The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-31
Golden Rule, demand the educatiopo of all


war, which peopled the graves that lie
before Us, have we not great occasion to
pour out the gratitude Of our hearts with
the flowers now strewn on this consecrat.
ed spot. The ceremonies OF to-day tend
to keep alive the sentiments Of patriotism
in the hearts Of the survivors OF those
whose virtues. we commemorate. The
very performance Of this duty OF affection
toward the dead has its reflex influence
upon the living, Here we are reminded
that the strength OF the Government un.
der which we live is in the loyalty and
virtue Of its people; that the citizens are
the country, and the country Is what the
people make 1t, This is the key that opens
the secret OF the strength Of republican
government, which leans upon the people,
and not the people upon It. The whole
story Of the patriotism and, sacrifices 'Ot
the men who died in defense Of the Union
is told by Mr., Lincoln, when he declared,
on the field 'Of Gettysburg, that "they
gave their lives that the government Of
the people by the people and for the peo-
pie should not perish from the EARTH" A
nobler sentiment in filter words was never
uttered.
These ceremonies are conducted In no
spirit Of boastful GXultatiOn over the men
who fell on the other side, or their sur.
viying comrades. The graves through.
out the South, in which sleep thousands
who arrayGd themselves against the Gov
ernmGnt, testify TO their courage and SOL
dierly bearing, Their bravery and en-.
DURANGO were illustrated on many well
contested fields, 1t Is impossible to doubt
that the masses among them fought for
what they believed to be right, and how
ever much they may have been misled by
false theories OF government, or deluded
by artfIl teachings Of cunning and am.
bilious leaders, We cannot fail to recog.
nilc their yalor and tenaCity, and tho
fidelity with which they adhered to the
cause in which they had enlisted so long
as tho conflict continued. II our own
great President could declare in the
midst OF the strife that 1t was prosecuted
on our part with malice toward none, but
with charity 10 all, how much more
ready should we be to bury the 'animosity
that belongs to the past, and concede to
the men who fought against us the quail
ties illustrated by their courage and devo.
tiOn TO the cause Gspouscd by them. Who
TINT bears in his bosom the heart Of an
American citizen can fail to recall with
proud satisfaction the many acts Of kind.
ness and libernlity Of our military lead.
ers toward u fallen foe2 No incident OF
tln ,ptII hans a t,tNtNnN0
place In history Than that which occurred
at the browning victory ut AppomattOx,
where our greatest military Chieftain &c.
corded to the conquered army Of the re-
belliOn terms Of surrender which were
both Just and generous, where his superb
mngnanimity for steadiast and unselfsh
patriotism no lcss than for his splendid
achievements in the field, the people
have twice called him to preside over a
reunited country, aud In despite Of polit.
ical enmity, and personal malice, harm.
less against such as he,history accord
him the highest rank Us n leader.
The two grand results Of the war which
more than compensate the country for
all its sad bereayements and vast expend.
iture Of money and property, are the ex.
tinction Of slavery and the recognized in.
,lissoluGilily Of our National Union, and
The time Is not far distant when these will
DO accepted and admitted as blessings by
the people Of every section. The men Of
the South will sooner or later, admit
that success In what they undertook
would have been u griovOus misfortune,
| -, IbnFp,,nl,tnu NhnN Nl,n,t a,t
think Of their action in the past Is Of little
moment, so fdr rs thOy can affect the pres
cnt and future interests OF the country.
What We have q right to expect and In
sist upon Is cal,loyalty in the future
Of the country, and cheerful obedience.to
its Constitution and laws. Mere his.
torical land sentimental loyalty Is Of far
eas consequence We max no sacrifice Of
conviction, no humiliation Of f,Eoldierly
pride, while insisting and enforcing every
principle resulting from the victory. We
may look with indulgence, II not with in.
difference, on the apologies and deienses
that will certainly through all time be
put forth by the descendants OF the men
who fought on the side OF the rebellion,
and agree TO differ with them on what Is
rapidly becoming mere chronicle of
record and Of theory. -.
The history Of the world furnishes .ex.
amples, from which we may learn lessons
Of wisdom In this respect. The past
struggles In our mother country illus.
trato what mean. The great, the lead.
era on each side OF the civil war Of the
seventeenth century : Hampden, Pym,
Cromwell, Falkland, Hyde and 0rmond
-llaye full justice done them by all com.
petent historians, and their virtues and
talents arc the common heritage OF the
English people. And the historians Of
those times are equally loyal to the
British Consultation Of to-day, whether
they take the side Of the Cavaliers or
eSpouse the cntse Of the Round.hendS, nay
more, in the next generation after the
termination Of that bitter and bloody
struggle, the immediate descendants Of
the men whom | have mentioned, and
who probably could not have discussed
the question Of the arrest OF the FIVE mem.
bers Of the grand remembrance without
crossing swords, united In driving James
the Second from the throne and establish.
Ing that combination Of freedom and order
which has given England her greatest
prosperity. The Scottish rebellion in ia.
vOr Of the House Of Stuart, In the last cen.
tury, Is a still more striking illustration
Of how men may, with totally different
and irreconcilable views on historical
issues, yet he practically and earnestly
loyal TO the present and future Of u com.
mon country.
As writer OF history and historical
romance Sir Walter Scott was an intense
Jacobite and bitter opponent Of the
house Of Hanover, and yet, in spite Of
his historical theories, hG was an enthnsi.
astic loyalist toward George III. and
George ". No part Of the British isles
was moro loyal than Scotland, and yet !
undertake to say that to-day In no part
Of the civilized world could there be
aroused more bitter discussions and con.
troveFsies over the struggles in which
that people have been engaged.
May we not, them look forward with
assured confidence to tile time In the near
future when all intelligent men, North
and South, will not only accept the result |
Of the late conflict, but will recognize
the blessings that flow from it, and admit
that any other issue would have been an
irreparnble calamity to both sections Of
the country2 While we must differ
from those who sought to dissolve the