Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 28, 1901.
MEMORIAL DAY.
An Appeal for the Proper Observance of the Sacred Occasion.
The following communication recently appeared in the columns of the National Tribune is reprinted at the request of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R.:
Editor National Tribune:
The desecration of Memorial Day has been growing in the West for several years until it has reached a point when the old soldiers feel that the rising generation are likely to lose sight of the purposes for which the day was set apart; also something of the same sentiment pervades the East. We see by the daily press that the day is generally observed throughout the East as a festival day, and we think it probable that the sentiment of the following address will meet the approbation of your readers everywhere:
To the Public:
FELLOW CHRISTIANS, PATRIOTS AND COUNTRYMEN—Allow us with kindly pleadings to recall to your minds the fact that at the instance of the surviving soldiers of the civil war, the 30th of May, called Memorial Day, was set apart as the anniversary of the death of Union soldiers, to be observed with appropriate ceremonies.
The grateful people of a republic, through its congress, made this day a legal holiday in order that the surviving comrades, families and relatives of deceased soldiers and patriotic citizens with their families might be free to participate in processions and the solemn ceremonies of the one day dedicated to our heroic dead.
Memorial Day, therefore, is a hallowed national holiday, exclusively provided that a grateful people may extend more tenderly and universally its righteous remembrance to its noble dead, thus recognizing that our national splendor has its root in a soldier's grave.
Through the thoughtlessness of youth, the greed of gain and the pleasures of debauch, Memorial Day is being more and more changed from its original intent and devoted to base purposes. To such an extent has it been prostituted, that its hallowed friendships, its reverence for the dead and the sanctity of the graves it honors have been so disregarded and dishonored that a Federal degeneracy of patriotism is imminent, together with the loss of all sense of sacredness of human feelings and sacrifices.
Races of all kinds, ball games, theaters, card parties, dances, banquets and the like on this National funeral day are as great an offense against good taste and patriotism as for children, or other members of a household, to turn from the funeral oration and grave of a dead father to similar revelries.
The boys ought to stop playing while the father's funeral is taking place, and not make a gala day of an occasion, when even the leaves sing a requiem and the flowers yield their choicest perfume for the nation's dead. A Republic which does not frown upon its citizens, whether chief magistrate, tramp or vagabond, who prostitutes things sacred and holy, will soon fall by reason of the weakness caused by its own moral corruption.
The use of Memorial Day as a day of revelry is an affront to the living soldier and to the widows and orphans of the dead, whose virtues we rehearse as we uphold the cause to which they gave the fullest measure of their devotion, when on that day we decorate their tombs, remembering that our liberty tree draws its life from hearts that once were happy with us in our country's service.
We feel that a patriotic public, to say the least, should refrain from countenancing, by either presence or words, such prostitution and desecration of patriotism, death and the grave, and we are convinced that the toleration of such invasion indicates and entails the degeneracy of our country, and is a menace to its liberties and perpetuity.
The public should respect the rights of that solemn procession, which with suppressed weeping, breaking hearts and sad memories, is marching all day long to our country's cemeteries to honor our heroic dead.
Unless the sacredness of Memorial Day can be maintained, it were better that it were stricken from the calendar as a National holiday.
For these reasons we, a remnant of those who in the dark and bloody days from 1861 to 1865 stood shoulder to shoulder and touched elbows on the firing line, or were wasted by wounds, disease or horrors of prison pen, that a "government of the people, by the people and for the people might not perish from-the earth," appeal to the press, the pulpit, and the patriot to assist us in stemming the tide of desecration of the day dedicated to the memory of our nation's dead, to the end that the purposes of Memorial Day may be maintained and the youth of our country educated in all those heroic virtues that shall qualify them for the exalted duties of American citizenship.
We, therefore, request all Posts of the G. A. R., department of Kansas, to adopt this memorial, the newspapers of the state to publish it, the teachers of all our schools and colleges to cause it to be read before their schools, and the Christian ministers of the state to read it to their congregations, and we earnestly hope that young and old will for all time refuse to be partakers in or patrons of desecrations of Memorial Day.
Adopted by the unanimous vote of Lincoln Post, No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic, at Topeka, Kan., May 4, 1901.
