt
to overthrow 1t or to diminish in any
way the things which make for its
greatness.
Other nations have persisted for lack
of this. They have, as the historians
say, died on account of the death of
the National spirit. That is. in times Of
trial they have lacked men who were
willing to fight and die to maintain
them. We can only avoid calamity
like this by the sedulous cultivation of
everything that will make for the Ma
tional spirit. We must educate the ris-
ing generation and pass the lesson on
to the future that under God the exist
ence of this Nation is the most sacred
of all earthly things. That, whenever
it is assaiIed it is the supreme duty of
every man to unhesitatiHgly go to its
defense, no matter what considerations
of home, business and other allure
ments, and fight, if necessary. to the
death, to preserve unimpaired that
which his fathers gave everything to
secure. This is no idle danger
In the years preceding 1861 our
fathers thought that the Government
was as secure as it now is; that all dam
ger of war was as remote as we today
think it. Few could be made to believe
that such mad act as the firing on
Fort Sumter would occur. Yet the
cloud no larger than mans hand
which appeared on the horizon speed
lily became the most terrible of war
clouds and before it was dissipated by
the sunlight of peace 100000 Ameri-
cans were in their graves.
Whatever we may do to impress Me-
mortal Day upon the minds of the ris-
ing generation; whatever we can say
to instil into their hearts the sense of
loyalty to the death to our Flag. will
bear most abundant fruit in all the
years to come in securing peace, sta
bility and prosperity to this country. 1t
is every American citizens duty to help
make the most of Memorial Day. II
does not matter whether he is represent
ed in any cemetery by relative or not
1t is for his own selfish interest, and
that he and his children and his chill
dren's children may continue to sit in
peace and comfort under his own vine
and fig tree, that he shall join with the
rest in doing all that he can to make
Memorial Day profoundly impressive
upon the hearts and minds of every
one.
|
been giving considerable attention to