The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-05
legitimate results Of the war seemed to be
cheerfully and promptly acquiesced in BY

legitimate results Of the war seemed to be
cheerfully and promptly acquiesced in BY
all.
But again comes to the surface; in our
halls Of congress and elsewhere, the same
turbulent, restless and reckless spirits, pro-
Tossing themselves statesmen, who had be-
fore fermented discord and discomfort
among the people. The demons of dis
cussion and agitation were invoked, when
discreet silence should have ruled the
hour, The soldiers who had fought the
battles we're ignored in settling the terms
of peace Mistakes would, of course, occur
when the arbitrament of questions between
soldiers should be given to men more
familiar with gas than gunpowder, those
who would shed words profusely but not
their precious blood. We are yet suffer
ing from the blunders and almost fatal
errors of our selfconstituted arbitrator.
Let us turn from the gloomy "reminiscences
of the past to the hopeful prognostics OF
the future. Our trust must ever be in the
patriotism and good judgment of the peo-
ple. The great heart of the American
people is honest and true and right.
Bring us together for council and the con-
sideration of questions of the common
veal and good results will be sure to fol-
low. From all parts of our country, from
Texas to Massachusetts, within the past
few weeks have come to our ears words of
cheer, encouragement and reconciliation.
The true and lasting work of reconstruc-
ton has indeed commenced, based upon
where all are willing participants. During
the past few weeks men who were willing
strangers and aliens to each other
before, have met over the graves OF our
soldiers as we do to day, and sworn truce
to partisan strife and hate We are on
the threshold of a new temple dedicated to
honesty, fraternity and morality. What
we must demand in order to fulfil the
great destiny marked for us is purity. hon.
or, and integrity in all our public Offices,
economy, ability and energy in all places
of public trust, state and national. Lei
the blind and senseless idol of party be
overthrown. that men shall not longer be
the tools and willing instruments of unscru
pulous leaders, Then may We look for in
dependence and manhood; free thought
and action; purer and more elevated
government.
Gen. Edgarton was followed by Major
Gallagher, formerly OF the confederate
army, but we can only give brief extracts
! from his speech, as follows:
| come not to awake bitter remem
brances of the past, nor to discuss thu
causes and effects, the rights or the wrong
which led to that terrible struggle, man.
sad results of which lie now before you, ant
{ many more in the cemetery which we will
soon visit. There as here we will see tn
{ graves covering men who fought under thu
/ blue, and under the gray; but who, befor
war shrill alarms were over, had passet
/ to the silent camping grounds, from whenc
no sound can awake them to glory again
But come at the request of those once di
: vided, now united, to cast upon the graves
) alike on ala neutral chaplet, humbl
: as it may be, of sincere sympathy and sol
2 row, and as nature, with her sweet Ma
flowers, now covers the graves of all he
alike, so the united living, where |, VIII
r followed the stars and bars, with the dis
e tinguished gentleman who preceded me
!, who followed the stars and stripes, repre-
! sent, await but few moments lapse t
o initiate their mothers example. An
would it be too strong conceit to imagin
: that the flowers now blooming over, peer
4 ing through the sod, are nurtured by tn
y bodies reposing Hereunder and ready t
welcome their sister flowers about to b
e mingled with them in memory of the dea
v resting so calmly and quietly below A
;, nations and individuals love and honor tn
+ dead. To some are erected noble monu
e ments, almost reaching to the skies ;other
I less ornate and simpler, until, at las
e it may be but simple plant on II
: lunmourpad uDturnad bii1ooE tho tr;b,,
n Of some humble sympathy and love, b.
r, even the lowest or most hated living,
d Continued on third page.)