The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-05-25
CHARLES ~. REED
Publisher
MEMORIAL DAY
PROCLAMATION
Rv the Gouarpor

w ell-nlgh three score years have
passed since our fathers took up arms
Tor the cause of the Union. That was
righteous war, holy war. 1t was
waged for unity and liberty and
human happiness. Four years the
conflict ragged. Then came the end,
and the Union was saved and the
slaves were set free. Some of those
who fought in that war are with us
yet. though a fast diminishing com
pany. Year by year their ranks grow
thinner. One by one their comrades
leave them.
For many years our people have
gone forth on Memorial Day to place
flowers on the graves of those vet
Grams of the great Civil War who have
gone beyond, and to pay a tribute of
respect to those who still remain. 1t
is a beautiful custom. May the time
never come when it shall die out. May
this generation, and the generations
yet to come, never forget what they
owe to the brave men who fought
their battles for them.
This year Memorial Day has an es-
pecal significance. With most of us,
up to this time, the observance of the
day has been more or less perfume
tory, We have scarcely realized its
meaning Today that meaning is
brought home to us through the grim
reality of war The world at war!
Three years ago we scoffed at the sug-
gestion. 1t could not be- The thing
/ 4. i'll l.. a. 4
/ happened. The great powers across
! the sea came to death-grips. Mems
! hearts melted within them. In Europe
a deep-seated earthquake seemed to
heave up the basis of civil life and
the tribunals of men, and the thrones
OF monarchs, and the temples of God
were shaken to the lowest atom Of
their structure. Still we hoped that
our own land would fare free. Neu-
trail we would remain, and go calmly
about our peaceful pursuits. 1t was
not to be. The menace to human
freedom became too frightful; and to-
| day we are at war. Our sons are
being drafted. Our daughters are en-
| listing under the Red Cross banner.
From ocean to ocean the Nation is
! girding up its loins for the fray.
This, too, is a righteous war. We
did not want war We did our best
to keep out of war; but there was no
escape from the situation. The rights
OF all neutrals were being contempt
uously disregarded The freedom Of
the seas was being denied us Amer
/ lean citizens were being slaughtered
| in defiance of international law and
all the rules of civilized war
fare. Democracy was being slowly
throttled, and our very existence as
free nation was being threatened
This ruthless war rang our a strident
challenge to our manhood. Our
cause then is a just cause. 1t is the
cause Of human freedom We stand
Eup for the rights of humanity and
fling out banner to the nations. God
grant that out of this universal con-
iiict, ont OF the sacrifice Of blood and
tears and treasure, the world may
come forth with a cleaner, purer soul
Therefore, that we may pay a
tribute of affection and esteem to the
surviving veterans of the Civil War
and OF the Spanish American War,
and honor the memory Of those who
gave up their lives in our cause |,
ALBERT +. SLEEPER, Governor
Of the State of Michigan, do hereby
issue this, my Proclamation, and sim
cere1y urge the observance Of Wed.
nesday, May thirtieth, nineteen hun
dred and seventeen, as Memorial Day
And | earnestly request the people
of our State to assemble themselves
together in their various communities,
and by appropriate public exercise and
in other fitting ways, to observe this
day as a solemn Memorial festival.
| suggest as one means of observing
the day, that bells be tolled from 12 90
o'clock noon until 1905 r. NJ, and
that all citizens stand with uncovered
heads during this period Flags should
be displayed at half-staff until noon
and then hoisted to the top of the
staff
further suggest that this day be
set apart as a day in which, so far as
possible, the ordinary courses of bust
ness shall be suspended and in which
we shall give ourselves to meditation
and prayer, imploring the God of our
Fathers to inspire us with a stead
fast faith and watchful courage, and
so to guide us, by His own wise Provi-
dencc, that we may be able to keep
for righteousness and freedom this
land which was dedicated to
righteousness and consecrated to
! freedom
Given under my hand and the
Great Seal of the State,
this eighteenth day of May,
in the year Of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and
seventeen, and of the Com
monwealth the eighty-frst.
ALBERT L. SLEEPER,