The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-06-03

"sASO0n4ON, N. .d.aOOddXO0, n
IpIroRs
Decoration Day.
Memorial services in honor Of the
Nations dead, were not what they
would have been had the weather been
more favorable. Streets were muddy,
and the earth saturated with moisture
from the heavy rains at noon. The
wind was blowing and the skies por-
tended a squally time. which together
with conscientious scruples kept more
people at home than attended the SER
vices.
At4 O'Clock p. NJ, citizens on foot
and in carriages, headed by = company
Of veteran soldiers-they are all veter-
ans now-commanded by Capt. Win
decker, proceeded first to the old ceme-
try and then to the new; young ladies
bearing baskets Of flowers and hanked
by line of soldiers, laid the frail and
fragrant blossoms on each resting place
of those
WHO srasped the sword fer psacs. and smoss 70
And dying thus fer freedom. died for Thee.
PeaesfsIiy. quietly. now they rsst
We. a. ve folsv osB nag ts-day,
Bear not the weapons We bore Of sld.
Bat cross and wreath Of the flowers Of Nay"
In the evening union services were
held at the Congregational Church In
commemoration Of the day. A short
address by the pastor Of the NJ. E.
Church, was followed by the National
hymn sung by choir and audience, after
which Rev. ]. A. DAILY, after asserting
to the points excellently made In the
address Of Rev. N. s. Albright, said In
substance that the facts commemorated
by Decoration Day ceremonies were of
the utmost importance, for reproof as to
tie past and instruction Is to the future.
The war of the rebellion In which our
heroes fell was tragedy. 1t could have
been avoided. Right ideas and right
conduct would have made it impossible.
Our 300, 900 men were murdered; when
the crime Of murder is committed there
Is murderer, and murderer acts from
certain motives and principles which
are to be reprobated. Herein we find
material for grave lessons In Decora.
tion Day meditation.
In all respects that was an amazing
war. Our heroes did not fall In strug-
gle to save imperiled interests from the
rapacity ofa foreign foe. No foreign
nation dared assail us. It was q mighty
conflict between brethren. Its cam
psigns were extraordinarily fierce,
bloody, and long continued. Its issue
leaves q baneful Inheritance Of woe,
ruin and rancor. Lot 1t not be forgot
ten that one side was right, the other
was wrong. Our heroes were loyal,
their opponents were traitors. 1t Is inn
portant to make these distinctions, for
they are likely to be easily overlooked.
Loyalty to country, to principle, to hu-
man;ty, and to God is virtue; treaehery
to these Is vice. It is impressive to re-
member what lurid zeal, what imperial
abilities, what valor, sacrifice, and cul-
ture this rebellion called forth, not only
on the side Of nationality but even
against it. Brave, manly men, devout
men, fought; and sweet, saintly women
wrought and prayed for the success of
the rebellion; very deep were the caus-
es which turned even culture and piety
into rancid treason.
1t is now only fifteen years since the
close Of the war. Loyal men with q
magnanimity that was rs audacious and
splendid IS It was ill-advised, offered
oblivion Of the past and free restoration
Of forfeited rights to rebels. Now, odi-
ously familiar and treason-tainted
names appear in the roll OF Congress,
and those who sought to destroy the
government are prominent and effect
i've In swaying legislation. 1t may be
feared that loyal men have made grave
and possibly fatal mistake In offering
to rebels pardon without repentance.
So it Is salutary on Decoration Day to
recall the fact that while we praise 10y.
atty we condemn and abhor treason.
The causes Of this tragedy run back
for century. Ninety-seven years ago
under the old confederation, Thomas
Jefferson sought to eliminate slavery
by constitutional enactment, and very
nearly succeeded. There was but little
slavery then, but that little began to
cause trouble. The pure and sagacious
among the statesmen Of the day found
that little slavery even was incompat-
ible with national existence. Southern
statesmen, however, were Jealous for
slavery, and . century ago began the
system of cajolery and Bullying and bar
gaining, by which slavery has ever
since sought to perpetuate Its existence,
enlarge its area, and secure itself % the
controlling power In politics. Every
possible occasion was made Q pretext
for new and moro naughty demand.
The important doctrine Of States Rights
was invented aud asserted as support
to slavery. At last its demands grew in
tolerant even 70 . too complscent people
and when IL lost national supremacy Ii
rebelled and sought to destroy the ma
tioa Il could not rule. The war was q
colossal crime and forty millions of
people were the criminals. The violent
demands Of the South were met with
moral timidity, evasions and compro-
mises, II not indeed abject compliance,
until every man was made an accom-
plice Of the STAKEHOLDER. Every man
who approved and spplauded the pecu.
liar state rights doctrine Of the South or
~as ueUliOent of bis dutv AZ n citizen or