Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-06-11
The Dispatch and Decorating
Soldiers Graves.

malignity, that was couched in terms
of the lowest blackguardism, and
filed with the most disgraceful epi-
thets, that ever insulted a community
under the cloak of the freedom of the
press.
The occasion for this exhibition of
rebel spite was the success OF the
ceremonies in decorating the graves
Of Union soldiers in our cemetery,
and, especially the fact that the
wreaths, placed on the graves of
three rebels through an ILL timed gen.
erosity, were very properly re
moved by the ladies OF the decora-
ting committee, and placed on Union
graves not provided for.
We have no word of apology or
defence for this act, because it needs
none, and we honor the ladies that
had the good sense and the indepen-
dence to do it. The object Of the
beautiful rites of that day was to do
honor to the memories of Union he
roes, who lost their lives for their
country, by rebel bullets on the bat
tlefield, or by starvation and murder
in rebel prisons. We, therefore, can
conceive Of nothing SO inconsistent,
as at such time, to do equal honor
to those, who attempted the destruc-
ton of the nation, who were the
cause of the death of hundreds of
thousands of brave youth, and but
for whose treason, the mournful rites
of that Saturday would never have
been necessary. 1t would be an in
suit to the ashes of the Union dead,
that so thickly people our cemetery,
and we again say, and we believe
every Union man and woman will
join with us in it-all honor to the
ladies that had such an appreciation
of the real meaning of the ceremony,
as to Illustrate the foolish spirit, that
would have made mockery of those
beautiful rites.
The rebels Of the South have car
ried out this custom of honcring
their dead without fear or molesta-
ton, and if their sympathizers in the
North wish to do likewise, they have
the right and privilege to mourn over
'the lost cause" conducting similar
rites, and on such an occasion, we
believe every genuine rebel would
see the absurdity of decking the
graves of Union soldiers. The cant
about 'burying animosities" is ill
placed at such time.
But the vile article in the Dispatch
shows more than mere desire to
bury "the hates and anim0sities of
the late fierce contest" it shows its
fear of the Union loving spirit,
aroused to new life by this ceremo-
ny, and which will nerve the people
to extra exertions in this last con
test with rebellion at the ballot box;
it show its ill-concealed hatred of any
honor to a Union soldier, spirit
kept in by policy alone. The act of
the ladies composing the decorating
committee furnishes the Dispatch and
its supporters an excuse to give vent
to their pent up malignity, and ek
press their disgust at the whole pro-
ceedings, which they hoped would
prove failure. That sheet riots in
the opportunity, insulting the most
respectable ladies in our city, in
language that is too low to be read
without blush, language that could
only find its parallel in the worst
dens of large city.
While expressing our sympathy
for the ladies so grossly insulted, we
are yet glad that rebel hate has got
the better of democratic discretion,
as it will show our people better than
anything we could say, the spirit that
still governs the party, which is try
ing to gain their votes by specious
pretences Of their love OF country,
and by claiming that the Republican
party is running the nation. We
honestly believe, that the battle with
the spirit of secession is not yet over,
and that last struggle will be made
by its advocates in the fall elections,
to accomplish by the ballot, what re-
bellion failed to do by war, but, with
GRANT, as our leader, that spirit will
then meet its last overthrow. Final
ly, we can only say thati if there is no
criminal law to prevent such an abuse
of the liberty of the press, as appear
ed in the article in the Gallipolis
Dispatch of June 9th, entitled, "Dec-
Grating Soldiers Graves" the sooner
one is enacted for the benefit of such
irresponsible parties, as the editor of
that sheet, the better it will be for
the community.
A Fraud.
The copperheads of Washington
City, in view, we suppose, of the