Show MEMORIAL DAY 1 I I Memorial Day was established for i I the purpose of honoring the memory of the departed heroes who fought and died in the struggle for what each I party to the controversy sincerely believed be-lieved to be the right Strewing their graves with flowers is a beautiful method of exhibiting regard for their bravery and their fidelity to the cause which they sacrificed their lives to i maintain 4 But in a great number of i stanc sit I s-it has been made the occasion to revive re-vive the bitterness and renew the enmity which set brother against brother and section against section filling fill-ing the land with horror and soaking the soil with human blood It has been made the vehicle of conveying partisan attacks and on the one hand I of virtually trampling on a fallen foe and on the other of breathing defiance to the conquerors or defending the righteousnessof a lost cause We would not abolish Memorial Day We would not change the custom of making it a Decoration Day Rather we would encourage the sentiment which has extended the tribute of reverence and affection for the soldier I dead to the departed generally that j the living may show they have not forgotten the dear ones who have gone before By all means keep their graves and their memory green But flowers for the dead do not comport com-port very well with neglectof the living liv-ing If there are old soldiers here or their surviving families who need help comfort food clothing kind words of sympathy and appreciation to provide for them will be doing greater honor to the veterans who have left us than garnishing their graves and leaving their relatives in want We therefore cheerfully endorse the suggestion of our morning contemporary contem-porary that measures be taken at once to raise funds arrange for the oc asion and make it a day of pleasure for the surviving relics of the civil war including in-cluding the widows and wrphans of the dead soldiers whose resting places are to bedecorated That will be substantial sub-stantial honor and practical respect to the brave It should be commenced at once |