Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1908-05-28
THE BOTH OF MAY.
Memories Recalled by the Great Ma
tional Anniversary.

tioDal Anniversary.
The return of this national anniversary
has a testimony to offer you. Every Dec
grafton Day witnesses a smaller number
of northern and southern veterans. The
maximum is passed; the minimum in
creases daily and annually. The flowers
upon graves and chaplets woven around
faded banners bear testimony that the
republic cannot forget her old soldiers,
can never allow them to be visited with
social contempt. Mr.. Lincoln. the great
est figure of the past tempest, declared
that the world 'Can never forget what
they did" Decoration and Deed go to-
gether. Some things may cause contrO-
versy, but when men have fought and
bled and suffered, no wordy war can sup
plant their claims On our respect.
Let two veterans meet who fought on
opposite sides, and their stories are min
gled with their tears. No warmer com
radeship, no more fraternal intercourse
could be desired. There is no more hon
orable feeling than that of one brave man
for another equally brave. To-day the
feeling will predominant, and among the
"reminiscences of strife will be the actual
ov~er-brooding preseLte of peace, good will
and loving unity.
Decoration Day is the gift of the wom-
anhood Of our land thirty or less years
ago. They gave it not with triumphant
paeans of victorious rejoicing, but amid
heartache and grief and tears were those
first graves decorated, the name bestow-
ed and the date perpetuated. If there
is a more sacred gift than that born of
a suffering woman's holy love. one does
not know it. And we are convinced that
the soldiers mother who prayed for him
in the closed room of interceSsion. and
his sweetheart and his wife who loved
him as none other did or could. will de-
mand that Decoration Day shall ever rep
resent their hearts, and it's flowers their
hopes beyond the veil, and its tears and
joy, like rain and sunshine in springs
mingling Of both, be Indicative of the min
gled feelings with which they reconse-
Grated the places where lay the dead Of
blue and of gray.
The Senates and Legislatures of federal
and State governments have decreed many
public occasions. Here is one ordained
by those whose common suffering and
charity and patience have ever redeemed
the credit Of a people, whose silence en-
hances their glory-the women of the
war, who gave US Decoration Day.
The lessons of patriotic value taught
by this day can be discerned by all. Amid
chaos the country struggled into more
permanent being. Disasters enriched her.
In strife more than in lassitude she de-
veloped her latent forces. and the red
rain of blood brought forth a harvest of
devotion immortal in our annals.
The spirit of those days was rude,
but she evoked great men to control
them, and as one surveys the list of he
roes, the question forces itself: When
shall we look upon their like again."
Peace has dangers no less great than
those of strife, and sometimes the more
10 be dreaded because the less to be dis
cerned. The rights and privileges pur-
chased for us during the past century and
8 half are ours to keep. increase and be
queath to those who come after us. Now,
shall we not act so as to earn. if not the
soldiers glorious wreath. at least Il mod
est flower of remembrance for the main
tenance of right?
For If Washington and Lincoln could
ride at the head Of every festal pro
cession in this nation on May -. they
would cry aloud "Maintain, Maintain,
Let your birthrisht, purchased in blood,
be kept in indebted security
Decoration Day bears one last word OF
testimony to our peaceful unity and soIi-