The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-06

Street Methodist Episcopal Church in this
city, and editor OF the PaaSe Gsn'eaa Id.
u,rl1, published the following invitation,
which has been received by him:
P~oETlAHD, ORE, May II, 1873.
IL Rr. J. H. AEON:
DEGk SIR: am instructed TO Invite
you to deliver = discourse OH the sabbath
preceding Decoration Day in comnem.
Grafton Of the services Of our fallen
comrades, who gave their lives for the
maintenance Of this great, free Govern
ment II consistent, We hope that you will
he pleased TO comply.
Very respectfully,
S. y. PIEEcE,
Cdinam Commite.
The following reply is made through
the Adscuk. Doubtless there is a class Of
poliician-men whose hearts were not
true to the country in its agony-who will
condemn it; and yet let it be observed
that the man who responded to the call OF
his country, and fought Is asoldier through
the war, has earned the privilege TO speak
his sentiments. In this instance they are
spoken with 4 most thrilling voice in
which fervency and pathos are blended
with the sound Of q trumpet:
"We most respectfully decline. Near
" eighteen years since, at the call Of the
United States Government, We took up
our line Of march for the bloody fields Of
the South not as q commissioned officer,
with large epaulets, large pay, and large
selt.appreciation, NOT yet a. chaplain, to
have, as many did, a good, easy, Temun-
erative time out Of bullet Eange-but as 4
private soldier in the ranks, with our
musket and ~knapsack. For three years
We stood picket, lay in the trenches, wad-
ed rivers, climbed mountains trayersed
sWamps, baked our own beans when We
had any-shot at rebels, and in tuEn made
for them a target Of our own person. We
passed through many bloody scenes and
some Of the most trying battles Of the war.
More than once We narrowly escaped the
bayonet, Andersonville OF Libby. We
carried ammunition from the pouches
Of the dying and the dead for some OF
these same comrades whose deeds we are
nov called upon TO remember, and helped
with ~ own hands to lay scores OF them
in their graves. When the war closed,
We joined in the Nations shout, and hung
our sword on the wall. Many Of our most
valued friends were left in the South. We
tried to dry the tears Of stricken fathers
and mothers, by reciting the heroism Of
the dead, and then went back into the
ranks Of the Master to pray Tor the father
less and the widows. But We are happy.
A halo OF glory hung over these graves.
We looked on the broad acres otthis great
land, and felt it was enough. We had
spent as Nation more than S4,O0O,O00,0O,
and had sacrificed hundreds OF thousands
Of precious lives, but the cruel war is
over and our enemies were ready to &C.
cept the situation.
To-day the men Government paid Us
by the month Tor shooting at our Con-
gressmen. Four Senators only who now
seryeu Us were Union soldiers, while twenty
were in the rebel army. Sixty-fve rebel
soldiers in the House. Not solitary man
in all the South who stood Loyalty BY the
Government with his life in his hand
comes as 3 Representative. More than
two-thiTds OF the whole number we've in
open rebellion and under arms, yetin six,
il not in seven, States OF the thirteen
which rebelled the Union voters are in
the majority. The tried soldier is thrust
out. The freedmen who led the way
through dismal swamps, found hiding
places, and carried a portion OF their own
scanty fare TO our starving boys flying
prison pens, who bound up their wounds
and picked the Wormsf from their gansren.
ed flesh, torn BY bloodhound-these
freedmen are to-day flying from their
homes to ave their lives. Insult stamps
upon the graves Of our dead in the South,
and revolution is complete in its violence
only that . solitary Union soldier who
happens 10 be at the head Of the Govern.
ment stands alone in the breach.
NO, We cannot preach ove: the dead
yet. Other battles are To fight. 1t were
an empty offering. We do not wish 10
mock their bleaching bones. They lid
not bleed and die for 4 few empty eulo.
gies and q handful OF half.iaded flowers
cast upon their graves once a wear
They ask bread and We give them q stone,
They rot in theif graves with gaping
wounds Of sword and bullet and hsyonet'
and the death stare OF those who starved
in prison pens yet traceable in the dust
under their coffin lids We push aside
their MANNED comrades 10 make room for
the men who laughed at their diving
scream fos food, and ordered puards
70 shoot the poor crazed maniac
who dared reach over the dead
line Tor q halLputrid bone, and nov
come IN token OF our appreciation with
Wilted flowers. How these dead skeletons
must appreciate this c~ostless offering! God
forbid we should approach their graves
until We carry the old flag over a land
united and free, such as they dreamed Of
in their last delirium. Let other hands
carry flowers. 1t is meet that pure and
lovely m1idens should do this. IL ia ali
they have. Let those preach ernon of
eulogy who never shivered in the Wilder
ness nor heard the roar Of the battle
above the clouds. We shall stand in Il.
lence over the old battery. We are sill
on picket The war Is not over. The die
tant mutter Of the conflict can still he
heard. We are yet 70 lay other treasures
away in the graye-murdered on the altar
OF revolution. We cannot insult our COM.
Rdes. Over their graves before the God
Of the Nation we have sworn allegiance n
S"S NA1oS tOA RAA(A G4GS ulcut luu stand
ready for the next bugle call, but we have
9 : scattered flowers, and never viii.
until the right shall finally triumph, and
the enemies Of our COMMON country are
driven from their place OF power. Let
the dead sleep. Weare ashamed publicly
TO speak Of their heroism in the history Of
to-day, They have passed beyond the
stencil and corruption, the flies and the
maggots, the hunger and the thirst under
burning Southern suns, and no longer ask
aught Of US. Our heart aches; it Is an a
huge farce; q righteous Indignation con-
sumes US. The Government Is heartlessIy
cruel. 1tcalled them TO sacrifice athoussnd
times more terrible than the JugpeTnaut,
and has forgotten the purchase pFice. The
enemies who followed them with blond
hounds now seek the life Of the nation.
and orate the PRINCIPLES Of the rebellion,
IN the Senate Chamber. No! we Corn
this empty offering. Turn out thee
rebels! Tear down their faRs! Send
trainors where they belong, and God viii
carry the flowers In the def fingers Of the
sunshine and thA Paindron l9-fn