The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-30

newspaper and also the local news OF
spontaneous origin published herein
All rights OF republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Memorial Day
Wreaths are being laid on the
graves Of the nations heroes today
in recognition Of their services and
sacrifices. Men Of all wars are in
cluded, but the origin Of the ohserv-
ance goes back to 1868 when the Civil
war still was fresh in the minds OF
the American people, with all It's Bit
terness and hatred.
At that time the terms "Yank"
and "Rebel" still were current in the
language and residents Of both the
North and South would have con-
sidered it a sort Of treason to deco
rate the graves Of men who died un-
der the flag Of the late enemy.
How far the nation has progressed
toward real spirit Of unity is illus
trated by the fact that today the
sprinkling Of Confederate veterans
who have found . resting place in
our local cemetery will find their
graves decorated with the same low
ing care that Is bestowed upon the
tombs Of Union heroes.
For Memorial Day has taken on,
with the passage Of the years. deep
national significance. It now Is the
symbol Of American unity, just as
the Fourth Of July commentaries
our national birthday. Never again.
despite sectional differences in poll
tics and economics, will this nation
resort to war to settle its disagree
ments. The graves OF men in blue
and gray alike give mute testimony
that in such . course lies destruc-
ton.
Here and there throughout the ma
ton, to be sure. there occasionally
crops up proposal to secede from
the Union. Even here in North Da-
kota, where the average OF patriotism
is as high as 1t is anywhere, such
ideas have been broached. But the
unanimity with which these sugges-
tons have been voted down proves
definitely that the men who fought
from 1861 to 1865 did not suffer in
vain. That struggle settled, once
and for all, the fact that the United
States are one and indivisible. now
and forever.
This day serves, too, as q conven-
lent period in which to check up on
the situation Of the nation with re-
gard to future wars.
It is a vantage point from which
to look forward as well as backward.
And, just as the blood and tears Of q
past generation were necessary to
bring clearer understanding and
the development Of q truly national
spirit, so does the future seem cloud
ed with doubt.
America still ranks as the wealth.
lest among all the nations. It Is
cordially hated in many parts Of the
globe for that reason. Our national
diplomacy, filled with errors and ges-
lures over long period Of years. has
not been conducive to worldwide re-
spect. The world stil is an armed
camp and there hovers always be-
fore us the possibility Of another con-
flict in which another generation Of
American boys may be asked to go
down into the valley Of shadows that
the nation may be preserved.
With all its heart America cries
out that it wants no more war. It
seeks, as best 1t can, to lead the ma
tions toward the goal Of universal
peace, but it cannot forget the pos
sibility that these efforts will be In
vain. It would like to beat its swords
into ploughshares but the simple fact
Is that It doesn't dare.
For nations learn slowly at best
and some never learn at all. It cost
the United States millions Of lives
and billions In treasure to learn the
lesson Of unity. We might think
about this even rs we acclaim the
records of the men who have distin-
guished themselves In time Of ma
tional peril.
When America, the most enlight-
ened among the nations Of the earth,
required four years Of Civil war to
settle an internal argument, what
can We reasonably expect from other
nations which approach the problem
Of world peace from the standpoint
Of deep-seated prejudice and with
thoughts only Of national advantagef
The outlook Is not hopeless but II
Is obscure and hero graves in orr
cemeteries cry out to Us the warning
to beware Of new wars but, 1t thu
same time, beware q foreign treach-
cry.
Major Tax Reform
AL unwittingly, It would seem,
North Dakotans are accomplishing .
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