North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-06-22
McGREG0R IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE &c. 1870

right and the other wrong. War had come.
Let us thank God that the conflict is over.
Let us all recognize the consistency, integ.
rity and devotion to principle of both
sides, and not provoke new hostilities by
indulging in terms of contumely toward
one another.
l have no doubt that thousands of Con-
eederate soldiers fell fighting bravely on
the battle field whose souls are now in
heaven. l have no doubt that thousands
of Federal soldiers fell on the field of bat
tie fighting just as bravely, and that now
their souls are also in heaven. Do you
think they are fighting and quarrelling
there to-day over this contest? There was
a soldier in my command who was NOR
tally wounded in skirmish, and as he lay
dying, he sent for nae and others of his
comrades. He said: "Colonel, fight on.
and you my comrades. Your cause is just
and if you fall as l have done, try and
meet me in heaven" Could he have done
this had he not believed he was right? and
those of the opposite side were no less sim
cere.
The contest is over, and we have simply
to abide its result, but we have duties to
perform. The victorious party has upon
its side the government, Which, as is
right, sustains its wounded soldiers, gives
pensions to the widows and orphans, and
gathers its dead soldiers into magnificent
cemeteries /; erects above them noble mon
uments, handing down their fame to pos
terity, with honor to them and glory to
the government.
How is it with our dead Their govern
ment is gone. The flag they died beneath
is driven from the face of the earth. There
is no power to grant honors to the dead or
pensions to the living. Then there re-
mains for US, the survivors, a solemn duty.
1t is to care for the orphans of those who
died for US /; to see that they are support
ed, that they are taught to be good citizens
and good christians. 1t is our duty too,
to provide for the widows of those brave
men, whom we see here and everywhere,
draped in black, with their little children
who now look to them as their only earth
ly protectors and to see that they do not
suffer. Who would not divide even his
last pittance with those to save them from
want?
am glad to see here among this vast
crowd SO many of those who once fought
against us, joining in this decoration. l
am glad to see that the time has come
when, iergetting the bitterness of the past
we can honor the dead of both sides Here
around us lie thousands of the Conleder-
ate soldiers. Yonder on that hill are bu-
ried thousands of the Federal soldiers
They are brethren now. Let all the SUR
vivors also be brethren, granting each that
the other fought in cause he believed to
be right and was willing to die for.
There was touching incident occurred
at the decoration of one of the Northern
cemeteries, last year, which illustrates the
spirit that should animate us. think it
was at Gettysburg. There was a lonely
grave Of some poor rebel, and little Yam
kee girl had hung wreaths of flowers apon
it. Some one asked why she did. "Oh,
sir" she said, he had mother or a sister,
and for their sake l did it." Such an ex-
ample is full of patriotism and Christian
ity that should sink deep into every heart.
Monday, the day following, the Union
graves were decorated with appropriate
ceremonies, the same fraternal feeling was
manifested. One half of those present
and participating in honoring the Federal
dead were Southerners. The Usien orr.
tor said:
''Nor can l, after the scenes of ycster-
day and the magnanimous sentiments ut
tered by gallant soldier over other brave
men, withhold a tribute to those soldiers
under another flag, whose valor on the
field is surpassed only by the gracefulness
with which, when all but the memories of
an unsuccessful service is lost, adjust
themselves without complaint to their new
relations, and who. regardless of past
opinions and sentiments, now give them
selves, without reservation to their country
their whole country, and vie with genuine
enthusiasm with the warmest defenders of
the Union in making the land again bloom
with liberty, fraternity and peace. Here
is triumph and a 5loodless victory over
feelings almost instructive, which is as
worthy of commentator as it is benign in
its influence. Ssch men at our hands
shall receive ever cordial greeting"
The Chattanooga Times says:
I" Yesterday and Sunday two of the best
days work were accomplished ever done
in Chattanooga. Sunday witnessed large
numbers of Federal soldiers uniting with
the friends of the Confederates, to pay
tribute Of respect to their yalor, and it
witnessed, too, a speech from gallant
Confederate soldier which did honor to the
people he represents, and was we'll calcu-
lated to convince those who heard it, and
those who may read it as reported else
where in this paper, that we are indeed
one harmonious people, ard have forgot
ten forever the animosities of the past.
The exercises of yesterday were no less
gratifying to every true patriot. As the
Federal soldiers on the previous day had