The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1883-03-31


of our apothegm as quoted. The
war was waged against the Union
by would-be man and woman own
ers. 1t was inaugurated by them.
Yet, to-day, there are probably
none in the Northern or non-slave-
holding States who are more sim
cerely thankful that in the Provi-
dence of God, and through the po-
tential voice and strength of Fede-
raj gunpowder the accursed institu-
ton was eXpungcd from off the
tablet of our body polite, than are
those of the South. Why, then,
should any reasoning and reasona-
bic man cringe when he hears the
word slavery" alluded to, albeit
like our friend and correspondent,
he fought under the flag with bars
rather than set i'll the stars.
We cited a fact when we alluded
to the fidelity of the Irish toward
the Federal Government from the
days Of its birth to those of its late
peril-in each and every war, for
eign and internccine, and although
there were Irish who wore the
grey there were none of them who
won distinction in that garb, while
there were many, including theprc-
sent 1t. General, who achieved i'm
mortal, imperishable honor aud
fame in battling for the Union and
against sectionalism.
AS our friend says, the war is
over, and we incline to concur with
him in that the Starry Banner is
now as much revered by those who
fought against it as by those who
perilled their lives to preserve it.
But history is history, and it void
be undignitied to refer to the histo-
ry Of our people and skip the event
tul years of 1S61-65, because, for-
sooth, some one might feel that an
ensanguined under garment was
being Haunted in his face. The
history Of the late war has been
made and written. We didn't
make or write it We couldn't
wipe it ont if we would. More
perpetual, perhaps, than the stars
in our Flag, but certainly as lasting
as the stars in the eternal heavens,
will that history live and roll down
the ages, and it is our hope and be-
lief that as part Of it will the re-
cord be that the Irish did their du-
ty and their share in upholding the
honor Of the Flag and perpetuating
the life Of the only FREE Govern
mcnt on the face Of earth.
AS our friend says, there was a
principle underlying. The ques-
ton was a political one which poll
ties could not settle and it was left
to the arbitrament of the.sword. -
The result has been almost uni
formly acquiesced in, and he is a
bad and dangerous citizen who
would 60 back and rake up the en-
bers Of the late internicine war, and
endeayor to engender them with
their old heat. But they would
crack their cheeks in the impotent
task. Such as would do so have a
beggarly following. And it by no
means follows that reference to the
late struggle for National existence
is necessarily a ripping open of old
sores. AS no patriot can read the
history of our Revolutionary stug-
gle and admire all the characters in
it, so it cannot be expected that we
of this day can peruse the history
OF our late struggle and not be op
pressed by the shadows which dar-
ken some of the pictures.
But we are now FREE people,
one and indivlsible. What reflects
upon one-organically- affects the
status OF his fellow. We are not
now Virginians, denizens Of Ny
Maryland, or representatives of any
other section of our Union. We
are Americans, citizens of the Uni