The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-06-06
a HIsaTss srEEess.

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3 memorial service Al Booths theater
SeW York. and being called upon for 4
speech gave utterance 10 some
thoughts which ought to be treasured
Up BY all good patriots. We give AZ
extract
There are such things as abstract
right aud abstract wrong. aud when
history is written human actions must
take their place 10 one or the other cat.
egory. We claim that, in the great
civil war, we Of The National army
were right and our adversaries wrong
and no special pleading. no excuses, no
personal motives. however pure and
specious eau change this verdict Of the
war
would not for the world revive the
angry passions Of that period Of time,
nor do | question the personal motives
Of our the antagonists but ] do and
ever will contest the proposition that
we should tear from the history OF our
country the pages which record the
great events from 1860 TO 1865; for
they should stand there forever as a
warning TO those who come after US
who, from passion, seli-interest or any
human cause or pretext whatever, may
undertake TO destroy this government
by violence. No ! the deeds OF our
dead heroes are already recorded in the
book Of Time, and marble and brass
will continue 10 record them long after
we are dead and gone. In the Ian
guage of our great leader, General
Grant prolonged cheers. we will
never apologize for the deeds done in
ls6l'65, but will treasure up their
memory, and on every suitable occasion
as long as life lasts, will present them
anew to the youth of this county as
noble examples Of heroism and patriot.
ism for they saved this nation from
absolute humiliation, or, at the very
least, from long period of intestine
warand anarchy.
II is related of Gen. Scott that when
asked in 1861 the probable duration Of
the then civil war, he answered: 1.-THE
conflict of arms will endure five years,
but will be followed by twenty years OF
angry STRIFE by the belligerent non.com-
patents" The war Of arms only lasted
four years, and let US hope that the
belligerent non.combatents will give us
a corresponding shorter period of civil
contention than was then predicted,
so that nature and natures benign laws
may be allowed to resume their sway,
to lead US out of our mazes OF wordy
controversy and give to each and every
man in this land perfect freedom to
work out his own destiny by his own
industry and by his own thrift. with
ample protection to his life and proper
ty, and without fear of further civil
strife.
Men who have felt the sting of the
bullet, have heard the crash Of the can
mons shot and exploding shell, or have
Witnessed wars usual scenes of havoc
and desolation, rarely appeal to war as
remedy for ordinary grievances.
Wars are usually made by civilians.
bold and defiant in the forum. but when
the storm comes they 60 below and
leave their innocent comrades TO catch
the "peltings of the pitiless storm"
To this we have great many honor
able exceptions. speak of Europe as
we'll as of America. OF the half mil
lion Of brave fellows whose graves have
this day been strewn with flowers by
loving hands, not one in a thousand
had the remotest connection with the
causes CT the war which led TO their
untimely death.
Now | beg you and the general pub.
lie will not misconstrue my meaning,
Though the head OF an army, public.
ly proclaim our profession to be to pre-.
vent war. aud claim that my predeces-
sors in office-Washington, Scott and
Grant, were essentially men Of peace,
who saved our country from many
wars into which public clamor tried Ia
push them. now hope aud beg thai
all good men, South and North, viii
unite 10 real earnest to repair the mis-
takes and wrongs of the past. will per
severe in the common effort TO make
this great land Of ours 10 blossom al
the Garden Of Eden will SO unite il
effort that every part Of it from Maine
TO Texas - from Florida TO Puget'I
Sound-will be made so safe 10 life anC
property that men may engage safely
in every possible pursuit. whether o
farming, mining, ranching in navigation
Inland and upon the high seas, in ever
variety Of mercantile and mechanics
industry and sagacity without envy o
bis neighbor. Surely this is = field
worthy the ambition Of the proudest
aud most intellectual statesman.
CONTEMPORARIES.