J. M. Milne,
J. G. Wood, Commander, [Grover Post]
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| Senator John L. McLaurin. |
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| Senator Benjamin R. Tillman. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
South Carolina Senators.
A peculiar condition of affairs exists in South Carolina. Both its senators have resigned and both are to go before the people asking for re-election. The term of Senator Benjamin R. Tillman expired March 3, 1907, and that of Senator John L. McLaurin March 3, 1903. The resignations were the result of impulse and bluff and one thing leading to another till neither felt that he could back down with honor.
Some of the friends of Senator McLaurin and others who wished to hear his views on great national questions arranged a meeting for him at Gaffney. Senator Tillman was later invited by the county executive committee to speak. He had been "hankering," he said, to get at McLaurin, and through his individual efforts a joint debate was arranged. Tillman excused his participation in the meeting when he was not a candidate by saying that he was recognized as a leader in his State, and be considered it his duty to appear before the public and warn them when traitors and hypocrites appeared before them. He thereupon made a vicious attack on McLaurin. The latter replied by exposing the inconsistency and demagogism of the pitchfork statesmen, much to the delight evidently of a considerable majority of the audience.
Finally Mr. McLaurin asked: "Why does not Tillman offer to resign if I'm elected? He says if I'm elected, the people will repudiate him, No! You'll not find Benjamin resigning. He is not that sort." Tillman, who was sitting near, sprang up and said: "I'll resign right now, if you will, and we will go before the people together." Senator McLaurin said he was willing. It was thereupon agreed that both senators should resign on Nov. 15, and make a joint canvass of the state.
Both men are Democrats, but they represent an entirely different element in the party and are decidedly antagonistic. Tillman is a representative of Populism and all the vagaries of Bryanism, and is distinctly conservative, while McLaurin is patriotic and progressive and an earnest advocate of policies that will build up the state and add to its wealth and commercial importance. McLaurin was in favor of the ratification of the treaty with Spain which ended the war, but Tillman was not; McLaurin is in favor of a protective tariff and the upbuilding of the merchant marine by appropriations from the Federal treasury, but Tillman opposes both policies, but apparently for no other reason than that they are advocated by the Republican party.
McLaurin has not "gone over to the Republicans," but he is no longer a moss-back and a Bourbon. Senator Tillman is a character, with a capacity for vituperation and abuse which is likely to make lively times on the stump. That he is a power in the state is evident by the way in which he has dominated its politics during recent years. At the same time he has made many enemies, and if some of them do not avail themselves of the present opportunity to "get even" they will be almost more than human. McLaurin has the advantage of standing for issues that appeal to the progressive and enlightened element of the South, and fighting in such a cause will be likely to command much sympathy and support from those weary of the Tillman regime.
The election laws in South Carolina are peculiar. The Democrats hold primaries in which they indicate their preferences for candidates, and the legislature elects those who show the greatest popular strength. In addition, there is the requirement that each man who solicits the support of the people must specify the office be wants. The result of the resignations is that either Tillman or McLaurin will retire permanently from the senate. There is the additional possibility that both may be retired. The governor, for example, may make appointments immediately, which would hold till the next regular meeting of the legislators, and as he desires to go to the senate himself, he may do what he can to block the plan of the two senators to have the issue between them fought out at once. The probabilities, however, seem to be that Tillman and McLaurin will be the only candidates for the long term in the senate, that there will be half a dozen candidates for the short term, and that the people will express their preference this fall.
◘ Thomas A. Edison, the inventor, has discovered a cement which can be made at a small cost. The discovery, according to Edison, promises to revolutionize the construction of houses. The cement can be made into a liquid and poured into a mould of a house. After a few days the cement solidifies. Edison says the work can be done with few men and that "small palaces" can be had for $10 a month.
SIDE WALK GRADES
The Subject of Discussion Before Board of Public Works.
The adjourned meeting of the [Cortland] board of public works that was called for last evening, lacked one member of a quorum, consequently no action was taken in the matters that were to have come before the meeting.
