The National tribune., 1882-09-02
The Rising Gen Grafton.

which he says: My father subscribes for
your paper for me. l think it is the best
paper in the world for the old soldiers, who
fought in the hour of darkness for their
country" We call attention to this letter,
not for the sake of the pretty compliment
which it conveys but on account of the evil
dence which it supplies that the sentiments
which animate our old soldiers are not likely
to die with them. The effect which the war
would have upon the ideas and habits of
thought of future generations has always
been an interesting subject for speculation,
and the fact that lad who was not born
until six years after the close of the rebel
lion manifests personal interest in the
rights and wrongs of our ex-soldier, suggests
some interesting reflections. This lad nee
essarily must have derived all the informa-
ton which he possesses concerning the war
from the teachings of his father or the pc
rusal Of the school histories, yet, as we see,
| his sympathies are deeply enlisted in behalf
of our veterans. How much greater reason
there is, then, for believing that those who
are older than he, but who were still too
young even at the termination of fhostilities to
be admitted to the army, have been educated
to look upon the issues and consequences of
the rebellion in the same light as their
fathers. Although too young to actually
participate in the struggle they were old
enough to understand and appreciate its
significance, to watch its progress, and treas
ure up its leading incidents in their mem
hat for them the war will always be
ng more than a mere ideality. The
, was eighteen years old at the date
Irrender at Appomattox must now
+ ~ IN of thirty-fve, and between him
and the lad of eleven-who might well be
his son-a whole generation intervenes-a
generation which, for the reasons already
cited, may fairly be expected to share the
sentiments and opinions, so far as the issues
of 1S61-65 are concerned, of the generation
preceding. This is fact of the largest i'm
portance, for this new generation will soon
hold the balance of power at the polls, if it
does not WELD it already, and upon its votes
may depend the recognition by Congress of
those rights for which our ex-soldiers have
so long been vainly contending. The sons
and the grandsons of soldiers will have it in
their power to say whether full justice shall
be done to those who bore the battle, or his
claims be allowed TO remain unsatisfied.
We have no means of accurately estimating
their actual voting strength, but when the
fact is taken into account that million and
half of our soldiers still survive, no one can
deny that their sons and grandsOns must
constitute a very large proportion of our
voting population.
If then, as is but natural, they inherit the
sentiments which inspire our ex-soldiers, it
is clear that the latter are really stronger
before the country to-day than they were
twenty years ago, and are in better position
to assert their rights than ever before. The
leaven of education has been quietly doing
it's work, and while our veterans have been
sadly looking forward to decay of public
interest in their services, new generation
has been growing up imbued with the same
principles as themselves. At first sight,
some of our readers may be disposed, per-
haps, to question the truth of this assertion.
If so, let them explain, if they can, the con-
tinued predominance of the Republican
party so many years after the issues which
called it into being have passed away. 1t
can be explained only On the same theory
that the youth of the country have been
educated in the faith of their fathers, and no
new issue has yet arisen to compel re-
division of parties. The analogy is, indeed,
perfect.
Pursuing this line of thought still further,
we are led to the conclusion that so far from
being placed at disadvantage by reason of
the time which has elapsed since their ser
vices were given to the country, our ex-soldiers
have more cause than ever to feel confident
of the future, and that they ought now to
make the best possible use of their power.
Instead of indulging in vain grumbling over
the injustice with which they have been
treated in the past, they should address
themselves earnestly and with entire unan-
unity of purpose to the work of securing
Justice in the future. We propose to show
them the way to the realization of their
hopes, and whoever else may falter or drop |
out on the road, TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE |
will be found steadily and fearlessly march |
ing on. All we ask is that the rank and file |
will cooperate with us to increase and ex-
tend its circulation so that every ex-soldier |
in the land may be acquainted with the
work that it is doing and the necessary
unity of action be thereby promptly and .
fully assured, Every new subscriber that