New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-13
MEMORIES PROTITABLE AND UNPROFIT-

ABLE.
There are several things to be said for and
against Mr.. Summers proposal to the Senate
to erase from the regimental colors the names
of battles fought during the Civil War. We
long ago foresaw, and we think discussed in
these columns, the very doubts which have
now so naturally arisen In the minds OF
thinking and charitable men. When we begin
to consider the matter, we are at once placed
in dilemma which it is best fairly to recog-
nize and discuss. From one point of view,
the distinguished Senator's proposition seems
it must be admitted, to boar an ungracious
aspect. If the banners are to be preserved
why not the names Of the hard-fought fields
upon which they received their conscientious
of blood and fire If we are to have history
at all, it may be plausibly urged, there is no
reason why it should not be written upon the
torn end dusty drapery of our ensigns, as well
as printed in our annals. No estimate of the
services of the gallant men who by sea and
by land fought for the Union and so saved it,
can be exaggerated, and to efface the memen
toes of their endurance and bravery may seem
to SAVIOR Of ingratitude, 1t may be reasonably
urged that the lessons Of the Rebellion are not
to be safely forgotten, and that such painful
and disastrous events carry warning which
should be perpetuated from generation to
generation.
To this it may with equal reason be answered,
that while impartial history records events, or
should do So with judicial fidelity it defeats its
own purpose if it suffers itself to lapse into the
passionate bias of the advocate. 1t is this fault
which has rendered more than one great his
torical work, accomplished with the most pains
taking fidelity and labor valuable only for facts,
which are sometimes, nevertheless, rendered III
turn valueess by reason of the form In which
they are presented. Again, it is absolutely
necessary that the'real character of the Union
should not for moment be forgotten, since,
all through the hurry and heat of the struggle,
we were in danger of forgetting it. While
theoretically the Federal Government was no
more, and by majority was considered to DO
no more than an authoritative confederation,
its perpetual tendency. doubtless from the
necessity of the case, was TO lapse into q more
and more rigid Capitalization. Many intelli-
gent men, thoroughly loyal at heart, saw and
fully cOmprehended the danger. Some of them
were bold enough to speak, and were mis-
understood and misrepresented for their pains;
but most of them held their peace, and seemed
to acquIesce in the notions of the multitude.
We cannot. however, go on in this way for
ever. 1t is time that the real powers of the
Government should be more strictly defined.
A President who should now do what the
President did during the war would be i'm
peached and deposed within thirty days.
We want the Union, and are thor
oughly sensible of its blessings and its
advantages; but we do not want any Union,
itself moral disintegratiOn, which shall con-
tinue from year to year to be maintained not
by the ties of common affection and mutual
confidence, but by che iron bands of legal
authority. We want back something at least
of the generous sentiment which was once 80
strong and so salutary, and which circum-
stances and errors upon one side or the other
turned for time into hatred. We have had
bitter family quarrel-how is the family
harmony to DO brought back againf This is
q problem before which wo may well sit down
in hopeless despair, unless upon both sides
there il to be forgiveness and forgetfulness.
The greatest error into which tho North can |
fall will be that of an unreasonable and over
weening pride in its mere military success;
and it is against this, perhaps, that the learned
Senator for Massachusetts, more particularly |
desires TO guard us. He thinks, it may |
DO that we should not ask the South TO do |
more than we are willing to do ourselves !; |
and, If we do not permit those lately in re-
bcllion 10 decorate the graves of their dead |
heroes without finging at them words of harsh |
rebulie, that we ought not to set them an ex-
ample w an unnecessary and ob.rusiye pride |