Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-01
Editorial Comment
Something New in Memorial Day

Boston Ferald)
| There has never been quite such a
Memorial Day as this. We have all
that other Memorial Days have had,
and something more. The graves are
strewn with flowers: the surviving
old soldiers testify their devotion by
one mere answer to roll call that
scarcely browns the knell that may be
ringing for them; on the waters of
the harbor are cast the flowers that
honor the unknown sailors who went
to the bottom in the silent foundered
ships. The solemn strains of the
dirge for the heroes fill the hearts
and moisten the eyes of the lockers on.
That is familiar: it is inspiring. but II
has inspired us often. But now we
have a new thought. We are no Ion
ger passive spectators, or listeners
moved only by an emotion of graft
tude for an achieved good. We are
reminded by this annual spectacle
that a crisis has arisen in the affairs
of the nation. The soldiers of 1851
S. discharged their great duty, and
did well. We honor them today Ind
in the service that they performed.
and the way they performed it, we
see the means and somewhat of the
manner by which we may perform
our own. To the sentiment of graft
tude is added the aspiration of the
people to be made ready to discharge
our obligation to these old heroes, to
meet our duty toward them and our
duty to the flag which they so reso-
lutely defended. Devotion to the ma
tons life and safety was not in
carnated in them for good and all. 1t
is newly incarnated in us. That is
the meaning Of the present demand of
the people to be led along the path of
preparation for national defence.
1t is all a matter Of individual
realization Of the need. That realiza-
ton has been slow and little diff
cult. Everything that has happened
since the Civil War has tended to lull
the average American into a sense Of
beautiful security. Everything has
come our way Wealth has increased
easily. enormously. We have come to
regard ourselves as not only unas-
sailable but invincible. In 1898. with
a tiny effort. We pricked the bubble
of Spanish colonial dominion. 1t was
so easy-yet an empire was wiped
from the map, ana we imagined our
selves the most Irresistible Of nations.
But the events Of the last two years
have shown US that our power rela-
lively to that Of even the weakest of
the belligerents Of Europe is as much
a bubble as was the Spanish empire
eighteen years ago. Our people may
be easily lulled to a sense Of In
dividual security: hut they are not
blind. They begin to see the fact as
it is. The black shadow looms be-
fore our eyes.
Last nights great meeting at the
Boston Opera House was a pointed
expression Of the popular demand to
be ready to dischaig e the national
obligation which the citizen soldiers
of 1876 so nobly performed. The
idea was well set forth in General
Leonard Woods speech. in which he
said that Eve must begin with a
moral reorganization or organization
of the people, and must bring home
to ourselves our obligation to the ma
! ton" We have something worth de-
Tending, as these old veterans remind
us. All are acutely conscious Of that
Our need is to put ourselves in way
! to defend the great heritage. AS all
those veterans did their share-for
today we honor the conscripts Of 1864
side by side with the volunteers Of
1s61--we must be ready to do ours:
nor is there anyone who should be
excused. The duty and the obligation
of all involve the discipline Of ALL
This is the thing that we know and
feel which we have not before known
and felt This it is which makes
Memorial Day of 1915 different from
the other Memorial Days.