Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-03-13
The Brave Boys I'm Blue.
We all remcmbcri

i""u "cic""uy HcWsIapcIs WcTc pTulSInS tHS
Brave Boys in Blue, while children, min
strels, deacons, divines, rich and poor, wer'
loud in their professions Of love to the de
Tenders Of their homes.
When irod-shod and cannon-bclching wal
held the country in vice, the Brave Boy.
in Blue, were all the rage. They were feast
ed, toasted, praised, kissed, caressed, coffecd
jellied, and decked lambs for the sacrifice
Mid the sobs Of women, wives, mothers
sisters, and sweethearts, they were sent t.
the front, escorted TO the cars and boats by
bands Of music, and promised oil sorts Of
honors on their return.
Every Brave Boy in Blue was shield tc
the loyal stay-athome agitators. Every one
sent by money, entreaties, appeals to patri.
otism, or other lingual device, was safe.
guard to those who remained behind. Whin.
ing cantcrs, pulpt-routers, stay-at-homc
bawcrs of loyalty, mobbers of Democrats
and Democratic printing Offices, negro loving
old maids, and Others of both sexes, had
much to say for the Brave Boys in Blue, and
come the shoddy-cun-shoddy over the sic.
tins they had dressed for mutilated honors
to wonderful extent. lie who would not
join the blue mass was called traitor, cow
ard, and hater Of his country He who
would forsakc friends, property and the
comforts Of the family hearth to join the
abolition crusade for power, cotton, negroes,
mules, silvcr-warc, and other disguised OBJ.
jects Of the late war was hailed as brave
man.
He was to be loved and honored.
His family was to be cared for
His children were to be educated.
His wife was to be waited upon to the re-.
plenishng Of larders, and fuel pile
His grave, if he fell, was to be decked
with flowers at all seasons of the year.
His stumps were to be supplied with
wooden limbs.
His hospital bed was to be supplied with
delicacies.
He was to be welcomed home by girls with
garlands and wreathcs of roses.
lie was to be nominated for Office, and
voted for.
He was to be the returned hcro-sayiour
of his country and the chief among ten
thousand abolitionists. And We remember
that those who questioned the honesty of
those who made all these professions of
goodness, and who asked respectfully that
the war be hurried to close, were denounc-
ed as towards, traitors, anl enemies to the
soldiers. When we chided those who pro-
longed the war and turned it from its origi-
nal course; when we objected to having
thousands Of brave men slain by incompe-
tent officers, in raids for property, and who
said the object Of the war was to divide
rather than restore the Union, the Brave
Boys in Blue were filled with lies and evil
spirits, and urged to destroy at once those
who were their best friends.
The past came and went.
The professed patriots swept the land of
volunteers. The Brave Boys in Blue have
returned; but they come not as the con-
qucror comes. They were not welcomed
back-no arms Of girls, garlands of roses,
fancy balls, avalanches of kisses greeted
them. One by one, two by two, well and
sick, whole and shattered, lame and dying,
they came to their homes as stragglers in
blood 60 to the rear of the agony of battle
The loyal shouters have forgotten the
Brave Boys in Blue. They have no Offices
for them. They have no votes to them.
Officers rich from their stealings, who are
able to buy and control delegations, receive
nominations. They are favorites of the
ranters and the canters and the Rumpites
while the true Brave Boys in Blue, who
fought the battles are forgotten already.
They are not wanted now The negro and
the bondholder are now worshipped, and the
soldiers of the land can work with one leg
or two, with one hand or both to redeem
their farms from taxes heaped thereon by
the stay-at.homes, while they were fighting,
and to support the negro, the bondholder
and the thieving officer, who enriches him
self and relatives at the expense of the
blood and bravery Of the country.
Brave Boys in Blue, as you gather your
halfclad little ones about you--as you labor
to pay taxes-as you so steadily to your
graves with heavy hearts and caloused
palms-think Of these things, and tell us
if those who made you such specious prom
ises have kept faith with you or the peo.
pie!
Brave Boys in Blue -solder-working-
man -tax-payer--think of these things, and
think of them well. Cincinnati Inquirer.
TIE W.pN HAM ON SYMPATHY It'll