Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-06-25
The Dead Soldiers.

General Logan, as Commander in Chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic, has
issued an order explaining why the graves
of the rebel soldiers are not decorated
with those of the Union soldiers. He
says that it is from no vindictive emotion,
but from the wish to distinguish the feel
ing with which the nation regards free
dom ard slavery, Republican principles
and those of slave-holding oligarchy.
Chief Justice Chase has also written a
letter in reply to an invitation to assist at
the ceremony of decoration in Charleston.
He asks, May we not indulge the hope
that ere long we who adhered to the ma
tiOnal cause will be prompt also to join
in commemorating the heroism of our
coultrymen who fell on the other side ?"
1t is pity that the career of the Chief
Justice suggests the suspicion that his
letters are always written with one eye
upon the White House. Certainly this
letter has the distinction of suggesting
course which would put an end to the fes-
tival of decoration by making it worse
than meaningless. 8H
General Logan's order states the case
truly. The graves of the Union soldiers
are decorated, not because they are dead
and were brave, but because they gave
their lives and their heroism to the no.
blest cause. Calhoun was undoubtedly
honest in his convictions. Is he therefore
to be equally hOnored with Abraham Lin
coin? That the rebel soldiers were sin
cere and fought bravely has never been
questioned; but they spent their lives and
their valor for the most inhuman and de-
testable cause in history. Mr.. Chase en-
tirely misconceives the case. 1t is not
heroism that is honored in the decora-
tions of the graves, it is humanity and
Justice. If he will go to Lexington and
Concord and Bunker Hill he will find
monuments to brave men who fell in the
earliest battles of the Revolution. Does
he think that they are cOmmemorated for
their bravery? No; it is for defending
their country against unjust aggression.
The tall gray shaft on Bunker Hill does
not chiefly say, "These were brave men !"
it says, "This was great cause"
Undoubtedly General Gage was as sure
of his cause as Putnam or Prescott or
Warren Does the Chief Justice think
his name should be carved upon the mon
ument? Major Pitcairn at Lexington
was as brave and sincere as the farmers
upon whom he fired; shall he too be hon.
ored by a grateful America? Or is it
greater offense for an Englishman to as
sert the authority of the Crown in an
English colony than for an American cit
izen to attempt to overthrow the Govern
ment and rend his country in order to per-
petuate human slavery? There may be
question of the wisdom of the festival which
the Grand Army has established, but there
can be more that General Logan's view
of it is correct. 1t is intended, by refresh.
ing the sweet memory of the brave boys
who died for liberty and justice, our
brothers whom slavery slew, to renew the
national fidelity to the eternal principles
of liberty upon which alone human socie-
ty can be firmly founded. 1t may be
doubted whether the method is wisely
chosen There can be no doubt that the
object is as lofty as any that the American
heart can cherish-Harper's Weakly. i