The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-05-26
Work to be Done.


put to poor, ragged and ignorant boy on
the streets. There are several thousands
more such as he who could reply in the same
terms. They are one form Of the memorials
OF the late rebellion, and, perhaps, also the
most interesting. We are not disposed to
undervalue the interest that is manifested
in the Confederate dead,n but we are in
clined to the notion that there should be
more in these orphans to elicit interest,
call forth speeches and repay decora-
tions than anywhere beside. Some atten-.
tion to these Icing memorials of the war,
would be more creditable to acknowledgement
patriotism and philanthropy of our citizens
or "citizenesaes," not to say a word about the
christianity that should deal with the living
rather than waste its affection and piety
over decaying vestiges of mortality.
We would not, were we permitted, inter-
Herewith any of those pastimes by which
the unsubdued spirit of rebellion still re-
lieves itself of its pent up exuberance of
hate, butin the name ofhumanity we would
appeahto all such persons in behalf of these
living victims of the war. They mag, be
benefited, and it would be double honor
done the heroic or unheroic victims of re-
bellion to see to the walfare of their orphans
who are wandering about our streets the
sadest reminders of our wrongs and the least
hopeful evidences for our future We in
vite (and this is our purpose in this article)
the attention of our complaisant and self
satisfied fellow-citizens who have just offered
their annual oblations to the remains of their
dead victims, to these living ones that
move before their eyes and cross their paths
every day. Ladies and gentlemen of Con-
federate yearnings, these little bareheaded,
shoeless and ragged children growing up
here, learning aptly in the school of
vice and crime, but ignorant of all that
is pure and good; these children of the
men whose sepulchres you garnish and deco
rate; the cruelty made orphans Of the men
that you forced into hateful conflict at the
cost of their lives, and whose devotion and
courage you now eulogize in sophomoric
orations hollow as the affection symbolized
by the kiss of Judas; to these orphans we
call your attention. 1t is a more pressing
case than any that has yet received your
care. 1t will not do to look after it with
annual festivals. 1t is an urgent case, for
they are rapidly growing up to be a curse
to the country that you have blasted. 1t is
not safe to postpone this work until you are
done denouncing the radicals, or until you
have accomplished the overthrow of Gov.
Holden's administration. Not an hours
delay but is iraught with wrong to them
and to the State, for it is amazing how
rapidly they are springing up toward man
hood and recklcssness in ignorance and
crime. We are writing in all kindness on
this matter. for our hearts are daily panied
with these sights of orphans made so un-
timely and now so neglected.
We do not intend to be invidious in our
call to this solemn and patriotic duty, but
with all purpose we have called upon those
who love "the lost cause" and who affect
to honor all the Confederate dead 1t is
your privilege TO lead in this holy work of
rescuing the living fruits of their cause.
First, because these children, so orphaned
and homeless, are the legitimate results of
their work of rebellion and blood There is
no doubt but that in nine cases out of ten
your laws and orders that enforced conscrip-
tions, drafts, etc., made reluctant and forced
soldiers of your cause out of their fathers.
That your laws, your orders, the public
opinion you manufactured, drove them into
cause that they in their hearts loathed. 1t
was yourselves that made these orphans.
1t is to you they owe it that they have no
one to care for them. You robbed them of
fathers strong arm by the sword. Your
wrongs broke the tolling, loving heart of
their mother and drove her to an early
grave. Yes, the orphans come to you as a
legacy, and God and man demand of you
that you look after them and rescue them
from ignorance, want and vice. They are
the saddest and richest memorials of your
{" lost cause;" cherish them, watch over
them. If you have any heartfelt respect for
their parents valor or suffering, repay it ON
their children Their fathers were the VIC
tins of your ambition. You sacrificed them
unwilling victims on the altar of your hate.
You offered them to save your chattels, and
they leave you the price of their blood and
agony-their outcast children. Does not
every attribute of God and every noble in
stict of man require OF you to adopt as your
special, sacred charge their children?
Second As a precaution against the fu-
ture, we deem it advisable to invite your
attention to this work. We do not wish to
shirk any call of humanity. We should
never ask on which side their fathers fell,
but for the sake of the future peace of our
land, and because we are kindly disposed
toward even those who have wlenged Jour
country, we would have you-the authors
abettors and mourners of the cause of
rebelion-takc the lead in this noble and
Christian work. You shall have our sympa-
thy and good Wishes and even our friendly
aid !; but we must insist that this is yoar
opn peculiar work, and that it is not only
befitting, but imperative that you assume it
and do it. These boys-yes,. even those
girls that " have no foxes anywhere" whose
g Pnrs unre Eillp1 in the war y ,,,hncn hro