Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-12
SECRET POLITICAL ORGANlZA-
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4 AAV1u0s
| The GRAND Army of the Republic
"InimIcal 10 the Consultation and
the Unien' Iaaff sg1aRtH
In reiterating article not long ago,
condemnatory Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, brought out by letter from
Mr.. Henry w Bennett, of Davenport,
Iowa, calling the New York Tribune to
account for denouneing that organization,
that paper, speaking Of the Grand Army
of the Republic, took occasion to express
itself with elaboration as follows; -.
These men combine for political pur,
poses. They propose to keep alive the
wrath and bitterness Of that dreadful
time. They mean to control conventions
and nominate men to office--to perpetu~
ate in our civil system the bitterness of
war. We believe the soldier should re-
ceive abundant reward. When soldier
and civilian apply for office, all things
else being equal, we should prefer the
soldier. But we dislike this making a
privileged class, and especially we dislike
this getting into corner and having
pass words and grips, and making an
exclusive class. 49, -NA-
washington foresaw this when he
opposed the Society of the Cincinnati.
He saw in the association the first step
toward an aristoeracy, and he declined to
ally himself with it. What Washington
said should be remembered now. Here
is an association more numerous and more
powerful than the Cincinnati, which pur~
poses to ever keep alive a war with
brothers and fellow >countrymen, to exult
in victories over Americans, to rejoice
over the destruction of men in whose
blue veins runs the blood which courses
in our own, and who, whatever their
crimes or errors, are Of our own country.
We say let all the memories of the past
sink into the hell to which they belong;
let US think only of the wounds to be
healed, of harvests to grow again, of seas
once more covered with our commerce,
education for the ignorant, protection to
the oppressed, justice to all. 1870
We say this, and sacrifice none of the
principles defended by Mr.. Bennett.
Hs is, no doubt, earnest in his belief
that his work is worthy. But there are
crafty, bold, bad men, who look upon
these societies as SO many instruments
for their own ADVANCEMENT They pro-
pose to ally themselves with this mill,
tary government, with no more claim
upon it than Thenardier, in Hugo's
novel, had to be called the Sergeant of
Waterloo He followed the army and
robbed the bodies of the slain. The
true soldier sheaths his sword and buries
it in his closet, and it remains an heir
loom. He becomes citizen, and makes
no claim for political honor but that of
citizenship. Above all things he does not
carry his epaulets and ribbons, his
wounds and bruises, to political con-
vention, to be knocked down to the
highest bidder, There may be many of
these men unwittingly in the Army of
the Republic. who probably entered
with the views of Mr.. Bennett. They
will soon see how they may better occu-
py their time.
Z Especially do we entertain these
views when we find in the declaration
Of these secret soldier associations so
many expressions of madness. The true
soldier is the most generous of foemen.
Take the great captains who commanded
the contending hosts. Do we find Grant,
or Sherman, or Sheridan, or Thomas, or
Meade, assembling together and bowling
for more blood, more strife, more bitter
ness? Do we find Lee, or Longstreet, or
Johnson, or Beauregard insisting that
the hates Of secession shall be prolonged?
These men fought their fight and ended.
Their anger ceased with the echo Of the
last guns fired in anger. From this
Grand Army of the Republic now parad-
ing through political conventions in the
West, commanded by the captains Of the
caucus, the lobby, and the bar-room we
appeal to the Grand Army of the Re-
public which carried our banners over q
hundred fields under the eye Of Grant,
Sherman, and Sheridan. We denounce
this new, secret association as out of
symsthy with the true Republican party
and as inimical to the constitution and
the Union. 1t will be sad day for our
party when soldiers find no better work
than to prowl over the battle.fields ofthe
past and dig up the bodies of. the slain.
The country wants peace and rest, and
harmony, and justice. These men want
distracted, country that offices may be
gained. 4 They would make America
Mexico; peace would be, sent to sleep
with Turks and infdels, and, instead Of
Union, theywould- rthe wofulest division
make that eveFa-fell upon this cursed
earth Yrt ?, TT k7lyJT2 T 4 /