Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-30

Paying a tribute 10 dead comrades. =
Mrs. kInbail nud visited the south
during 1851, and she had Witnessed the
placing % llOTorS on the graves OF the
Union ana Confederate dead, Georgia,
South Carolina and other southern
states having adopted the 10Th day OF
AIril as NJ -inorIal day. When Mrs
EiI.bail returned 10 her home il Phil
hd"lphia -hl. Wrpt" Gen. Logan what
she mad ac"n in the South, and said:
"AS misunderstanding OF inc Grand
Army Of the l;cpuhlic, my dear general,
1t has been suggested to me that you
might have on heroic soldiers, whose
lonely graves are many ami unmarked
remembered in the same beautiful
VA
Zen. Logan realized that the lady's
IDEAS We're good, and after a conference
with Cen Chapman, then Il member Of
his staff, he wrote Mrs. kilnbaIl thank
ing her ion 1he suggestion ami saying
that within short time he would issue
an nld.-r designating May - Of each
year Memorial day.
Daring the presidential campaign OF
that year GhG3) Gen. Logan received
The WurlncSt praise for inauguratin3 IL
memorial day, TIE first one La wing been
more generally observed than WAS eX-
peCteui. Throughout the campaign
When The matter was referred to Gen.
Logan never hcSitated to say that the
credit was due Mrs. kimball, and that
he could only take that part which fell
10 him in his oilicial capacity Ior put
ting il into operation.
The fact That most Of the southern
states had ADOPTED a memorial day
two years before the north is almost
directly trlccablc to a speech delivered
~ Col. Andrew II. Dawson in the
Academy OF Music, Brooklyn, \. ", on
the evening of October q, 1866. Col
DaW son had been an officer in the con-
fcder|Ite army, and prior to that one
OF the best-knoWn members Of the bar
Of Savannah, Ga. When the war closed
he went TO New York to try to build
up Il practice hich would bring hack
his lost fortune, for the war had left
him almost pennileSS. In New York he
Won fame and wealth, and was recOg-
nlZed as an exceptionally brilliant
orator. In MS address at the brooklyn
Academy of Music he spoke OF the con-
ditiOn OF the country. saying that as a
soldier who holr the wounds and sears
nf battle. he had Turned his BACK upon
the animoSitieS Of an embittercd past,
and looked with confidence and hope to
the future for The establishment Of
the Union.
Let tie North ana the South meet
as friends" said Col. Dawson, "let
them share common 2riefs. sacred sor-
rows. Let the daughters Of the North
and the daughters of the South meet
with their Horal offerings annually, on
some great memorial day, on the fields
where our heroes sleep their last sleep,
and let their flowers mingle their fra
GRANGE as their tears fall together upon
the lOWly pillow Of their loved and lost.
Let them knccl together there, and let
their prayers Tor the welfare of our
common country rise as it we're on the
wings Of tho same breath, and soar to
heaven. Angels will he waiting at the
portals Of The skies to bear them to the
fcOtSt0nl of the Great White Throne;
ard the God Of our country Will hear
and answer them: fratCrnal feelings
will revisit the riven land: man will
recognize again in man his brother:
scctI nal nrciuGiceS Will pass away:
scctiunalian VIII receive the rcbukc il
deserves; and peace and prosperity,
harmony ami happiness viii crown 4
national clor. and grandeur without
paraill III the annals of ages
Col DaWSonS address was received
fIVGral " throughout the country. and
the following year the Snuth almost
universally Observed April % as mcrto-
rial or decoration day. the graves OF
those who wore the blue and those who
wore the gray being covered with
flowers