The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-07-10
Greeley Deponnces the .,GranI Army OF
. .,-sia Ss..ss.,,.ss che RepubIfc ~ 49, f

4 - Z Y ~.
s-fe-sscsy, the RspubIie,,, j.
The NewYork Tribune, q short time
since, in reply to a letter written by
Henry W. Bennett, of Iowa, calling the
paper to account for denouncing the
"Grand Army" reiterates it's charges,
and speaks as follows:
These men combiaefor political pur-
poses. They propose to keep alive the
wrath and BITTERNESS of that dreadful
time. They mean to control conven-
tions and nominate men to ofice-to
perpetnate in our civil system the bitter
ness OF war. We believe the soldiers
should receive abundant reward. When
a soldier and civilian apply for Office,
all things else being equal, we should
prefer the soldier. But we dislike this
making privileged class, and especially
we dislike this getting into corner, and
having passwords and grips, and making
an exclusive class.
Washington foresaw this when he op-
posed the Society Of the Cincinnati. He
saw in this association the first step to-
ward an aristocracy, and he declined to
ally himself with it. What Washington
said should be remembered now. How
is an association more numerous and
more powerful than the Cincinnati.
which purposes to ever keep alive war
with brothers and follow .countrymen, to
exult III victories over Americans, to re-
lolce 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
onr commerce, education to the oppress-
ed, justice to ALL
We say this, and sacrifice none of the
principles defended by Mr.. Bennett. He
IS, no doubt, earnest in his belief that
his work is worthy. But there are bold.
crafty and bad men, who look upon these
societies as so many instruments for their
own advancement. They propose to ally
themselves with this military govern
ment, with no moro claim upon it than
Thernadier, i'll Hugo's novel, had to be
called the Sergeant of Waterloo. He
followed the army, and robbed the bo-
dies of the slain The true soldier
sheathes his sword, and buries it in the
closet, and it remainsIan heirloom. He
becomes citizen, and makes no claim
for political honor but that OF citizen
ship. Above all things, he does not
carry his epaulettes aud ribbons. his
wounds and bruises, to ~ political con-
vention. to be knocked down to the
highest bidder. There may be many of
these men nnwittingly in the Army of
the Republic, who probably entered with
the views of Mr.. Bennett They will
soon see how they may better orcnpy
their time.
Especially do we entertain these views
when we find in the declarations of these
secret soldier associations so many ex-
pressions 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 howling
for more blood, more strife, more bitter
ness? Do we fud Lee, or Longstreet or
Johnston, 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 paradine
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 rs out of SYM
pathy with the true Republican party,
aud rs inimical to the Constitution and
Union. 1t will be a sad day for our
party when soldiers find no better work
than to prowl over the battle field of the
past and dig up the bodies of the slain.
The country wants peace. and rest, and
harmony, and justice. These men want
a distracted country that Offices may be
gained. They would make America q
Mexico; peace would be sent to sleep
with Turks and infdels, and instead of
union, they would "the wofulest division
make that ever fell upon this cursed
earth"