Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-10-18
The AntietaHn Celebration
Graveyard DemagoGues-

t
From the N. Y. Herald, Sept. Goth.
The graves of our dead heroes made
a political platform--the interior of
cal animosities--the States invited to
attend the Europe and the
Western Continent looking on through
the Diplomatic Corps. This Is a sum-
mary OF the Antietam dedication.
Upon this basis we have laid the corner
stone of monument which will chron-
icle the virtues of the Ave thousand
brave men who at Antietam died to
save the nation. III the great men of
the Republic sink us 30 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 defense, we
have descended to the low passions of
party. Instead of making a national
gathering, irrespective of political diff.
ferences, q few members of the Admin
istration and few of its warmest
friends gather at Antietanl, and dare,
in the nations consecrated ground, to
insult the ashes of its heroes. McClel-
Ian, who, we believe, is In the United
aware that the ceremony was to be for
partixan gloriilcation, was also absent.
All the Generals who fought at Antie-
tam were absent. They felt little dis
posed TO assist In the disgrace of what
to them was sacred ashes. They had
fought to take the stains from the old
flag; not by the hands of any but polit-
ical demagogues there assembled were
stains to be put upon it. The great cer-
emony which was to consecrate before
high Heaven this field, from which the
people dated their National preserva.
ton, was little fitted for the exposition
of political platforms. The speech oi
Gov. Bradford, adroitly turned to good
use In support Of the policy of the Ad-
ministration, was out of place; nor was
any speech there more suited to the
hour and the occasion. The President,
In his remarks, did not fail to make
mention of his firm determination ia
sustain his policy and the Constitution.
Then came the disc0urtesy 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 Gov.
Geary, who, warming with the insult
broke into invective, and forgot thai
around him lay buried the Union dead
that II was no place for open resent.
mcnt.
The whole ceremony was unquestion.
ably partisan, but it was most inoppor.
tune. The President might insult
whom he pleased there; by doing so he
disgraced only himself, the nation, and
the dead, whom he ostensibly went
there to honor. For any one to take
notice of it by public speech on the
spot was only to lower the speaker u
the same level to which the President
had descended.
The executive being but single per.
son, and that, too, at the head Of the
nation, he Is looked to by all eyes al
the exponent of what should be manly
gentlemanly and courteous. Instead o
even approaching arr the ideal, he allows
the petty feelings Of political passion te
enter into all his dealings with thost
who may oppose his career as a states
man, and on every occasion displays
the little mind that disgraces US as 9
people. Even Antietam, more than
sacred to US, was not sacred To the man
whom we call President. How lonp
are these things to be endured? How
long are we to bow our heads In shame
whenever q national event like Antie.
tam calls for the broad minds of rea
statesmen to give IL tone of which we
may be proud? How long are we te
entertain the representatives of foreign
powers with hsights like that which havs
made Antietam disgrace, and which
have reflected that disgrace throughout
the world as reproach against the
republication Of which we boast?