Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-10-04
FROM tae y y. E-ei
~. Grceiey'> Progress.

Mr. Greeley. in his progre~z Westward. j.
making some very remarkable speeches, in
which his object seems % De t0 reconsider all
that hc has ever said. or thought Or done. ii
Not o. anticipate all that De may ever say.
or think. or do. 81 comprehensive are these
addresses a- e. topics. however compendi1us
they may be u- o. treatment. that Mr. Gree
leN. In that elegant leisure which the future
viii pretty certainly afford him. may per-
haps amu>e himself hy caliating and reyi~-
iug them. o. give o. his c1untrymen a new
book under the tide Of 80 W bat | know
about Every thing Certainly it would
have been better for his own reputation if
he had pat of the publication of some Of
them till they could have had that revision.
Thus. coming tn pitt~hurg upon the heels
of the soldiers Convention, he seized the
occasion IL pour out the vials of his wrath
upon that body Of men who had come to-
eothcr To renew the friendship of the battle
field and the camp. whose harl>hipS and
trials they had met m the hour oI dire peril
TO the liberties of their country and the
cause Of popular government. 1t pleased
him TO say that this large number Of men
were collected at vast expense with
the single purpose of rekmd,ng the blt
tcrne-S and hatred. the animoSitics and
autipayhv, the fears and exulatious of
civil war. for the advantage Of a political
party Considering these men We're there
AT their own charges. this was hardly a
graceful thing for a political candidate To
say who l. travelling by special train on an
electioneering tour at any body charges bat
his own, and accepting entertainment at the
public expense from partisan Common
Councils. On point of good taste. how
ever. it l. hardly worth while 90 stop t.
criticiSe Mr. Greeley.
But yituperation of the Veterans of the
Union armies Is something more than
question Of good taste. To denGunce them
as trying their best to make the people
hate each other, and to impCta TO the jour
mails that reported their proceedings pur-
pose '' 70 revive and to eXa~perate the hat
red and animo>iiy Of civil war, in order To
intensity and invig0Tate their side Of the
conflict. Is little else than an insult to the
whole country. No war that was ever
waged, even no civil war with which any
nation was ever afflicted, carried with it 50
much of personal bereavement and sacrifice
as the war Of the rebellion Black SORROW
never sat down before at 50 many hearth
stones, - be an abiding guest there. 50 long
aS the households that gather together
about them shall endure. In the history of
this nation it was a war Of tremendous
the living people it Overwhelmed and alb
sorbed all the experiences of a lifetime in
tens of thousands Of the present generation,
who gave to the war their best beloved
And it was but yesterday. Its memo
ries are still green, and very pre-
cious. and verv sacred. An in
suit to them IS to trample with ruthless
feet upon the flowers and wreaths that
are laid with pious and tender hands upon
the fresh made graves of brothers and sons
There Is something that cannot be pardoned
even TO the exigencies of e. Presidential cam
paigu and he who has no sympathy with
\ gathering of the comrades of those who
have fallen. at least should keen a respect
ful silence in the presence of men Who's
feeling he evidently cannot understand but
the depth and earnestnrss of which shonld
be plain 10 the most careless or more hostile
ewes.
ii'' III N+i'ei'1 N',iiii'' eviii P4oienu nov
any man can remember anu even cherish
the memories OF the war. and vet be neither
hitter NOR unf,rpivintr in his c,eIinos so,r,rd
H. S,,.L : a-;I1i79 'G""iU
'nc t'Gtii; i s'iihinS =, iueiice OF now