A large number of residents of the east side of Church-st., with officers of the First Baptist and the Universalist churches came before the members who were present to demur against the sidewalk grade recently established between Railroad-st., and Clinton-ave., on that side of Church-st. The grade given raises the walks between these points from three to nine inches and it was their plea that this would necessitate a great deal of filling in with dirt at a large expense, and that it would be three or four years before the lawns could be placed in the presentable condition that they are now in. They also urged that the walks are built on a plot of ground owned by the Presbyterian church, which extends all the distance from that church to Clinton-ave., abutting on the lots on the east side of the street and extending out into what is used for highway purposes to within 1 foot of the Traction company's tracks, being 4 rods in width. This, they claimed, was deeded to the church for the purpose of a park.
It was proposed by the committee that the walks on that side of the street should be brought up to a grade with the walks at the corner of Railroad-st., and the walk in front of the Universalist church, the engineer's grade to hold good in case of any desired change in the future by the city officials in regard to these walks. This was thought favorably of by the members of the board who were present and they will so report to the board for its consideration and action in the matter. This grade will call for the walks between the two churches to be raised about 3 inches. It was mutually agreed among the property owners from that section of the street that they would widen the sidewalk to 6 feet the entire distance from Railroad-st. to Clinton-ave.
NEW VAULT AT CLERK'S OFFICE.
Will be Fire Proof and a Place of Deposit for Papers.
A new fire proof vault is being built in the basement of the county clerk's building for the overflow of papers from the clerk's office. The vault when completed will be 20 feet long and 15 feet wide and about 7 feet high. The bottom of the vault will be covered with cement, as will also the whole of the basement. A table will be placed in the vault for the conveniences of those who wish to make searches. The vault will make a safe place of deposit for the overflow of papers, and the plan is the result of County Clerk O. D. Patrick's suggestion. Room had to be made for these papers and it looked at one time as though an addition would have to be built at the rear of the building for this purpose at a heavy expense. This plan provides necessary room at a small expense. It is quite probable that, with other improvements at the clerk's office, some steel cases may be placed in the back office of the ground floor.
A. M. MATHEWSON
Died Sunday Night at His Home in Marathon, N. Y.
Mr. A. M. Mathewson died Sunday night at his home in Marathon after an illness of only three days from heart difficulty. He had been troubled with this disease for some time, but had not been confined to the house till three days before.
Mr. Mathewson was born fifty-five years ago in the town of Triangle, Broome county. He served with credit in the Union army in the civil war for three years and at the time of his death was drawing a pension of $8 per month. He was admitted to the bar at Saratoga in 1883 and practiced law for a time in Upper Lisle. Afterward he came to Marathon, which has since been his home. In 1896, John H. Miller purchased his law library and good will and since that time he has not engaged very extensively in his profession. He was a familiar figure in the streets of Marathon and had a good word for every one and will be missed from that community.
He is survived by his wife and three children: Marion C. Mathewson of Cortland, Edward S. Mathewson, a student of Cornell university, and Miss Lydia S. Mathewson.
The funeral will be held at the Universalist church in Marathon tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock and the burial will be in Upper Lisle.
Died in Binghamton, N. Y.
Undertaker E. C. McEvoy was called to Binghamton yesterday to take charge of the remains of John Madden who died in that city Sunday evening at 8 o'clock. The remains arrived in Cortland on the 4:43 train last night and were taken to the home of his brother, Michael Madden, 125 Railroad-st. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock at the house and at 9:30 o'clock at St. Mary's church. Burial in Cortland.
THE LOAN EXHIBITION
Conducted in the Cobb Building by the Local Chapter of the D. A. R.
The loan exhibition of colonial and revolutionary relics began this afternoon in the new store in the Cobb building. Here is a great exhibition, far beyond the anticipation of the projectors. Among the articles are many from the valuable collection of Miss Hathaway of Solon, as well as from other places nearby. McGraw has come out with many articles of interest and value. Among the interesting relics are a chair that came over in the Mayflower, a chair that belonged to George Washington and a chair that is over 200 years old besides a host of other things. One of the witches left-over from Salem has been found and will be present with all her brooms. She will be prepared to tell fortunes. Admission 15 cents. The exhibition will remain open through tomorrow evening.
Served with an Injunction.
