New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-19
"Gop KNOBS WHIcH H1S EIGHT"


said. there is monument erected 10y father
over his two sons, who died fighting on oppo-
site sides in the late war. Two sides or 1t
contain inscriptions 20 the memory OF the
fallen, and a third is inscribed, Cod
knows which was right We do not
know whether the story Is true
or the invention Of somebody's poetic
fancy; it has an air Of probability, and IA
very likely true. Il contains, at any rate,
good deal Of sentiment and pathoS. aud 1t IS
not strange that it has been made to do ser
vice ON one or two Of those festive occasions
Mt which the representatives, Of the lately con-
tending sections have oudcayorcd 10 smooth
over mast differences and say pleasant
things 10 each other We have no disposition
to c.iticise the tender and .Gtllcticaatc sehl-
mont with which the stricken Father .tioye
10 put away from his own mind and memory
the fact Of their differences, and to leave IT
to lIirher Power 10 judy. between ,hcm. II"
NAV have been 50 much m doubt himself
- 10 which side vas right ia the great
contention rs to have been Dot merely nm
willing but actually unable to give a positive
opinion, and 50 have phr1-cd his honest
doubt in the quoted words. However
that NAV be, no one can find fault
with the parental tenderness which took
ibis mute appeal from tie falhbh,ty OF
human iud .mc1t. Perhaps too, 1t would
be rgIaci9us 20 intrGdr criticism upon the
enthusiastic and sometimes cXtrayagaAt eX-
prc-,ions of aiicctiouatc regard occasionally IN
dulged in 10y gushing orators from either side
upon memorial and festive occasions Much
is to Ice pardoncd at such times to
the circumstances and surroundings, and
10 the oratorcal lcryOr which carries
speaker very often 10 the point Of "slop-
"ring over" Whoever, after maintaining
through the four fiery years of war and blood
and death that ~. Union should stand, against
those who would destroy it, is ready now 10 say
it was all a difference Of opinion Ill which only
God knew which was night, may do 50. 1t Is
matter somewhat of taste and somewhat Of
G,alcness of judgment. We should not object
to it if il stopped there. These mteichaugcs
of compliments are for the most part mean
myle>s
Bat we do most positively and warmly pro-
test AGAINST transferring the motto of this
tablet to ute official record. Let our scnti-
nrntaH.m at least stop short OF self-stutiG-
cation. We are not willing. nor are mil
lions Of patriots who either participated
in the sacrifices If the struggle or inherited
the elorics of them, willing to admit by any
legislative action oroficial U;tortnce that there
Is any question whatever who or which side
was licht IN the controversy which ended IN
the suppression Of rebellion and establishment
OF the Union. The differences which culml-
minated in the war had been too long under
Giscus sion, the issues were too sharply defined
and too well understood for men to question
their own conclusions or thCir convictions OF
duty. And we are not yet far enough
away, if indeed We ever shall be, from
the seriousness and solemnity OF that period
20 he able to dismiss It ali with God
"knCws which was right" Since the war
closed and the Right uiuinphcd we have en-
deayored by every possible means to cOncili-
ate those who were in the wrong and
were defeated. They have been restored
TO all the privileges they forfeited by
rebellion; they have scarcely suffered punish
ment or penalty except such As was the i'm
mcuIate effect Of their own acts. The very
men who eighteen years ago deliberately dis
owned their allegiance aud went into rebel
lion arr back to-day IN the National Congress
making laws for The Government which
1acy failed TO destroy. Not ouly that thcv
have brought back the old di,tatorial WAYS
and plantation manners. u was last Winter
that south Carolina member urged the
abolition of the West Point Military Acad-
ouy. the only merit in which, that he could
see. VA. that il had educated 80 many Office,
to, fire late C3nfe icratr Army. Within the
..l.t week he same mcmucr has expressed
She opinion ON the floor Of Congress that The
Government is administered dishonesty Ivy
IA. rarty To whose cicmcEcy lie owes Ia,
place. and that It ought to b. placed in the
hands Of cy-COuicdrratcs.
4 Short time since there was another official
ui.craucr of one oi the Confederate Bngadi"rs
Oh the hoor oil the HOUSE to the effect that
LOYALTY to the Coul.dtrty Wa Il most
honorable sentiment, ant. mon the whole,
rather more pr.i.cWorthy tAan loyalty to
the Union Within lew days NORTH
crn Representative ha, made advance
toward these gentlemen by Offering the prop
o,tiou that the wounded and disabled Con-
fcdcrdte soldier, are equally entitled TO pen
sions with those who fought for the Union.
All this shows that We are making very rapid
progress. Progress not toward COncination-
we passed that point some time ago-but to-
ward surrender. The gentlemen engaged
over the record of the bloody differences of
the four years war, % God knows which was