Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-09
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. 1872.
The Gettysburg Reunion.

i
The Gettysburg Reunion.
A reunion of the surviving officers who
participated in the Gettysburg battle. has
recently been holden at that place. Ose
object Of the meeting was to fix with Or
tainty the positions occupied By the daf-
ferent combatants, and mark the spots
made historic by incidents connected
with them. We regard this an impcr-
tsnt step, one that should be taken on ev-
cry important battle field. It adds great
ly to the interest of the visitor at Bunker
Hill and the Plains of Abraham, to be
shown by tablet of marble where War
ZEN and Montcalm fell.
1t awakens inspiring thoughts, and hal
lowed associations cluster round the visi-
tor as he reads the inscriptions. How
much pleasanter would be the visit Of
Americans at Ticonderoga if there were
tablets pointing to the room in which La
Place gave up his sword, or the road
through which Allen passed before he de-
manded the surrender of the fortress.
We believe in showing proper respect
for the memory of the patriot dead who
fell at Gettysburg, nor would we forget.
or have posterity forget the great battle
which was the turning point Of the slave
holders rebellion, therefore we most cor
daily approve of the late meeting. Rebel
as well as loyal leaders were invited to
attend, but only two Of the former we
believe, were present.
The great Rebel leader, Lee, declined
the invitation to at tend, but sent note
in which he says other engagements will
prevent, and it is wisest not ''to keep open
the sores of war" Doubtless he feels Just
- he speaks: It is not strange that he
should feel "sore" nor does it cause sur
prise that he should not want them kept
open, by any demonstrations that favor
loyalty. His desire to have every body
forget that he ever raised his traitor hand
TO destroy our government, and that he
made raid into Pennsylvania and got
driven back, is just as reasonable and
natural as was the plea of the horse thief,
who was overtaken by the owner who
took the horse and thief, when the latter
said, II beg that you will not lay this
little matter up against me, for you have
now got your horse, and what more can
you want? 1 feel sore to think that l
stole horse of so little speed very sorry
indeed, that 1 did not act more wisely
Ind select the best instead of the poorest
horse you had; for appreciate a horse
hat has good speed"
We don't blame the rebel general for
trying to get his disloyal acts ushed up !;
1t Is the most natural thing in the world !;
but it seems unnatural for Northern men
to take the ground that there is ANYTHING
wrong in this reunion, or anything wrong
in perpetuating the incidents that trans
pired on Cemetery Hill, and around Get
tysburg during the first three days of
July, 1868. Some of our contemporaries
say it would be in bad taste for Lee to 90
to Gettysburgh and meet with Union
officers. We think it was in very bad
taste for him to go as he did In 1868, but
those who object to the reunion now.
have never to our knowledge intimated
that the visit which he then made to Get
tysburgh, was not perfectly proper and in
good taste.
We should dislike much to zee Gettys-
burgh battle ground deserted as Ticon-
deroga is-with its crumbling walls, and
the area within the fort covered with
weeds and Canada thistles. Was the
"sore' kept open with Great Britain be-
cause Bunker Hill Monument was erect
ed, any more than by letting the old Fort
at Ticonderora go to decay? The sore
caused by the Revolution was healed with
Great Britain years ago, and another sore
broke, and that, too, is healed. We owe
the people Of England. to-day, no grudge,
because their ancestors did not think as
ours did, and the looking upon Bunker
Hill Monument will not awaken any i'll
feeling toward an Englishman
But when we see that granite shaft, we
cannot refrain from bestowing a grateful
Thought upon the patriot dead, whose
memory it il intended to commemorate.
And 70 will it BE- with those in after years
who look upon the memor inl stone, at
Gettysburg.
But there Is one class OF American
citizens that cannot experience pleasant
emotions "a they contemplate the acts Of
their ancestors in the days Of the revolu-
ton. Those are the descendants Of notori
ous tories. Although they are not per
sona!ly 1T fault i'll the matter, yet the
Thought Of having descended from Tory
ancestors cannot be a pleasant one Nor
will the d scendanta OF hose who took
sides with traitors, that sought the dc.-
trGCtiun Of the beat government the world
ever knew, ~ they look upon monuments
raised for the patriot dead, feel the s,mc
nnalloyed happiness that will thrill the
hearts Of those who are loyal and descend
cd from loyal ancestry.
From the Burl'neton Free Press and Times
Vermont Editors in Council
BRATTLEBORO, Aug ~
MesSTs. Editors Free Press ana Times