Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY

fading the recurrence of Me-
\ mortal day brings into the lime
light of public attention the national
balance sheet bearing the awful cost
of the sublime blessings of liberty and
union.
Forty-seven years ago the men and
means of the nation were sacrificed to
the demands of internecine war and
the loyal sacrifice of that day is crys-
tallized into the assurance of today.
After so many years the present
pressing and vital cares of state screen
from men now on the stage of life the
terrible ordeal of suffering of the men
of the Sixties" Lieut.. Gen. Adna r.
Chaffee of the army and Rear Admiral
Robley d. Evans of the navy are the
connecting links of the Civil War and
the present, and the thousands of vet
Grams all over the land fill in the in
spring picture.
The Civil War was waged to save
the Union and not to free the negro
and as each recurring anniversary
comes up it is well to recapitulate the
uses made of the great gift bequeathed
to the present generation.
Above the crimes of the past and
the errors of the present, however, is
the lesson of the day to the men who
shall guide the ship of state in the
future. Erring humanity may imperil,
but can never forfeit our deed of
Union If the children are taught the
true causes of the Civil War. Parents
should take children to look upon the
sadly thinned ranks of the veterans
who parade today, and teach young
Americans that what these old men
by their sufferings won for the country
still belongs to it; that they are the
heirs of the liberties of the land and
that no man or money power can dis
possess them. Teach the youth of the
nation the lessons of pure patriotism
as the founders of the republic knew
that virtue and as the veterans who
saved the Union understood it, and the
future of the United States will be safe.
The veterans must. soon break ranks
for the last time and pass out of hu-
man sight, but the lesson of Memorial
day will survive them, to teach Amer
leans the value of what their fathers
fought for and nerve them to hold in
violate the gift Of Americanism.
The hating and labored tread of the
physically weak men who march today
may not challenge applause, but the
true American will look past the de-
fn Ia
Sixties" and see again the youth and
courage of the nation embattled to
defend her and will follow the bloody
and tortuous way of the legions as
they gave of life and home for the
general good Seeing this Christ-like
altruism in the weakened bodies of the
white haired men who march, the true
American will give rein to his national
feelings and recognize the self-sacri-
ficing goodness in the hearts of these
feeble survivors of the terrible struggle
of long ago.
l. Col. H. l.. Gordon of Los Angeles,
a gallant soldier from Minnesota In
the Sixties" thus apostrophizes the
men of that period who were his COM
rades in battle:
Hail, Brothers, Haill-The setting sun
Sinks in the sea whereby I dwell;
/, | Ny day is done-my race is run,
And so is yours-and it is we'll
We totter on the brink. Alas,
Who cares, or heeds we pass?
Flushed with the fire and pride of youth
You rallied to our country's call.
And dared the death for right and truth
And did your duty-that was all.
In dreary camp, weary tramp,
With forty rounds and blistered feet,
Through thicket, fever-swamp and fen;
= On picket in the rain and sleet,
In bloody ight--in sore defeat
I You did your duty-you were men.
I The old flag huttered IN the van:
, Like men you followed where she led:
Where veterans broke and thousands bled
You faltered, omrades Mot a man!
I So let us pass with hope and trust
q And mingle with our motherdust
| Our day is done-our setting sun
Sinks in the vast. eternal sea:
So let US pass in peace and greet
Our comrades at the reveille-