The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-08
A Contrast.

A Contrast. /
Whom the war closed. tho political chiefs
who had risen to prominence and power In the
North, saw that with restoration OF good
feeling, the cause of their usefulness would
cease. By rendering the war popular with
tho Northern masses, they had greatly oontri- |
buted to their own popularity, and were not
slow to discern that the growth of senti-
rsens that the war was o misfortune rather
than pride and glory, would be the fatal
signal for the decline OF their own individual
influence and authority.
Tho possibility or this latter eventaality
was to be removed ct any cost, and, for this
purpose the leaders of radicalism did mot hes
itats to institute such measures as they
thought were calculated to keep alive the Bit
ter auimosities engendered by the war. OF
the practical effectiveness of most of those
measures, we Of the south have had numerous
and sadly instructive Illustrations, but there
exists ono institution, the result Of radical In
geuuity and maliguity, With all the workings
Of which We srs not 90 familiar Secret 90 to
iss tzas designs and purposes, and patriotic in
its title and oste.sible objeot, tho Grand Army
Of tho Republic has spread it's manifestations
s.~S-~-S
eanized its encampments in every village
and hamlet, and sought to influence political
questions and measures In tho interest Of those
crafty politicians whom it Acknowledges as
| commanders.".
It's members profess to be of those who bore
arms and barred their breasts to Southern bull
lets daring the war, but We venture to say
that however many true soldiers of the Union
may have been sedueed into the organization
| by what they deemed its social and patriotic
purpose, its rolls can now boast the names of
but few such men.
| A feature which seems to be q singularly Pc
culiar characteristic of this organization of
professed veterans, is it's implacable hostility
to its late antagonists. Not content with re-
ducing its opponents to the last extremity of
suffering and want, Notwithstanding the wide
| spread waste and desolation to which it re-
dueed the land of its conquered foes, aete'-
mum serraas sub pectore valnas," the Grand Army
still nurses it's resentment even against the
dust of the {. Rebels" whom it slew. A re-
cent telegram from Washington told us that
this Grand Army of most magnanimous heroes
had determined to prevent the adornment on
\ Decoration Day of the graves of the few Con-
tolerate soldiers who are sleeping their last
sleep atArlington. Whether they succeeded OF
not, matters not. II is possible that the Federal
authorities blushed ct this excess Of patriotic
fervor and gently Restrained the courtly
knights from executing their laudsble pur
posess; but it is an evidence quite irresistible
that with tho Grand Army Of the Republic at
, least, the war is not yet over.
, Contrasting with this repulsive picture o.
mans hatred Of man, We copy from the Reg;ste
, an occurronoe that marked the colebration o
Decoration Day in Mobile. "Upon tho CON
elusion Of Coalector Reynold's remarks, 9 bean
sifal bouques of flowers, arranged in most OK
quisitstaste, the gray and blue being blended
D was sent upon the mound, with card whiol
: read as follows:
TIE MOBILE CADETS
t OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY
4 HONOR THE MEMORY
= or THOSE VINO THOUGH THEIR RNRAGrEs IN WA
b WERE MEN
AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO THEIR DUTY"
Tho two pictures are Q ,mewhat incongruoui
> yet We are content to have them compare
and the conclusion deduced. The sentimen
t which actuated the Mobile Cadets on the BOT
i of May is the Same which the whole South
Q ern people have eRdeavored to cherish sine
Q the war closed, and which we trust they wi
h adhere to until the end. The passions enger
4 dered by the war have been slow to COO
, thanks to such institutions a. the Grand Arm
of the Republic, but We are still hopeful tbs
the day 10 NOT very far distant when,