The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-07
BOYS in Blue.
DEPARTMENT or MICHIGAN,)
HEADQUARTERS OF BOYS IN BLUE, :
DETROIT, August y, 1876. }

General Order No. l.
The undersigned hereby announces
his appointment by the Veterans Ma
tiona1 Committee to the command of
the organization of Boys in Blue i'm the
Department of Michigan.
In making this announcement he
deems it proper to call the attention of
the veteran soldiers and sailors of this
State to the Importance of the political
campaign now pending. NOtwith-
standing the speciOus cry OF reform
which is shouted so Justify I'm our ears,
the great OvershadOwing question for
all to consider, Is whether it is yet safe
to trust the management of the Gov
ernment to party largely controlled
by those lately engaged I'm the rebellion.
Such result certainly ought to be
sufficient to fill the minds Ofali thought
full and patriotic citizens with grave
apprehension and alarm. No prudent
man would think Of entrusting the en-
tire charge of his business to one who
had been working with all his might
for wears to accomplish his ruin. Why
should not the rule be applied in mat
tiers of state? 1t may be true that there
Is no danger of another resort to- arms
to overthrow the Government, but is
there ut the South that high spirit of
LOYALTY which Is necessary for the just
and safe administration of the Govern
ment?
Loyalty Is something more than q
willingness to abstain from armed re-
bcllion. Itmcans respectful obedience.
1t means high and Jealous regard for
all the best interests of the Government,
q due respect for its flag, devoted de-
Tense of its honor and credit, and a
proper appreciation of and respect for
the rights and privileges of all its citi-
ZcnS.
Nothing less than this can satisfy the
requirements fgcnuine loyalty. While
there arc doubtless some men at the
South of sufficient breadth of view to
appreciate and accept the memorable
logic of events, Ii Is yet unfortunately
true that the great mass of those lately
engaged i'm rebellion do not come up to
this standard. They do not cherish for
the Government of the United States
any degree ofafiectionate regard. They
seem to regard the Government as n
legitimate object of plumber, If we may
Judge from the remarkable claims
which they have already presented
against the Treasury. They trample
upon its flag, they deliberately murder
its citizens for mere differences of opin-
ion, and the murdcrers, instead ofbcing
punished, are applauded and honorcd.
The higher significance of the disorders
at the South is not i'm the fact that they
occur, but In the spirit with which they
are received by the masses of the South
crn white people. The brutal murder
of dcfenseless prisoners Is snccred nj
and ridiculed by the Southern press and
by the representatives of the Democrat
ic party I'm the halls Of Congress, while
the murderers are culogized az men
above reproach. IL can hardly have
escaped notice that the resolution of the
st. Louis convention expressing graft.
tudc to the soldiers IL just as applicable
by its terms to those engaged In the
rebellion as to those engaged In defend
ing the Government, aud should TIN,
Democratic party succeed In obtaining
entire control of the Government, !
need be no matter ofsurprise, ifthe sol
diers of the Confederacy are placed up
on the same footing AZ our own soldiers
Indeed when we remember that among
the appointees Of the House Of Repre-