The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-07-30
soldiers % Yengence
[From the New York Tribune. ]

shall receive respectful reply. We had
occasion some days since, while com
menting upon the meeting Of Congress,
to speak our mind Of an association
known as sThe Grand Army of the Re-
public" We spoke with severity, be-
cause we felt the occasion had arrived for
a severe expression of opinion. We un-
derstand the Grand Army of the Rhpub
lie to be secret society, composed of
persons calling themselves discharged
soldiers of the army, with the purpose
of taking part in politics. Mr. Bennett
rather denies this, but we are not sat
isfh 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 meeting, and
resolved that everything is going wrong
and that nothing will go right until some
one is hanged, and everybody has con-
Afscated farm.
In the first place, We call this organi-
zation unrepublican. Secret associa-
tions for social purposes, to aid in chari-
ty, or to deyelope virtue and friendship
are very well. They rarely interfere with
anybody. If people find amusement in
meeting in guarded rooms, and wearing
spangled dresses, and calling themselves
sachems, and brothers, and comrades, sol
diers of Gideon, and sons of Rechab, it
is their own business. We may doubt
their taste, but mans tastes concern
|
tiges of the Orange sentiment in Ireland
in Protestant associations, who meet and
swear BY the immortal memory Of King
William, and VOW to walk knee-deep in
Catholic blood. Such vows are harmless
figures of speech as long as the police
are about. On the other hand, we hear
of other societies who propose to re-es-
tablish the Catholic Church, and scatter
confusion among the Protestants. In
America however, these maledictions are
merely rhetorical. The Catholic and
Protestant churches still live and -four
ish. We had Fenianism and Know Moth
ingism. The one is dead as an active
power; .he 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 a
secret society goes beyond the Offices Of
charity and friendship, it takes no root
in America.
This Grand Army of the Republic
proposes, according to Mr.. Bennett, to
5srenew associations formed amid the roar
of artillery, the lightning of battle, and
the thunder of victory" We fear Mr..
Bennett but half states his case. The
memories of the recent war are,no doubt
} very high and holy. There is something
sacred in the comradeship which drank
from the same canteen. We can under
stand with what lusty grasp the COM
rades of the mess would meet in civil
life. If this were all we should be con-
, tent; but it is not all. These men COM
bine for political purposes. They pro-
pose to keep alive the wrath and bitter
ness of that dreadful time. They mean
to control conventions to nominate men
for ofce-to perpetuate in our civil sys-
TEN the bitterness Of war. We believe
the soldier should receive abundant re-
ward. Wher soldier and civilian ap-
ply for Office, all things else being equal
we should prefer the soldier. But we
E dislike this making a privileged class
! and especially we dislike this getting in
to a corner, and having passwords and
grips, an1 making an exclusive class
Washington foresaw this when he oppo-
sed the Society of the Cincinnati. He
saw in that association the first step to.
ward an aristocracy, and he declined to
ally himself with it. What Washington
said should be remembered now. Here
r is an association more numerous and
e more powerful than the Cincinnati, which
J. proposes ever to keep alive war with
: brothers and fellow countrymen, to exult
t in victories over Americans, to rejoice
: over the destruction of men in whose
] blue veins run the blood which courses
J, in our own, land who, whatever their crimes
or errors, are of our own country. VIZ
say, let all the fearful memories Of the
past sink into the hell to which they be-
long; let US think only of wounds to be
healed, of haryests to grow again, of seas
once more covered with our commerce
education for the ignorant, protection te
the oppressed, justice to 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
q bold, bad men who look upon these so.
cieties as SO many instruments for Their
own advancement. They propose to ally
themselves with this military sentiment
with no moro claim upon il than Then,
ardiar in Hugo novel had to be called
the Sergeant of Waterloo. Hefollowed
the army, and robbed the bodies Of the
slain. The true soldier sheathes his ssword
and buries it in his closet, and it remain;
an heirloom. He becomes citizen, and
makes no claim for political honor bul
that of citizenship. Above all things
he does not carry his epaulets and rib.
bons, his wounds and bruises to polit
ical convention, to be knocked down tc
the highest bidder. There may be many
of these men Willingly in this Army
, of the Republic, who probably entered
it with the views of Mr.. Bennett. They
! viii soon see how they may better occupy
their time.
Especially do we entertain these views
8 when we find in the declarations of these
! secret soldier associations SO many ex-
pressions of madness. The true soldier
is the most generous of foemen. Take