The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-05-11
The Brave Boys in BIZ
We all rcmcmberl


We all remember!
Ii seems but yesterday, that all over
the land hcreaway newspapers were prais-
ing the Brave Boys in Blue, while chill
dren ,.minsirels ,deacons, divincs, rich and
poor, were loud in their professions Of love
10 the defenders Of their homes.
When iron shod and cannon belching
war held the country as in a vice, the
Brave Boys ia Blue yere all the rage
They were feasted, toasted, praised, kiss-
ed caresscd, cofeed, jellied, and decked
like lambs for the sacrifice. Mid the
sobs Of women, wives, mothers, sisters,
and 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 Boy in Blue was a shield to the
loyal stay-at.home agitators. Every one
sent BY money, entrcaties, appeals to pari-
otism, or other lingual device, was safe
guard those who remained behind
Whining cantcrs, pulpiLrouters. stay at
home bawlcFs Of loyalty, mobbers Of Dem
ocrats and Democratic printing Offices,
negro.loying old maids, and others of
both sexes, had much to say for the Brave
Boys in Blue, and come the sboddy-cnm-
shoddy over the victims they had dress
ed for mutilated honors to a wonderful
extent
He who would not join the blue mass
was called a traitor, coward, and hater of
Of his country. lie who would forsakc
friends, property, and the comforts of
the family hearth 10 join the abolition
crusade for power, cotton, negroes, mules,
silycr-ware, and other disguised objects
Of the late war, was hailed as a brave
man. He was to be loved and honored
Ills family was TO be cared for His chill
dren we're to be educated. lis wife was
70 be bewailed upon to the replenishing of
larders, and fuel pile. His grave, ii he
fell, was to be dccked with fowers at all
seasons Of the year. His stunIps were to
be supplied with wooden limbs. His hos
piial bed was TO be supplied with dclica-
cies. lie was to be welcomed home by
girls with garlands and wreaths of roses.
He was to be nominated for Office and vo.
ted for.
lie was to be the returned hero-sayior
of his country, and the chiet among ten
thousand abolitionists. And We remem.
Der those who questioned the honesty oil
those who made all these professions oi
goodness, and who asked respectfully thai
the war be hurried to close, we're de
nounced as towards, traitors, aud enemic.
TO the soldiers. When we chided those
who prolonged the war aud turned it from
its original course; when we objected Il
having thousands of brave men slain bY
incompetent officers, in raids for property
and who said the object of the war was t.
! divide rather than restore the Union, the
Brave Boys in Blue were filed With lie
and evil spirits, and urged to destroy a
once those who were their best friends.
/ The past came and went The profess
ed patriots swept the land 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. garlands of roses, fancy balls anc
aSslanches Of kisses greeted them. One
by one, two by two, well aud sick, whole
and shattered, lame and dying. they came
to their homes, as stragglrrs in blood e
to the rear after the agony of battle.
il The loyal shouters have forgotten the
Brave Boys in Blue They have no off
ces for them. They have no votes to Civ,
them. Officers rich from their stealings
able to buy and control delegations receiv,
nominations. They are the favorites o
the ranters and canters and the rumpites
while the true Brave Boys in Blue, VII,
fought the battles, are forgotten already
They are not wanted now The negro anc
the bondholder are now worshipped, anC
the soldiers of the land can work on one
leg or two, with one hand or both to re
deem their farms from taxes. ,heapeC
thereon by the stay-at- homes while they
were fighting, and to support the negro
the bondholder and the thieving officer
who enriches himself and relatives at thu
expense OF the blood and bravery of tn,
country.
i Brave Boys in Blue, as you gathe
your half.clad little ones about you-a,
you labor to pay taxes--as you go steadily
to your graves with heavy hearts and cal
loused palms-think of these things, ant
tell us if those who made you such spe
cious promises have kept faith with yol
or the peoples i
/ Brave Boy in notwithstanding
man tax -payer-think of these things
and think of.them we'll Ii Cincinnati En-
Iquirer.