New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-21
POLITICAL NEWS
A SOLDIERS DUTY.
WHAT THE VOLUNTEERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THEY SHOULD NOW AIM AT.

/
THEY SHOULD NOW AIM AT.
To fhs Rdifor OF The TrtbHne.
Sir The signature of Con. Averell Of Minnesota
IN call for Convention Of Soldiers and Sailors TO
be held in Pittsburgh in September has led 10 some
| misapprehenHon among the friends OF that olStin-
Quished gentleman, and my own, which l wish 10
correct. IL Is a matter of no public moment out as
it has been deemed worthy of occasional mention IN
the press, duty to the cause which support anu my
personal convictions impel me TO state that uo ho'
concur in the call referred to that cannot w
soldier citizen, listen TO it nor vote Tor the cai-
date in whose interest it was issued
1t would always give me the greatest pleasure 10
meet my comrades of the war for the promotion OF
any social and patriotic purpose; but eouiu horoi
countenance the pervorson of such meeting to tho
purpose of reviving and sustaining the bitterness
and animosties of the war With many thousands
I believe the war an inevitable and unavoidable
struggle between two distinct and conflicting
social forms-a democracy and narstocracy founded
respectively ON the dignity and degradation Oh
human labor The persistent inroads of the Democ-
racy ON the South had imperled their social struc-
ture and in time would have destroyed It, thus rem
dering separation its only salvation Our material
interests and never failing devotion to our nation
atty mpeed us TO accept the issue of war to prevent
disunion. In the conflict that ensued, those VINO
fought on the Southern side were no moro TO DO re-
preached for living under and believing Id the social
system which they had inherited, than we who shed
our blood in maintaining tho purer democracy IN
which we had been born and educated. The South
was ready willing, and strong. Her strength was
measured by the 10000 men, and S3,OO0OCO'OO re-
ouired TO crush her The strength of the North was
not measured
Our nationality was saved. and labor MADE Tree
throughout the land. These results, which cost us
so many lives ard so much money, were accepted by
the South. The people. with tho habit OF concen-
tratng all praise or all blame on an INDIVIDUAL
selected Gen. Grant the ideal, on whom they be-
slowed all honor and all power. Since George Wash
ington to no American citizon has been afforded
such great opportunities to Ulysses s. Grant, and
no man. living or dead, has ever exhibited such abb
solute lack of intelligence to understand or OF VIII
TO embrace thom. That he has bad the necessary
power has been shown by his ability to make extra
ordinary exertions for the Of many unworthy
and unconstitutional schemes without provoking
articles of impeachment. His first great oppor-
tunity to reconcile this people, to heal tho national
wounds by the first intention, was utterly disre-
garGed. What had he to teaTi No human power
could alter the results of the war; Union
and democracy were assured forever The sol
diers of tho south had not only laid down their
arms hut had at once como to hard work at va
rious occupations formerly despised, showing
that they had wei learned the lessons of the war
Every consideration of honor. dignity and even OF
mercy, demanded that we should encourage them
in their struggle for life and peace, no less heroic
than their conduct in battle The shattered irag-
ents of their former social structure were ready NJ
hand to reconstruct society Oh Democratic founda-
tion. but those fragments have been ground into
,I..t,. l,oaI nf - rant nd
the men who control him. Ignorant, superstitious
negroes who will abide with us forever, have not
been instructed in tho duties Of seli-gOvernment;
but by the special efforts of the President and of his
Cabinet and other officials they have had their APP
nrehensions aroused and race hatred begOtten. III
this be peace then the frmest rallying cry Of his
partisans Let us have peace" is q cruel mockery
The peace promised four years agowas a national
demand, demand more imperative to-day than
ever IT is not to be approached OF attained through
the meeting of few soldiers at Pittsburgh 10
revive the gioyous memories OF civil war
long since concluded. / believe in no distinctive
class The soldier who bore arms and the
citizen who contributed of his means to preserve the
Union, each performed only his duty gathering
of soldiers for the purpose of controlling or IN
fnencng the political action either OF late comrades
OF of other citizens is not think. IN Keeping with
the spirit of our Democracy cOuldtake no part in
that Convention even if were IN political accord
with the gentlemen who signed the call. shall do
what / can honorably to defeat the reelection of
President Grant and shall make every proper effort
in my power toward securing the election of Horace
Greeley. / believe that the latters success in the
present contest will to tho nation that peace
of which it has been for seven years defrauded.
Is it not our imperative duty to replace an Execu-
tive who has shown himself officially incompetent,
and in many ways Objectionable. by man of the
people and not of Ring-a man whose unquestioned
honesty intelligence. and maryelols industry will
enable him so TO conduct the executive affairs that
the General Government shall do duty toward re-
lieAing the miseries and ills that have dsheartened
and naralvzed the South and delayed our Union for
seven weary years. WILLIAM W. AVERELL-
Nep- York. Aug. 12. 1872.