The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-06-04

- UNDAY will be the national
Sabbath. Memorial day, as it
IL is now observed in most of the
states of the Union. is a day Of
thankfulness, patriotic thankfulness
for the preservation of the Union.
A majority Of people who on Sun
day or Monday will take part in
the strewing Of flowers on soldiers
graves are not veterans who fought in
the civil war. To those who are old
enough to remember the war its memo
ries have softened and grown calm,
it's material evidences have about all
faded from sight. To those who are
not old enough to remember the war
its events are only matters of history.
But to the old soldier Memorial day is
a day Of reflection and meditation. On
May 30 he will be thinking of events
of those stirring times as living real
tiles. Some 3Oth of May in the civil
war in all probability was to him an
eventful day. Possibly he may re-
member some event that took place on
each 3Oth of May in the war. Go back
with him in his reflection as he fancies
himself back in those old days, and
begin with the first 3Oth of May in the
civil war. 1t was tifty-four years ago.
Calm Before the Storm.
The 3Oth of May in 1861 was a sort
of calm before the storm. No great
battle had as vet been fought. Just
forty-eight days had passed since the
firing upon the stars and stripes at
Fort Sumter. The battle of Bull Run
did not take place until fifty-two days
later. People this Goth of May must
have felt that there would be a con
fict soon, but when or where no one
could foretell. 1t was a day of sus-
penSe.
Lincoln at the time had not served
three months as president. Between
the time Of his election and his inaugu-
ration seven of the southern states had
seeded. Soon after his inauguration
Virginia had seeded, and before this
Both of May Arkansas and North Caro-
lima had followed the example Of Vir-
ginia. Immediately after the fall of
Fort Sumter Lincoln had issued his
call for $4,000 troops to suppress the
rebellion.
Bull Run.
Among the northern people was a
spirit of uncertainty and doubt. They
were uncertain as to the strength and
purpose Of the south. They doubted
the ability of Lincoln, who had recent
~ been elected by a new and untried
political party. They We're uncertain
as to whether he would yield to the de-
mands Of political bosses. Lincoln was
not a trained soldier. They We're un-
certain as to whether he could succeed
In the management of his army.
But the people Of the south, on this
Both of May, We're hopeful and conf
dent. Loyalty from their point of view
meant allegiance to their states. They
held that the general government had
no right to interfere with their forma-
ton Of a new government. Their 10y
atty to their cause almost amounted
to enthusiasm. They had the best of
reasons for being hopeful and conf
dent. Their president was a trained
soldier. He had studied at West Point
and had had experience both in the
army and in the war department.
Above all things, he had the confidence
Of his people.
1t is no wonder that the people of
the south received the announcement
Of Lincoln's call for $4,000 troops with
derisive laughter and cheers. This
was on the Sd of April. On the Both
Of May their loyalty to their cause had
become more enthusiastic. This was
especially true of their younger men.
The military drill Incident to their