The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-03-01
The 8edfurd Gazette.
THE BRAVE BOYS IN BLUE.

THE BRAVE BOYS IN BLUE.
We all remember!
1t seems but yesterday, that all over
the land hereaway newspapers were
praising the Brave Boys in Blue, while
children, MINISTRIES, deacons, divines,
rich and poor, were loud in their pro-
fessions of love to the defenders of their
homes.
When iron-shOd and cannon -belching
war held the country as in vice, the
Brave Boys in Blue were all the rage.
They were feasted, toasted, praised,
kissed, caressed, coffeed, jellied, and
decked like lambs for the sacrifice. Mid
the sobs of women, wives, mothers, sis
ters, aud sweethearts, they were sent to
the front, escorted to the cars and boats
by bands of music, and promised all
sorts of honors on their return.
Every Brave Boy in Blue was a
shield to the loyal stay-at-home agita-
tors. Every one sent by money, en-
treaties, appeals to patriotism, or other
lingua! device, was safeguard othOse
who remained behind. Whining cam
ters, pulpit-routers, stay-at-home bawl-
ers 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-
cum-shoddy over the victims they had
dressed for mutilated honors to a won
derful extent.
He who would not join the blue mass
was called a traitor, coward, and hater
of his country. He who would forsake
friends, property, and the comforts of
the family hearth to join the abolition
crusade for power, cotton, negroes,
mules, silver-ware, and other disguised
objects of the late war, was hailed as a
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 replenishing Of iarders, and fuel
pile.
His grave, if he fell, was to be deck
ed 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 wreaths of roses.
He was to be nominated for office, and
voted for.
He was to be the returned hero-sa-
vior of his country, and the chiefamong
ten thousand dabolitionists. And we re-
member 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
a close, were denounced as towards,
traitors, and enemies to the soldiers.
When we chided those who prolonged
the war and turned it from its original
course; when we objected to having
thousands of brave men slain by in
competent 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 des-
troy at once those who were their best
friends.
The past came and went.
The professed patriots swept theland
of volunteers. The brave Boys in Blue
have returned; but they come not as
the conqueror comes. They were not
welcomed back-no arms of girls, gar
lands oil roses, fancy balls, and avail
anches of kisses greeted them. Oneby
one, two by two, well and sick, whole
and shattered, lame and dying, they
came to their homes as stragglers in
blood go to the rear after 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 give them. Officers rich from their
stealings, able to buy and control dele
cations, receive nominations. They
are the 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
on 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 sup
port the negro, the bondholder and the
thieving officer, who enriches himself
and relatives at ttheeXpense ofthe blood
and bravery of the country.
Brave Boys in Blue, as you gather
your half-clad little ones about yOu-as
you labor to pay taxes-asy you go stead
lily to your graves with heavy hearts
and calloused palms-think of these
things, and tell us if those who made
you such specious promises have kept