Mr. G. M. Houghton of the City Steam laundry has served an injunction on Benj. Burdick, formerly a driver in the employ of Mr. Houghton, restraining him from further engaging in the laundry business in this city or in Homer, such action on the part of Mr. Burdick being claimed by Mr. Houghton to be in violation of a contract between them. The injunction was granted by County Judge J. E. Eggleston through Attorney E. C. Alger.
Mr. Burdick, who has since leaving the City Steam laundry been engaged to drive a delivery wagon for another laundry in the city is understood to claim that his contract with Mr. Houghton was that he would not engage in laundry business in Cortland and he does not understand that the simple driving of a horse for the purpose of picking up work for others to launder and that the delivering of such work again is a violation of the contract. The courts must now decide whether or not it is a violation of the agreement.
DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Abridges Rights of Citizens and Takes Away Property Right.
NEW YORK, May 28.—The act of the last legislature against ticket scalpers in this state was declared unconstitutional yesterday by Justice Gildersleeve of the supreme court. The case was that of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, against Chas. Weil, a scalper who sold tickets of the road. The justice said that the new law abridges the constitutional right of citizens to do business and takes away the right of property in the ticket.
"Joshua Simpkins."
"Joshua Simpkins," a four act New England play, will be performed at Cortland Opera House Friday, May 31. The climax of stage realism, it is asserted, has been reached in the presentation of the stirring sawmill scene in Joshua Simpkins, and will be seen in this city by a peculiar mechanical contrivance which has never been introduced here before. This sawmill scene is claimed to be a vast improvement over many attempts in a similar line. The company also boasts of a splendid orchestra, which is carried complete by the organization, to aid in the proper presentation of the play, which is said to abound with musical and dancing specialties of a high order. To assist "Joshua Simpkins" in popularity, a band of music is also carried, and a concert is given, which is said to be far in advance of anything usually heard with a traveling musical organization. The parade will leave the theater at 11:50.
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| Chancey M. Depew. |
Chauncey is Generous.
NEW YORK, May 28.—Senator C. M. Depew was in a generous mood yesterday. He gave his son a four-story house in the fashionable quarter, in honor of his 21st birthday, and later donated a park to his native town, Peekskill.
BREVITIES.
—Another advertising car of Buffalo Bill is expected to arrive in Cortland tomorrow.
—New display advertisements today are—F. S. Bliven, Bicycles, page 6; Sipe, Sipe's show, page 4.
—The Sipe educated animals and Lilliputian show's advance car reached Cortland from Binghamton last evening, and today the dozen men who travel in it are busy billing the place for the show next Monday.
—The monthly business meeting of the Men's Bible class of the Congregational church was held last night at the home of Mr. B. C. Winchell on Madison-st. About twenty were present. Light refreshments were served.
—James R. Williams died yesterday at Apulia as the result of a shock of paralysis. His age was 81 years. The funeral will be held at the house in Apulia at 10:30 A. M. tomorrow and the remains will be brought to McGraw for burial.
—Mrs. E. E. Mellon very pleasantly entertained a company of ladies at her home on Port Watson-st. Saturday afternoon. There were six tables of players of duplicate whist. Very elegant refreshments were served.
—Cortland Commandery, No. 50, K, T., will hold a special conclave Wednesday evening for conferring the Order of Temple. It is expected that several Sir Knights of Central City commandery, Syracuse, including their quartet, will be present and take part in the work.
—Rain prevented all the State league ball games scheduled for yesterday, consequently there is no change in the standings. The next games scheduled for Cortland are Wednesday afternoon at 8:30 o'clock and Thursday forenoon at 10 o'clock with the Binghamton team.
—There will be a "get acquainted" sociable at the Y. M. C. A. parlors tomorrow night from 8 to 10 o'clock, to which all the young people's societies of the different churches in the city are cordially invited. Both ladies and gentlemen are invited. There will be a musical program.
—Much indignation is aroused in certain quarters because so many boys in this city are robbing birds' nests. Some of them offer the ostensible excuse that they are making collections of birds' eggs and some of them do not even claim to have any excuse for it. The practice is certainly to be deplored as we have none too many of the choice song birds about us any way.
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