The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-04
LIBERAL1TY AND BIeorRY.
EsttA. People choose between the Two.

A gentleman who heard Dr. Greggs re-
marks at the decoration ceremonies says
they were not cOuched in language calcu-
lated to reconcile the people North and
South TO one country and one government.
The DR.. regarded It as preposterous TO
suppose that Federal soldiers could tolcr-
ats the decoration Of the graves Of rebels,
etc, etc. The DR. s speech has not been
published and we did not hear it-but this
is report given TO us by one who heard it.
A Toll paper in Chicago, the Post,
characterized the intention of friends of
Confederate dead who he buried in Ar
hngtonto decorate their graves on the
S0th,as 'ill-advised and rather impudent, "
and said their intention was spoiled by a
sensible order from Secretary Belknap"
turning the control Of the cemetery, for
that day, over 70 the Grand Army Of the
Republie-a Republican political machine.
And woman in Chicago, who is pretty
full of hate, writes to the Chicago Tribune
finding fault with the liberal views of that
paper. The Tribune answers her us fol-
lows
We were not aware that anybody wished
the Grand Army Of the Republic" TO
decorate the graves Of the Confederate
dead, or expected that they would do so.
All that was desired was, that the relatives
and friends Of those dead might be per.
mitted TO pay tribute 10 their memory.
Can any person OF common sense, 10 saw
nothing Of common deceDcy, see anything
wrong in that2 And if a friend of the
Union cause-one who mOurns the loss of
a near and dear one who fought in the
Union ranks-should place a garland upon
the mound covering the body of one who
marched under the opposing flag and who,
however wrong the cause which he espous.
cd, believed in It's righttulness, gave his
life IN It's behalf and left behind him
desolate home, could any person of com
mon sense, to say nothing of common de-
cency, regard such an action otherwise than
as deed OF magnanimity, AS deed
worthy OF high praise Was not the dec
grafton OF the grave Of the Rebel Captain
nj calvary Cemetery noble act? Did
not Judge Steele, at Springfield, speak
rightly when be said Of the rebel dead
Let us not forget. while we condemn their
course, that they were flesh of our flesh
and blood Of our blood and In pity then
let US pause and drop flowers upon their
graves Did not Gov. Washburne. of
Wisconsin, do honor 10 himself and his
position when he suggested the propriety
OF laying floral tributes on the graves Of
our late enemies, not rs cOuntennncing the
crime or errors OF those who sought %
destroy the Union but as the token of n
desire 70 bury in the grave all bitterness
and luminosity Of the past? Was not a
noble sight presented at jefferson Bar. /
racks, when, after Orations BY both Union
and Confederate officers, tributes werepaid
to blue and gray alike, of l4.OOO graves
not one being passed UNDECIDED, no dis. |
tinction being made as TO loyal or rebel.
white or black
Our correspondent speaks Of "sentin,en-
tai sympathy wasted upon the South -
and cites, as reason why no sympathy
should be extended 10 that section, the fact
that Southerner rejoiced at the death of
ten. Canby. Does the South hold a mon |
opoly of foolish and unfeeling people? |
Docs not the letter Of our correspondent |
breathe the same spirit as that which ac- |
iuated the SOutherner tOwhom she refers ? /
Does not Gov. Washburn properly charae- |
terize this spirit when he says that The |
bitterness endangered by the war is only /
kept alive by the Vaccinations Of bad men
Tor base purposes ? And Is it not desirs.
BILE, in the interest Of the North as well as
OF the South, Of the Nation as well as of /
society, that this spirit, on both sides,
should be distinguished as soon as possible
should be utterly crushed out BY the
weight Of popular indignation and con
tempt and that, In its stead 10 use the
language of the rebel Col. Slayback. -
there should be peace, reconciliation. fra
ternal feeling, and hearty cooperation in
all things calculated 70 promote harmony
and conduee 10 the glory and prosperity Of
our common country N
ST. LOUIS, May SO.--The decoration of
he soldiers graves in the National Gene
cry, Jefferson Barracks. IA miles below
he city, was more largely participated in
han ever before. Thousands of gentle
men, ladies, and children Of all classes
we're on che ground. Several military
ompanies, including one colored, we're al
10 present, and participated in the exercis.
IS, which were very impressive. The
marked feature OF the day was the cordial
cooperation Of Fedcrals and Coniederates
n paying tribute 10 the memory of the
lead. The services were opened by Bish-
y Bowman with prayer, after which Col.
Ohm A. Joice Union officer. delivered an
loquent Grafton, and was followed by Col
ierrieks in a brief speech in German.
rot kethers then recited the poem emit
led The Blue and the Gray" and was
1llowed by Col. A. W. Slaybaok. Confed-
rate officer, in very eloquent address, in
lhich he plead for peace, reconciliation.
internal feeling and hearty cooperation
b all things calculated TO promote harmo.
y and e0nduee to the prosperity and glory
our common country. After the bene-
ictinn BY Bishop Bowman the great crowd.
oaded By military companies, a detach.
rent Of United States regulars. and the
ost band, formed in procession and
iargihed TO the cemetery, whore they scat
'red over the gruunds-the Blue and the
ray mingling freely and tenderly, and :
towering their floral offerings over the
raves Of departed heroes. OF the l4,OOO
raves m the cemetery not one was passed -
nheeded, the Federal, the Confederate,
~ tlc coioFeu sOluierA being alike hOnOEed
The graves in Bellefontaine and Cavalry \
I've miles above the city were
$50 decorated, and the tombs In other !
an the vicinity of the city re !
lived like attention. .
Gen. John B. Gray was president of the :
Getting at jefferson Barracks. aud opened v
in an excellent speech in (which he said II
81 Il has been left 10 us 10 rally round .,
Ie flag at last, aud in the graves of our "
,ad heroes 10 bury forever the asperities TT
civil strife. Upon each recurring year ~
us congregate ut this sacred spot, and ga
rev the brightest sweetest flowers Of Ell
ring upon the turf that nantes the clay ne
these sleeping warriors, and let us er
ach our children and our chill m
en- sJhildren that the meaning of the Blue Is Is
d the Gray is union, liberty, and peace co
c, that are left, are now neighbors and a.
ends, and for the few remaining years
youchsafed 10 US, should remember W
ut life is too short To- hate each other, and ar
re is too sweet to barter for vengeance. p
inl .Ioica in bio aNaaol aa,J -