The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-20
The Antietam Celebratiou-Gravcyard DEM
pgOHuea.

The graves of our dead heroes made poll
teal platform-the interior of Antictam Gene
terry the scene Of political animosities-the
States invited to attend the observation-disclosures
aud tie Western Continent looking on through
tie Diplomatic Corps. This is a summary of
the Antietam dedication. Upon this basis we
have laid the corner stone Of a monument
which will chronicle the virtues of the five
ihous MI brave men who at Antietam died to
save the nation. If the great men of the
republi, sink US so low, degrade us SO deeply,
what hope have we for the future? In a
solemn gathering of the representatives OF the
people to honor the dead who fell in our de-
fence we have descended to the low passions
of party. Instead Of making national gather
ing, irrespective of political differences, few
members Of the administration and few o. its
warmest friends gather at Antietam, and dare,
in the nations consecrated ground, to insult
the ashes of its heroes. Mcclellan, who, we
believe, is in the United States, was not there.
Grant, evidently aware that the ceremony was
to be for partisan gloriication, was also absent.
All the generals who fought at Antietam were
absent. They felt little disposed to assist in
the disgrace Of what to them were sacred
ashes. They had fought to take the stains
from the old flag not by the handroi any but
the political demagoy CUES there assembled were
stains TO be put upon it. The great ceremony
which was TO consecrate before high Heaven
this field, from which the people dated their
national preservation, was little fitted for the
exposition of political platforms. The speech
Of Governor Bradford, adrotly turned 10 good
use in support of the policy Of the admins
tration, was out of place, nor was any speech
there made suited to the hour and the occa-
sion. The President, in his remarks, did not
fail to make mention Of his firm determination
to sustain his policy and the constitution.
Then came the discourtcsy Of Mr.. johnson to
the Northern Governors, who, against the
wishes Of the assembly. had given way to The
Executive. This was followed by the speech
Of Governor Geary, who, warming with the
insult, broke into invective and forgot that
around him lay buried the Union dead-ihat it
was no place for open resentment
The whole ceremony was unquestionably
partisan, but it was most inopportune The
President might insult whom he pleased there;
by doing 80 he only disgraced himself the
nation and the dead whom he ostensibly went
there to honor. For any one 10 take notice OF
1t by public speech on the spot was only to
lower the speaker to the same level to which
the President descended.
We are . nation Of over thirty millions Of
people. with wealth, energy and rare native
intelligence; but our stsiesmcn-our states
mcn' mol our demagogues-disgrace us.
They do not represent u.s. In Congress they
descend--but they cannot descend; for they
occupy the lowest level now a. political
debaters, and, having reached that level, there
Is but one direction in which they can move
upwards. As with Congress 20 with the
Executive. Even worse; for the Executive
being but a single person, and that, too, at the
head Of the nation, he is looked TO BY oil eyes