Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-06-22
Our Returning Soldiers.

lffem the n. y. Trbune.l
When the period Of the English Com
monweath was terminated by the death OF
Cromwell, and the importation of that hard
bargain, the Second Charles, the veterans
OF the iron sided legions went back to their
baking and brewing, their plowing and 9th b.
er early svocations, and became as famous
Tor honesty in peace as they had been for
bravery IN war. Ii was noted that they
made uncommony good citizens, with
whom II was always safe and profitable and
agreeable to do business, SO that theirt
sobrlety, thrift and application became pro.
verbal throughout the land, and especially
in London. After civil war more con.
elusive in its results, or at least more prom.
islng in its termination, albeit our Cron we'll
too is taken from u.s. all our highways swarm
with dsbanded soldiers seeking again their
homes, and ready, after years of arms. 10
resume the implements peaceful diligence.
The sudden obtruslon OF so marked an elc.
ment upon the social life Of that part of the
country which has not practically cxperi
eneed the vicissltudes of war might, under
other conditions, give rise to certain natural
apprehenslons OF violence, of riot. of in.
creased crime and OF pauperism but it is
a remarkable and cheering fact, that while
the war has immeasurably increased the
military skill and resources of the country.
1t has not seriously affected its sobriety of
Judgment, nor to any marked extent created
a distaste for peaceful pursuits. This arises
chiefly, We suppose, from that distinct un-
derstanding Of the limited purposes Of the
war, which has made every soldier regard
himself as something better than the Rere
instrument Of leaders eager for martial
glory, hut rather as one of great posse
comddtus charged with the enforcement and
vindication OF the law This high aud holy
work accomplished, the whole work for
which the army was organized is also ac-
compllShed, and the soldier retires, as
/ special constable would retire after the sup
preston ct riot, to defend enly by his
vote the liberty which he has secured by his
sword All his sufferings and priyations,
his wounds and his loss OF cherished com.
panions, his painful absences, and the inter
ruptlon OF his progress toward a competency,
are the high price which he has paid TOR
the privilege of living and dying the citizen
OF permanent and prosperous Republic,
and Tor the certainty of transmitting that
privilege as heritage to his children, if he
can give them no other. The battles of war
are over, and he cheeriully turns to engage
in the battles of peace.
1t is for society at large, which owes an
enormous debt, transcending the obligations
OF common gratitude to its soldiers, to its
victorious defenders, to recognize each of
them as creditor who cannot be paid off
by pension, but who is entitled to watch.
iul assistance and warm and helping hand;
| employment, each in his private handcraft,
the respectful treatment due to a.good SER
want OF the State, encouragement to sur
mount difficulties snd, we think we may
| say, preference, other things being equal,
when labor is to be assigned. 1t is hard to
get back into old ways which have been
! abandoned. The places which once knew
these brave men may have been filled, and
! former emp ployers may have disappeared, or
may have changed their business. The
routine of trade may have been disarranged
and the mechanic who left his bench to 20
to Virginia or Georgia may not fad that
bench standing upon his return But we
know that there must be work for all in this
great and teeming land. Always main
difficulty with the industriously inclined is,
in the turmoil and tangle Of society, to dis
cover clue to guide him. through the iostle
OF conflicting interests, to the precise points
at which daily bread is to be had for daily
work. Competition is too often stone blind
and stony hearted in all that regards the vel
fare OF others; and those whe labor under
pecu liar difficulties and disadvantages, are
clearly entitled to special assistance: God
knows we do not mean almsgivihg A
soldier begging would be sight to make an
honest mans eyes red and rheumy. A SOL
disr asking for work need cause no tears,
uness-which we hope ia not likely to hap
pen-he should ask for it in vain
We have, by the blessingaof Providence,
achieved all the advantages of great mill
tary success. without the dangers, thus far
which too often accompany it. Now We
want complete social order, and prosperity
which shall not be embittered by injustice
toward any man, or by even the suggestion
OF any form Of pauperism unmerited aad
unocoasioned by human iufrnities. Tho
country is deeply in debt-the waste Of this
war, as of all wars, has been positive and
although We may set off against this the
economical gain likely to follow the disap-
pearance of compulsory slave labor, we
have still great work to do in recreating
the wealth which has been sunk in our ships,
burned in our warehouses, or blewn into
air from the cannons mouth. Every pair
Of hands now is worth twice as much as it
was ten years ago. These hands, when they
have not been left upon the battle field will
now be extended for work and for wages,
and they must not be extended in vain.
They will not be, for already this important
subject has attracted the attention Of the
thoughtful and benevolent, and we are gltd d
tonotice that the best of feeling is generally
prevailing, Work will he found for those
who really want it and who cannot by their
own exertions obtain it, 1t would be very
strange if the disbanding of the army did
not throw loose uppn society few idle vaga-
bonds who did no more work than they
were obliged to do before the war, and who
will be happy to live upon their martial
reputation for the rest Of their lives. But
We firmly believe that these are the excep-
tons, and that in welcoming back our fel-
low citizens from the field of henor and of
danger we greet an absolute accession to the
producing power of the country-to the
forces which create its wealth and make it
morally as we'll as materially great.
LAW AGAINST ENTICING MEN INTO
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