The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-06-10
War on the Dead.

War on the Dead.
The Philadelphia Press, the most rabid of
the Radical press, says "All our statutes
breathe ultimate pardon to the worst often
ders. There is no such thing in this land of
love and liberty as revcpgeful punishment"
In another column eff the same issue the fol
lowing paragraph occurs: sr5,
''Ihc time will come when the Union SOL
der, aoithout enddnycriag the cause Of loyat-
ty, can do honor to the memory oil the men
who were brave enough to meet him in bat
tic, but 1T Is mol no,o. Wait until the traitors
both to the North and South, the men who
would not fight for their country, and were
afraid to fight against it, have passed away"
In the name ofhumanity, christianity-of ev-
cry kindly feeling that the great God has plan
ted in our. nature, we would ask whether the
scattering of few innocent flowers over the
graves of brave enemy would endangcr
the cause of ''loyalty 2" The Government
is pledged to peace; with the skcathing Of
tho blade came the olive branch, and with it
the hope of future brotherhood Yet, why
is it that it is considered policy to keep alive
bitterness that only tends to goad the con-
quered into acts Of violent retaliation I? A
strange mode Of lulling the troubled waters
Maybe the loyal ':Grand Army of the Re-
public" fear that Ito use the language Of
cotemporary) eathc. primrose might turn t.
powder, and the hearts case might bristle
into bayonet." :. Or dothey fear that the
rebel flowers might take root in soil enrich
cd by bones of those who persisted in de-
fence Of their homes and liberties? The
coward attempts to fee from his own shadow
r. there is ghost in every nook and groan
10 every passing breeze. According to For
,ney's creed, it is policy to insult the dead, to
bayonct those who would honor the departed
brave, to teach childhood to detest South
erner and to trample with exultation upon
his lonely grave. It is policy to smother all
the noblcr emotions Of humanity, and to nur-
ture the darker and viler passions And
what is behind that policy !? Why, surely
to keep the feeling Of hatred alive in the
Northern heart, in order that the dominant
party may continue to rob the public crib and
ride rough-shod over grooming people!
At recent gathering at the Arlington
Cemetery of persons DESTROYS of doing honor
to the dead by strcwing flowers over their
graves, the following scene, as described by
the New York Herald, took place:
1The lieutenant in command, whose name
is Shirley, but of which am not certain, was
particularly offensive in his manner Seeing
lady throw small bouquet on one Of these
(Confcderate) graves, this lieutenant rushed
to the spot, picked up the flowers, and throw
ing them on the ground at his feet commcnc-
ed stamping on them in such a manner as to
attract about him a crowd of wondering spec
tators in a very few minutes. Some Of the
lockers on, learning the cause Of the lieutcn-
ants rage, commenced to murmer disapproba-
tiou, when the lieutenant shouted out, "D--n
you, get away from here, every one Of you, or
Ell make you. Guards, come up here and
disperse the crowd" The lieutenant accom-
panied these words with angry gestures, and
swinging his arms about as if he intended to
pitch generally into the crowd. His guards
answered his call, but the crowd dispersed
without waitingto be bayonetted. 5.-.
This brave s'boysin blue" this Shirley
should have been cashiered from the service
before he had time to return to his quarters.
lie was, however, in all probability, acting
under orders Of Post No. 1, Of the e"Grand
Armyof The Republic, who had the arrange
.mcnt Of affairs, and whose nagnanin,ous res
.olutions we published in our issue Of last
week. IF so, he and his gallant horse mari
ncrs who were ordered to charge upon a
crowd of women and children, deserve a
leather media! for their indomitable courage.
What right had the lady to show. sorrow for
a dead rebel, and do an act Of reverence
which belonged exclusively to the "truly 10y
a"? TWAS treason, and the valiant guard
were ordered to suppress it at the point Of
the bayonet. Shame for the age we live in
shame for the Government we have been com
PEELED to bow to-whose hired minions are
commanded to slaughter the innocent because
one tender hearted female dared to drop a
flower on brave mans grave. ~
@~'-'.es'@ ssOh beauteous peace! veg
Sweet union Of state! what else ebut thou
"a. Gives safety, strength, and g DRY to people?'
.neA The Baltimore Statesman has well
written editorial article headed Virginia
arousing herself" which winds up in the fol-
lowing eloquent strain: -tsa9s -a77I
-'"If the Wells party triumpRsis Virginia,
the Old Dominion will be scarcely habitable
for white men. =. Walker, the Conservative
candidate, though Northern. Republican, is
a man Of enlarged and liberal views upon
subjects of both National and State policy,
and Of personal character and standing. Mr..
Lewis, the candidate for Lieutenant, Governor,
isa gentleman Of the highest personal integg
rity and social position, and the descendant
of family renowned for its valor and chiv-
airy in the colonial era Of Virginia, one of
whose representatives is properly honored in
the group of great Virginians Of the former
era surrounding the Washington monument