Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-06-10
BOYS IN BLUE.

A marked change Of Scntimen; was
notable in the remarks Of speakers upon
Decoration Day" this year. Last year,
the policy Of Cancellation, the desire for
hearty goodwill between all sections,
were freely expressed, and in many cases
the dead heroes Of the rebellion were
honorcd with our own boys in blue. 80
marked a change, this year, Is not due to
the tckleneSs Of our people, or TO any
insincerity among those who made such
expressions. It is simply owing to the
fact that the friends of those who were
thus honored did no, appreciate the mo-
tiycs which led TO exhibitions of friend
ship. They seemed TO think the loyal
people and loyal States had concluded
there was no great crime or wrong IN
rebellion, and that the past was to be
forgotten as well as forgiven. Acting
upon that supposition. representatives Of
disloyal sections have made bold with
declarations which shock the sentiments
Of Northern people They have cndeav-
ored TO gain by legislation al they lost
by battle, and those who conquered on
the field, have been stirred TO defeat this
second but more subtle rebellion. Not
only Were the addresses more positive in
their sentiment, but the editorial COM
ments upon them, are marked 10y the
same change. The Boston Jo1uoL of
year since would not have copied the rc-
marks O.; Gen. Hamilton and made COM
mcnts Ike the following upon them:
Attention has already been called 20 the
remarks Of Gen. Schuyler Hamilton or
New York, who was one of the speakers
NJ the decoration OF the Lincoln statue in
Union square. New York. Last year he
made speech urging that the time had
come 20 decorate the graves Of Coufeder-
ate soldiers. Friday. IN referring % that
speech, he said
Il beg 10 apologize for those remarks.
would now urge that no member of Ahrd-
ham Lincoln Post lay a flower on the grave
of q rebel. They were traitors in 1851
they are traitors now. All winter long
they have been plotting treason i'm the halls
OF Congress. The same hearts burn and
the same arms can be welded a. I'm l,6l
and many OF rs live again 10 WELD them if
necessary
Had Gen. Hamilton made the above re-
marks year ago, there would have been
a general protest thereat throughout the
country. At the present time there is
scarcely a journal outside of BourboniSm
that viii criticiSe the expression o: the
above sentiments. What has caused this
change Of opinion: Simply the policy pur-
sued by the present Congress and by the
Democrats in the last toward the end OIL
the session. If any one imagiues that Re
publican leaders are the only ones alarmed
n recent revelations and occurrences, he
is greatly mistaken. The mass Of patriot
ic people in the North who remember the
war and AL that it cost is very much of the
same mind at the present time as Gen.
Hamilton.
We are inclined to think that Gen.
Hamilton used unnecessary severity I'M
his remarks, and that those who talk
about a second appeal to arms, are max
ing a more serious affair of this, than it
promises to DC. That there is an attempt
in Congress TO carry out disloyal plans,
none can doubt, but the appeal shall be
10 the ballot, and not to the bullet, to
settle this question. Northern States and
loyal States must meet again, in solid
ranks, the South and all disloyalty; but
it viii be accomplished by a peaceful
election which Will show the unmistaka-
Die wish of the people.
Below are extracts Of speeches delv-
cred by prominent men, before the graves
of fallen soldiers, on the 3Oth Of Nav, !
and they show conclusively how public |
sentiment is drifting, and what we may !