Memorial Day — A Widening Memorial

1904

Like everything else, holidays undergo a gradual change in spirit and observance. When Decoration day was first set apart many persons predicted that its observance would last only so long as the generations which knew the participants of the Civil War. It was supposed that there would be little present-day enthusiasm for decorating graves of Revolutionary veterans, no matter how great the popular admiration for their valor and sacrifices.

The change of name was wise. Memorial day is a broader term than the old one, and the significance of dedicating one day in the year to the memory of those who gave their lives for their country has been more broadly and fittingly recognized. Memorial day is coming to represent a solemn, serious aspect of our national life, just as the Fourth of July stands for the joyful and the exuberant aspect; and for a nation, as for the individual, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."

As other wars come in the long line of history, the graves of their heroes also will be decorated. There is already a tendency to hold on this day memorial services for firemen and others who fall in public service. Gradually, too, and perhaps unconsciously, the occasion has assumed something of the character of All Souls' day in Paris. Not only do we place flowers on those hallowed spots which are marked by flags, but we leave a wreath upon the graves of our own dear ones who have gone before; and this is well.

One day in the year we can appropriately give to the memory of that great army of the dead whose banners are the lily and the rose, and of which the armies of the Blue and of the Gray are but divisions. — Youth's Companion.

The Way Old Glory Goes (poetry)

1903

The Way Old Glory Goes

In sunlight or in stormy day,
With friendliness or foes.
The country's going just the way —
The way "Old Glory" goes.
Today — tomorrow — still she waves
Over earth's Freedom or our graves!

She arches earth — a rainbow's ray,
Or, when the storm-wind blows,
A beacon-blaze, she lights the way —
The way that freedom goes.
Today — tomorrow — still she waves
Over our glory or our graves.

The Fourth of July – The Spirit of American Liberty

1895

The Spirit of American Liberty

I believe the Declaration of Independence valuable not alone because it drove from our shores a foreign invasion, not alone because it established a government by a written constitution, but because it gave to the spirit of American liberty and American virtue the opportunity to erect a broad home of constitutional liberty through which prosperity was attained and no tyrant could breathe its atmosphere.

Wise as were the fathers who framed our constitution, deeply laid in political wisdom as were its foundations, it would not be worth the paper on which it is written but for the fact that it gave to us the spirit of liberty that has never died in the bosoms of Americans. — Bourke Cockran.


Every One Should Celebrate

Make the Fourth a gala day, as we have ever done, and let us celebrate it with the largest liberty practicable inside the lines of law, safety and rectitude, I do hope that in some way through all the public schools the meaning of Independence day may be brought to all the children in the land, and that to all of them it shall be so marked and so happy in its celebration that it will ever be a brightly shining star in the coronet of liberty. — General O. O. Howard.

—Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 29, 1895, page 3.

Changes in the Manner of Observing the Fourth of July

1895

READING THE DECLARATION

Changes In the Manner of Observing the National Birthday

With the late civil war began a new era in our national life. The preservation of the Union became the absorbing topic of thought among the loyal people of our land. The great national anniversary continued to be celebrated, but in a modified degree. Instead of ovations largely devoted to the apotheosis of the American eagle as the hope of the world, there were thoughtful discourses concerning the duty of every American citizen at that momentous period. The putative crimes of old King George were almost forgotten, and in many places the farewell address of Washington, the peerless plea for national union and public virtue, was read instead of the Declaration of Independence. Ever since that war the public reading of that Declaration has been less and less observed. It is well to "Let the dead past bury its dead" and to direct our energies to the strengthening of our national life. Let our boys and girls have all the innocent fun and healthful amusement on the Fourth of July and express their joy as loudly as they please. Would it not be well for their seniors to follow the example of ancient Hebrew fathers, who required their sons to come at the time of the celebration of the passover and inquire "What mean ye by this service?" and then gave them full instruction concerning the origin and significance of the great national festival? By means of such home education on our great anniversary Young America might receive valuable instruction that would stimulate and foster true patriotism. — Benson J. Lossing in Independent.


Depew's First Fourth of July Oration

Chauncey M. Depew will always associate the Fourth of July with his first attempt as an orator, this important event taking place at Peekskill when the great after dinner speaker was 21 years old. Mr. Depew had then just graduated from Yale and was not so fluent of speech as he is now. The late James W. Husted was present and also delivered an address. "Our Chauncey" remembers that for the first and only time in his life he experienced "stage fright." "The audience were very kind to me," he said, "and appeared to be very much interested, although I felt every moment that I should break down. I can still hear their cheers in my ears as I finished, but I felt nevertheless that I had made an utter failure of my first attempt. Husted made a much better speech than I did. He laid special stress upon the injustice of England. Just when the mother country was getting it the worst an Irishman in the audience called out: 'Good! Give 'em h—l, Mr. Husted! Give 'em h—l!' This incident was the only one which at all relieved my downheartedness on this occasion." — New York Press.

—Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 29, 1895, page 3.