The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-11-14
What Good will 1t .Do2

Without Tue sincere cooperation OF oil classes
there to bring it. With this advantage il will
take years TO make her what she can he and what
she ought to be. Everybody must 90 to work
and do something to assist in building her wasted
and idle resources. And everybody must accord
to everybody else the same freedom of opinion and
action that he claims for himself No man must
be prescribed or intimidated or ostracised because
OF the opinion he utters by voice or ballot. This
must all be done by all. Aud the war spirit and
association must be allowed to Sleep We have
been besought to "bury the past" Let them do
what they ask US to do.
Ihe most disastrous proposition to the welfare
OF the Southern prosperity that we can imagine
IS that to "reorganize the Southern commands"
This proposition was advanced by the Atlanta
Ne~s, Oct. 9th, 1874. The reasons given are
quite as damaging as the proposition ITSELF One
is ITO have force of veteran soldiers" sThe
revival OF regiments, batteries and squadrons will
preserve and strengthen the fraternal relations
existing between the several Southern States
1t would give US an army of at least three hun
dred thousand men, and such a force would enjoy
an immense prestige. The mere fact of its exist.
ence would put an end to our political troubles.
An argument for liberty backed By three hundred
thousand breechloaders would be simply irresisti-
bLe." Reasons of this character cannot possibly
do the Southern people any good. They only
keep alive the anmosities that grew out of the
war. What possible good the reorganization OF
the Southern armies can do either the veteran
| soldiers or the Southern people is something we
confess ourselves unable to divine. The propo-
| sitien goes so far as to recommend monthly or
| quarterly drills for regiments and semi annual
drills for brigades and divisions, devoting a week
each time to the drill. This looks like prepara-
ton for war. 1t is the course pursued by Bis
marck when he expects to go to war with some
strong power. Its effect cannot be otherwise
than injurious to the peace and prosperity Of the
South. The Union soldier has forgotten his arts
Of war and lost his identity as a soldier in the
citizen. He has gone 10 the field, the shop, the
forge, the clerks DESK the law office, the bench,
| to Congress, sc. We have heard of no PROPOSE
ton OF this sort among them. When their couu-
try called them to her rescue they dropped tools,
pens, ermine whatever they were at and shout
dered the "breech-loaders" and did glorious
service. When the war ended they returned to
their peaceful pursuits. Let our Southern broth.
rem do likewise. Unless we are gravely mistaken,
| the individuals are unable financially to make
the suggestions practical. They need what funds
they have TO meet their duties to their families
And their States if they tell the truth about their
finances, can as lilly afford the expense as the in
dividuals. What good can grow out of it? Who
will be benefited by it2 If the South intends to
renew the rebellion, to inaugurate another war;
to redeem the 'lost cause" then we admit there
is some reason for the reorganization Of the South
ern armies. We can see no other motive.
If this is not the motive and object then the
best thing the Southern people can do is to put
all war associations and appearances as far from
sight as possible. The Southern people should
initiate the example of Gen. Lee if they desire
prosperity. He sheathed his sword and devoted
himself to instructng the rising generation. Let
them ell forget their warlike exploits and go to
work. Let them take the advice of Gen. Long
street and 'live up TO all the results OF the war,
encourage immigration, treat all men fairly-and
in less than five years the South would enjoy
greater prosperity than ever before" The reor-
ganizaton Of the Southern army would be inter
preted into reorganization of the rebellion. 1t
could breed only trouble. 1t could do nobody
any possible good and could not fail to do the
South and the country great deal of mischief
by keeping alive the flames of the war and en-
gendering acknowledging We trust the second
sober thought Of the Southern people will make
apparect to them the folly of such course. The
spi-h that prompts the movement will burden the
iuture with trouble that may be of graver mo-
ment than its movers dream.