The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-07-06
Soldiers Of Vengeance.

pose of taking part ID politics. Mr..
Bennett rather denies this, but we are
no: satisfied with his denial. We
scarcely ever can take up certain class
of Western papers without finding that
some POST of the G. A. r. has had Il
meeting, and resolred that ererythiHg is
going WroRg, and that nothing riH 90 right
antil some one is hanged. and ercrVbody has
a confscdted farm.
In the first place, We call this organi-
zation unrepubiican. Secret assOcia-
tions for social purposes, to aid in chari-
ty, or to develop virtue and friendship,
are very we'll. They rarely interfere
with anybody. If people find amuse-
ment in meeting in guarded rooms, and
wearing spangled dresses, and calling
themselves sachems, and brothers, and
comrades, soldiers OF Gideon, and SONS
of Rechab. it is their own business. We
may doubt their taste, but mans
tastes concern only himself. Some
times we have vestiges Of tho Orange
sentiment in Ireland in Protestant asso-
Citations, who meet and swear by the
immortal memory of King William, and
vow to walk knee-deep in Catholic
IL
OF speech rs long as the police are about.
On the other hand, we hear Of other So
cieties who propose to rc-establish the
Catholic Church, and scatter confusion
among the Protestanls. In America,
however, these maledictions are
merely rhetorical. The Catholic
and Protestant churches still live
and flourish. We had Fenianism
and Know -Nothingism. The one is
dead as an active power; the other has
long since departed. In the war there
were Sons of Liberty and knights of the
Golden Circle; but their glory was for
day, and it faded like the flowers of the
field. When secret society goes be-
yond the offices of charity and friend
ship, il takes no root in America.
This Grand Army of the Republic
proposes, according to Mr.. Bennett, to
renew associations formed amid the
roar of artillert; the lightning of battle,
and the thunder of victory" We fear
Mr.. Bcnnett but half states his case.
The memories of the recent war are, no
doubt, very high and holy. Phere is
something sacred i'll the comradeship
which drank from the same canteen.
We can understand with what lusty
grasp the comrades OF the mess would
meet in civil life. If this were all we
should be content; but it is not all.
These men combine for political purposes.
They propose TO keep dlire the wrdth and
bitterness Of that dreadful time. They
mean to control conrentiORs 10 nominate
men for d1fce-to perpetudfe in our
cirH system the bitterness Of Wdr.
We believe the soldier should
receive abundant reward. When
a soldier and q civilian apply for
office, all things else being equal, We
should prefer the soldier. But We dis
like this making a privileged class, and
especially We dislike this getting into
corner. and having passwords and
grips, and making I'll exclusive class.
Washington foresaw this when he OPP
posed the Society of the Cincinnati.
He saw in that association the first step
toward an aristocracy, and he declined
to ally himself with il. What Wash
ington said should be remembered now.
Here is an association more numerous
and more powerful than the Cincinnati,
which proposes ever to keep alive war
with brothers and fellow cOuntrymen,
TO exult in victories over Americans,
to rejoice orer the destruction Of men IN
,ckose blue reins run the blood ichich courses
in our o,cR, and ,cho, .rkaterer their crimes
or errors, are of our O,rn country. We
saw, let all the fearful memories Of the past
SINK into the hell to Which they belong; let
le. us think only of cOunds TO DC heated, Of
karrests 10 grou again, Of seas once more
corered Wih our commerce, education .t0r
the ignorant, protection to the oppressed,
justice 10 all.
We say this, and sacrifice none of the
principles defended by Mr.. Bennett. He
is. no doubt, earnest in his belief that
his work is worthy. But there are
crafty, bold bad men who look upon
these societies as so many instruments
for their own advancement. They pro-
pose to ally themselves with this mill
tary sentiment, with no mere claim up
on it than Thenardiar in HugO's novel
had to be called the Sergeant of Water
los. He followed the army, and robbed
the bodies of the slain. The true sol
dier sheathes his sword and buries 1t i'll
his closet, and it remains an heirloom.
He becomes citizen, and makes no
claim for political honor but that of
citizenship. Abore all things, he does
not carry his epduiets and ribbons, has
rounds and bruises TO a political coRren-
ton, to be knocked dOWn TO the highest bid
der. There may be many of these men
unwittingly in this Army of the Repub-
lie, who probably entered it with the
views of Mr.. Bennett. They will soon
see how they may better occupy their
time.
Especially do we entertain these views
when We find in the declarations Of
these secret soldier associations so many
expressions of madness. The true soldier
is the most generous of foemen. Take the
qreat captains rko commanded the contend
inq hosts. DO re find Grant, or Sherman,
or Sheridan, or Thomas, or Meade, dssemb-
ling together and hoTliHg for more blood,
more strife, more bitterRess' Do we find
Lee, or Longstreet, or Johnston, or
Beauregard insisting that the hates OF
secession shall be prolongedi These men
fought their fight and ended. Their an
ger ceased with the echo of the last guns
fired in anger. From this Grand Army
of the Republic, now parading through
political conventions in the West, CONF
alanded BY the captains Of the eau
Gus, the lobby, and the bdr-rGom.
.re appeal to the Grand Army
of the Republic which carried our ban
ners over hundred fields under the eye
of Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. We
denounce this new secret association rs
out of sympathy with the true Repub-
lican party, and as iRimiodi to the CORsfi-
tutioR aud the Union. 1t will Le a sad
day for our party when soldiers find no
better work than to proTl orer the bat
lie fields Of the past, and dig up the SLAIN.
The country uaHts peace, aud rest, aud hGr-
mony, AND justice. These men TdRt dis
bGcted ooaRtry, that Offices may be gained.
They would make America a Mexico,
peace would be sent to sleep with Turks
and ipfidels, and instead of Union, they
would "the wofullest division make
that ever fell upon this cursed earth"
UNDERDRAISING LAND.-Experiments
in undsrdrainipg land were made in
Scotland last year for the purpose of de-
terlnininp the effects an the femDeratnrp