The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-02-29
Tho Voice Of the soldiers.

We copy this from the Mason News
~ one Of the many like communica-
tions that have appeared in tho col
umns OF our State exchanges since tho
amnesty debate:
To the Editor OF the Ingham County News;
Drp-Ii~--~ oi-n 40. tho favor OF ad-
dressing through your columns the
wise man of the Lansing journal, who
would teach Mr.. Blaine's statesman
ship; who would blot ont all history,
whether ii be the Duke of Alya in the
Netherlands or patriotic victories in
our land-Antietam, Gettysburg, Sher-
mans march to the sea, the surrender
of Lee ut Appomstox, the horrors of
Andersonville, all must be blotted out,
and like whipped spaniels sneak along
and not sueak OF those things for fear
of hurting the feelings Of that arch
fiend, Jeff Davis, who has been forever
guilty of as dastardly and hellish acts
as have ever been charged to the Duke
of Alva of infamous memory.
Is this the mastery craftsmanship
of the Journal's ex-soldier? The afro
cities Of Andersonville shall be de-
nounoed as long as civilization lasts;
and it shall be co-equal with the glori-
Gus record Of our arms which shall new
er be effaced.
10 was not war to crafty unhallow-
ed ambition-to aggrandize the few at
the expense OF the many-to gratify
the lust Of power or military glory, but
the uprising of self-governed, intelli-
gent people. who threw themselves in
TO the breach in defense OF a principle
of right aud national unity.
We can with prido say that by the
triumph of our arms no human righ!
has been destroyed, but rather human
wrong has been purged from our stat
ute books, and though instances OF
wrong there are, they are no longer
sanctioned by law, but are the offspring
of ignorance, prejudice and lswless
passion. In the highway, on the los.
trum, aud from the public press. they
ask us to forget not only the horrors
but the glorious triumphs of the past.
Comrades, when they ask us to forget
the past with all its glorious memories,
they ask too mach; as we'll might tsey
say, with any hopes OF success to the
| mountain, "Be thou removed into the
depth OF the sea-" or the snn in tbs
heavens, "Be thou extinguished." God
of heaven what can those men NEAR
forget tho past-forget what is tho
crowning glory of the ages--forget
what will be the pride, the boast and
the example OF the noble and true OF al
climes-forget the past and blot ou
one of the brightest pages of the world
history.
The response Of every soldier anC
patriot will be, "No never THOUSAND
times never T.
It il our right to rejoice over the in
estimabls blessings that have followes
from the triumph Of our arms. An,
while we with q generosity unparallel
ed in history, have SO scattered par
dons broadcast throughout the land
and have no animosity towards our fel
low countrymen of the South who hav
accepted OF the situation in good fait
yet nino out OF every ten soldiers i
Michigan will with one voice prote,
: against granting amnesty to Jea Davi
and will sustain Mr.. Blaine in all tru
and patriotic efforts that he may pu
! forth to thwart tho schemes OF ev
!, and designing men.
All. Mr.. sy-rebels Soldier, there
! no necessity 10 prove to you where th
gospel Of hate is preached and practi'
2 ell the most. You know that IL is b
|. Hill and his confederates.
A. CAMERON,
: Late of the Sixteenth Mich. IDfantr.
!; Lansing, Mich, Feb. z, 1876.