Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day. . day Of revelation
II We will but see, some CLEANS Of
which shine into every hamlet II
not into every household through
out the land! One must be blind
indeed entirely to miss their light
to be altogether oblivious Of the
thought expressed by Roosevelt:
I'VE are tho richer for valor dis
played alike by those who fought
80 valiantly for the right. and by
those who. no less valiantly. fought
for what they deemed the right.
We have in US nobler capacities
for what IL great and good because
of the infinite woe and suffering
and because Of the splendid ult-
mate triumph"
Only the other day our President
speaking at the Confederate Memorial
Day observance said: TT was Lin
coin who pointed out that both sides
prayed to the same God. When
that II the case. It 10 only . matter
Of time when each will seek q COM
mon end. We can now see clearly
what that end is. It II the main
tenancs Of our American form Of
government, of our American in
stitutions. and Of our American
ideals, beneath q comon nag. and
under the blessings Of Almighty
God" I'VE see and we obey.
A mightier force than ever fol-
lowed Grant has levelled both their
hosts. raised up a united nation,
and made US all partakers Of o new
glory"
Wonderful heritage! It would be
sacrilegs to neglect It. depriving
ourselves Of inspiration from the
glorious spirit revealed In the right
full observance Of the occasion. How
little 10 many Of us may ever
realize the sacrifice Of all that men
held dear save honor and love Of
country. ana which seems to have
been required to make possible the
splendid revelationl
May We not miss very important
part Of It all on such an occasion
a. this. IL we overlook the
Significance of the wonderful truth
that time has developed: that those
who sacrificed, suffered. each for the
faith that was in him. even died in
agony. need not have SO suffered
and died could they have foreseen
that ultimately North and South
would reach a common conclusion"
could they have foreseen and
striven then to a common end?
We say It was not to be. but Is
It never to be that through better
understanding. by farther seeing into
the future. into the heart Of things,
by deeper. wider comprehension. by
the uplift of enlightened sympathy
we may arrive at the common con.
clusion other than by war? Surely
the refining fires Of sacrifice win
burn brightly enough in our lives
II we are not subjected to the con-
Migration Of war. Certainly It is
q contamination Of comprehension
devoutly to be sought. and at
q time like this the truth. the
startling fact that. after four years
Of terrible warfare and sixty years
Of better understanding. those who
fought have arrived at q common
conclusion. should take root in the
mind Of Americans.
Our schools and the published
word have made II possible for this
generation to follow the develop
ment Of this country. step by step.
Reviewing II. and what better oc-
casion than this on which to do 90.
we are impressed by the evidence
Of q great purpose to make Of us q
greet people for q great influence in
the world. It IL treason to ignore
this in the light OF the truth re-
vealed.
There are thoughts which should
b laid In our minds ~ reverently
as We lay the tribute Of flowers in
memory Of those who have passed
on. Flowers win bloom another
year: their fragrance viii perfume
the air Of the days to come. but the
measure Of our delight In them will
depend upon our capacity Of ap.
probation. We must not lose It.
we must not permit It to shrivel
and be Of little significance to US. a.
thus We win have lost something
very precious. It was Pascal who
concluded: "Ths world Il satisfied
with words. Few appreciate the
things beneath" Words invite at
tention to Memorial Day: appre-
citation must proceed from US. May
We have e In abundance.