Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-08
Justice to the Patriotic Defenders
of the Country.

UenIv Ward Beecher delivered an eloquent adj
press at the late reunion of the veterans OF the
Army of the Potomac at Springfield, in which be
said
The scenes are growing lin 10 the past and
already men are counting popularity by doing
desrite 10 the army and TO the men that saved
this nation. am not of their number, To-day
| do homage to the heroic men who have saved
the constitution the unity of the States, the hon
or and power of the nation. The army OF the
Potomac was worthy to count itself the peer Of
the best If to its early history was given loog
and severe trials il Fl, that its last wear should
be fun of victories, and that 10 1t should nave
been acc orded the privilege Of overthlowiug tue
lat army of the CoDfereracy and enforcing
neace. The desire 10 heal the wounds of war,
The wish to concate aud reune those who have
hcen al stiife j. both humane and patriotic. Bat
the spiit of reconciliation may not be
wi.ey guided. II certainly will not be II II
CLOSES over the crimnality ct those who led the
country toto this fict the crime OF disruption
and dlsuBion; the virtue and reclitude OF the en-
deavort0 maintain unity and Law, and the value
to America and to universal civilization OF the re-
suits of the war.
Taunts, vainglorous comparisons. depreciation
of the yigor and bravery of the enemy, and what
ev,r springs from ha red, or revenge, or selh-h
ness should be buried. But honest truth should
he {, arles.ly spoken. The South was wrong.
The Norh wa right. This must stand out as
clear a. The sun. We admit the bravery Of south
ern men the yallantrv of Their officer; the skill
and genius Of their great gen r1l'. But 1t was
bravery, skill and genius exerted in had cause
We admit that to the men Of the South their cansc
seemed 20 ne that Of lihertv-thst they were SIM
ccre and honest. We willingly accredt them
with great military virtues. But W. DENY Ia
their leaders to thei, cause, all polited wisdom
Tho South from 1910 sought wrong enfs by
wrong methods The war was the result of south
ern heresies. la the whole his ory of human pro
cedure there were never more blunders committed
than hy Southern statesmen. The conduct OF
kings and nohes precedirg the great French rev
0lution. was MT more unwise, more fatal to their
own interest. than the STEPS taken nv the South
for q quarter of century before the war
We shah wong the memory Of the dead It we
admit tie equality of those who fell in good
cause and those who fell IN q bad. Personally.
one NAV have been as good as another But, as
rep ese ntstve Of great principle, one fought for
darkness and the oher for light; one strove for
slavery and the other for liberty. Whatever was
the personal recitnde. sincerity, he roism, Of the
iudivi Iual, the Southern army was swept on by
great under influence. of evil which overruled the
W Of ndiy iduals and made them the unconsciou.
soldiers OF despotisn. We dishonor our dead
when make no distinction between those who
died for liberty and those who died for slavery.
Reconciliation purchased by rubbing out the whole
meaning of the war, the grandeur to mankind Of
tic influences, is not compromise, but surren-
der If it brings peace, it is the peace of death.
am willing to strew flowers upon the graves of
Southern soldiers a. men. and under the influence
of that generous sympathy that we cherish for all
mankind; hut not a. the defenders of a lost
cause that was rightly lost; not on the sane
day with the fallen champions for Liberty Not
with nv right hand ohaplets for soldiers of free
dom, and my left hand chapletS for soldiers of di'-
ruption, rebellion aud slavery Is il becoming
that we should by such actions testify to the world
that the VIII lie difference between slavery and
liberty is only the ference of the left and right
hands-a mere difference of degree and not If
kiudi II is for You, gentlemen OF the Army of
the Potomac to resist such criminal folly; to #
up the true meaning of the war so high that no
dust shall obscure ii and, as by your heroic SER
vice You have become an example to our youth in
courage and self devotion, so you should be th. r
instructors III the everlasting principles OF truth,
equity and liberty, which upderaid the war, and
without which il was not a grand sacrifice, but q
tyigantir huichPrX