Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-08
tn. vs.sr...' Hs.D-.

shown by quite liberal subscrip'
lions that they are cordially In
favor Of pro viding the Veterans Of
the Mexican war and the war OF
the rebellion with o refuge when
age and infirmity have weakened
their physical powers and left
them without ability to earn
livelihood. Belisarlus sitting at
the gates Of Byzantium and beg
ging an obolus would be specta-
ole abhorrent Co the generous and
enlightened impulses OF this age
and country. Out Of their abound
ing riches the progressive Ameri-
cans Of to-day are ready to contrib.
ute whatever sum may be needed
to insure comfort and ease to those
who have fought to uphold the
banner OF their country.
There IL one phase Of the matter
upon which we desire to touch at
little more length than we have
heretofore done. The war for the
Union has now been closed some
sixteen years and more. The
fierce passions which were evored
by that memorable contest scarcs-
ly outlasted the decade whose
opening saw the Inauguration Of
Lincoln and whose clese witnessed
that Of Grant. The attempt to
keep alive artificially the embers OF
strife has proved abortive, and now
nearly the whole mass of the people
turn away with disgust at any
mention of the ''bloody shirt" 1t
was not long after the Duke of
Cum berland trampled the banners
of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" under
his foot in the field Of Culloden
when the sympathies Of the Brit.
ish people-of the supporters of the
House Of Hanover as we'll rs those
of the house of Stuart-were pull
sating at every reference to the
gallantry and romance which dig
nified the lost cause. In little
while Ecott's "Waverly" appeared,
and was greeted with q cordially
which has never been accorded to
any other book.
Already the American people
have sloughed of all bitterness;
and. the future being secure, they
now begin to look upon the late
CoEfedsrates with much of the in
diligence with which the English
people regarded the followers of
the Pretender. All people who
read history in philosophical
spirit know that the late war was
bound to come, sooner or later.
1t was decreed, in affect, when the
first cargo Of slaves was landed In
this country. Although Seward
hoped to avert 1t, the "irrepressi-
BILE conflict" between free and
slave labor, WAS a thing certain to
evsntuate In bloody struggle
which wisdom and moderation
might have postponed but could
not have prevented. It was an in
cident In the destiny of the United
States as inevitable as was an ulti-
mate conflict with the mother
country.
The time has, in the opinion Of
many of the best and wisest Amer.
loans, come when ell unpleasant
features OF our later history should
be forgotten. Charles Sumner
thought SO ten years ago, when he
made his celebrated battls-fls
speech. Whatever instruction
there may be in the events which
preceded, attended and followed
the rebellion, can be Cleaned In
the numerous histories which
abound on every hand. These
matters should not now be the
subjects of reoriminatIop, public or
private.
In the movement for the estab-
lishmept Of a Veterans Home il
would be specially graceful thing
II it's projectors were to announce
that the Confederate, equally with
the Union soldier, the soldier OF
the Mexican war and the few re.
manning grizzled heroes of the war
Of 1872, were eligible to its benefits.
It would be a practical carrying
ont Of the era of good feeling which
has now fairly set In. Il would
hurt nobody, and would be high
~ msgnanimous act. The soldiers
Of the Union army would probably
be the last to interposs any objec-
tion. For long time they have,
almost to man, INDUCED in moth
ing but the most cordial feelings
towards their late opponents.
We are convinced that il such
policy were announced the gener-
Gus declaration would be appreci-
ated and would be responded to by
greatly enlarged subscriptions to
this meritorious object. We hope
to be able shortly to chronicle the
adoption OF this suggestion.
THE report of the Messrs. J. de
Darth Ehorb and J. M. Griffith, to
the Chamber Of Commerce yester-
dav. was a most eratifying incl