The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-13
DECoRATING REBEL GRAVES.

once SICK man WHO nau very ""NN"
enemy. This afflicted person was one
evening lying in his bed, drifting towards
eternity under the pilotage OF the doctors'
when his enemy stole into his rooh'
plunged dagger into his breast ana ilco'
Rut instead of killing the man it opened an
ohscess and saved his life. Was reward
maid to the man with the dagger! were
tho nhvsicians who were treating the
notient TO death imprisoned? Nothing of
the kind. The physicians were paid Zee,
while the savior of the invalid was sent to
the pcnitentiary. This was because,
though the physicians were permitting the
man to die. their intentions were OF the
first water, while the man who saved the
patient had wicked and destructive inten-
ton.
Let us see. now. if this consideration
will not modify our judgments against the
South in regard to its conduct in the late
war. We were taught in our churches
Sunday schools, Bible classes and SOCIAL
intercourse, principles that, applied to
slavery. developed its dcformity W.
were abstractly right, because the current
of public opinion bore lis along, and II was
easier to go that way than any other LUIS
not easy to say, as an abstract proposition
when and where we touch the boundaries
off A mans merit when he is III the right
Surrounding circumstances. natural organ
izaiion. education, influence OF others,
absence of any contrary temptation, may
bear us along in the right path in such
manner that it is easier to go that way than
any other. So under these circumstances
sentiments grew up in the North that only
required an occasion to flame into rcsstless
power.
While through two centuries they were
achieving this growth, totally opposite
set of circumstances was swaying, mould
ing and guiding public opinion in the
South. A powerful pecuniary interest,
daily association with men of like belief,
political teachers heard with reverence,
slavery defended in pulpits of all dcnomina-
lions. and Sabbath schools and Bible
classes. What wonder if in the inmost
heart of the Southern people there came to
be an overwhelming impression that what
we considered wrongs were rights, and
what we wanted to correct, it was their
duty to defend from innovation
The doctrine that every man must Judge
for himself concerning right and wrong,
may be disputed but cannot be ovcrthrown.
A man may form his opinions upon advice
or under the influence or upon the teach
ing of others or he may independently
go to the bottom of things for himself,
and feel for the pillars upon which current
opinions stand, resolved to pull them down
if he does not like the superstructure he
may be steady or vascilating wavering Oh
firm; but after all it is himself who de
cides for himself, and it is impossible hi
oan do othnrwisa 60 th" Snrthnrn"rS
whether they would or not must decide fol
themselves. and having so decided, it was
their duty to stand by what they thought
was right. The clash had to come between
right and wrong. 1t must always com'
until God comes down out of heaven tt
teach men how and when and where tC
apply the doctrines set forth in his revealed
word.
We all recognize the right of revolution
But that can only be resorted to upon TIT
belief of the dissatisfied parties that the.
are right. If men waited till they hat
passed beyond the uncertain regions OF be
lief and had absolute knowledge that the.
were right, many budding cause o
Righteousness would never bloom. TIL
right of revolution was one we exercised II
1775, it is one we may exercise again. w
NAV be right or wrong, fail or succeed, b.
rebels or revolutionists, but whenever TIN
trial is made, if ever, it will arise from
deep, widespread conviction, honestly Ell
tertained, that rights are withheld or i'm
rsaired that self-defense requires should b
retained or re-instated. Without that be
l5ef exertion il wrong with it exertion
right. for to believe sincerely is given t
man as prompter to put forth his energy
hut to be never mistaken is not vOuchsafe
to any human creature.
A combination in one movement en-
bracing millions of all classes was SINGER
and honest movement on the part OF til
masses, whatever we may suspect OF som'
or many or all the leaders.
What is it that dignfies Il movement
men in mass The same on both sides
the late war-a heroic struggle on cac
side for what each side believed TO b
right.
# graves Of rebel dead are stlewcd vii
flowers need We fear the re-cstabllshmcl
Of slavery No one entertains such Tea
Need we fear another resort to rebellion
Not from the same parties for the eau
they fought for is dead. Need we fe
rebellion on any other account? The hon
ION seems clear. But if rebellion is
come. the quarter in which IT is to mai
its appearance, or the cause cannot be foi
seen. We may have occasion ourselves
mt forth those powers which are call
into play when rights are invaded, Al
rulers are to be taught that we at least
lieye the time for rebellion has come.
such an occasion should ever come, 1t is
likely to visit one part of the country
another, and then we may feel that
would have been well enough to have p
served the distinction between an act a
the intention, and to have suffered with'
complaint, ut least, so poor an honor
the placing of flowers upon the grave
man who died for cause he believed
be just.
In our intense consideration of the s.
iect of slavery and rebellion VIC are apt
allow those who profess sort of saints
in their views of these abstract remiI