Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-10-03

New York State Central Committee.
II Cleveland is elected he will
do lust what Manning says in Washing
ton as he has always done just what
Manning said In Albany. This Same
Manning is u large owner of the Albany
4rgttS. He dictates its political course,
He rcvses tho ''proofs' of its editorial
articles. He was large owner in and
dictated the course of the paper all
through the year 1880. May 10, 1850,
tho drguS contained the following rs its
leading editorial, ponned by tho same
editor who writes Cleveland's praises
to-day:
ExTiSGufsH THE MILITARY spnuT. DIsBAND
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REruBLic.
In tho opinion of many citizens Mt the start
tho Grand Army of the Republic was as like.
~ to prove an evil us u good. Such citizens
fe!t that It tended to prolong and increase s the
ton can do after civil war is to forget it.
civil war to share this belief, but they did ex-
poet that the ablcst and best would, aud they
were not disappointed. Norwcrc they changed
from their opinion about the Grand Army OF
the Republic: Its prominent membership for
years comprised loud, brawling men who went
to the war to escape their characters or he.
cause there was money it. The soldiers who had
been AMI who are tho hest citizens had little
or no influence In the order in many places.
subjects OF "ordors" of brutality and illit-
eracy. Now aud then the better Influences
got control, but the effort to keep 1t taxes all
their energies. The patriotic citizens who
were soldiers and those who were not unto
III the conviction that the organization has
survived its usefulness, and is a part of n mil
itary spirit that ought not to bo fostored
among people that would be free.
Ii is manifest that the only hold the Order
has on the general public is through the dec
grafton of the graves of fallen comrades. Ii
that was done by civil authority all the peo.
reason for the organization would cease Tho
| 'bencvolcncc of the Order would find outlet in
tue various beneficiary organizations custom
ary among all citizens which do not rest on
fought out fend Whom those who now dcco.
rate the dead shall themselves die, civil nu.
thurity will decorate them and their comrades
gone before. And all the dead of battle,
| North and South, t1iu be dlito h0noroh. Tho
| prciudoes which would discriminate arc bar
| barous, and Will certainly be brief. Had civil
| authority assumed the duty and the honor
| from the first it would have been much better.
class tor wJ ,hose SH VIII" did not tp 70 to NV war
| compared with those who did nro great ma.
| fority-.and citizens and soldiers and soldiers
| and citizens could have taken part. One may
| he sure, too, that brutal land savage Orders
and sill and sectional speeches would have
been avoilcd. .r
Not merely because the better, more civil
| ized ana more impressive observance of dec
| Grafton would be secured by the civil authori.
| ties should the Grand Army of the Republic
] dishand. The organization stands aero $ the
| path of the civil spirit. IL fosters the military
| tpirit. The. first Is life aud the second is death
| to liberty. The organization is also a stand
| ing prohibition on politics and journalism
| from truth.tcing about soldiers. That is fine
| for rascas who went to the war. 1t is rough
on the honesty who went to it. 1t gives the
| hrst the chances and encomtums of the sec
| ond. 1t makes different colc OF claims for
| makes one code for all soldiers irrespective
of their varying merits and livncss. This
nnght ! not M & to he o. but It. is SO: The pol,tti.
| honoraby dismissed from the service can
Join the organi alton. They conclude that
| this organization, like others, stand by one
| another. So they do not sort them or group
ihem thcv lump them, and platforms and
papcrs make as much of the bad as of the
| worthy This has been bad for the country.
for the soldiers. and for all aicctoi The
time WIS bound to come when this dccerton,
| demagOgy and cowardicc which class or
ia lization and action of soldiers bred in pub
| lie thinking and saying would cease.
| ., That tune has come, andiit is not too much
| 10 ask tho sensible members of the Grand
| Army OF the ltepublic to start promptly move.
| mcnts to disband the organization throughout
the country, and to turn over It's habit of
| decorating the graves of the dead to civil
authority. Nori' it too much to ask the civil
authorities and the citizens generally, to let it
be known that after this year they will prefer
to contribute towers and money for dccora-
ton and &C ebration purposes to govern
mental or, popular agencies and not 10 any
servancc an occasion OF putraging the ptirest
anl the prevalent patriotism of Americans
has been often practiccd.' In places it is prIc.
ticed stn The practice of itand the liability
of its continual recurrence are not held to be
inconsistent with solicitations of aid which
have bcconfe demands. The cowardce of
politics, the tmidity of the press and the
cruaity ay or gush of % to- many pup'ts have
time the sin and Stiffness of savngcry
over the graves of the dead, and the
impudenee o Of impnting parisanship
annoyed by citizcnsand authorities of all par
ties, have been p'ainto AL They have feared
to speak out their views, lest they should be
| .nli la
speak of soldiers or eXso,dcrs on their NOR
its and dcmcrits, the same a: OF other citizens,
ana bullying in those Who air themselves us
soldiers generation after the war. = he hum
bug of implying that everybody won't to the
war from the highest motives, instead of stat
ing what is the truth that many went 10
escape from their career and character, and
others because there was murc money in il
than staying at home, has made one-third OF
what is written about the war or army exag.
geration, and another third II lie. And this
has been kept up under the notion that peo
pie suspended memory, honesty. and common
sense on talking on the war and the army
Fer pewa1 u tev na ad hdmns n
trn'lpn counted In under the eyes of a Con
gross cowed BY troops, commanded by II great
soldier who was also the worst ruler OF his
time, and for whose wish and intent TO over
turn the Government itself. all that is vile
and all that is timid and all that is monarch
cal in the country arc in union to-day.
And that this military nonsense and dan
ger may be kept up for another century cf
|
Army of the Republic 10 organize prancf
concern which they call the Sons of Vet
erans," tho lnds presumably 70 be coached In
| the fures and folies which tho organization
| has tostcrcd under their fathers. OF al
schemes this latter is the, worst in its likely
influence on the boys and on the country
They should he taught broader patriotism
than cohesion round feud In which they
had no part. They should be cultured as cit
izens alone. They should realize that civi
war is in itself an expression of the wors
passions, and that the function of statesman
ship and Christianity is to suppress those pas
sons aud cover the scars they make will
| brightness and the hates they make with love
Tho idea OF tho new scheme is atroclous. i
Is liable to make prigs or hypocrites or fa
natcs of hcyoung. No twaddle about boy
not being ashamed of their fathers, or aboii
perpetuating tho spirit of loyalty, or about th,
merely beneficiary character of the organiza
ton will serve. Those in the scheme confute
impudencc, the tolerablity OF the scheme it
set. The net effect of the patent organ
izntlon contradicts 1t. The real or shan
Amcrcanism is civilian citizenship through
and through Oblivion is tho right receptacle
for civil var and all Its Insignia. Patriotism
the whole country, and which sorcney face
the unfrowning future. Hate and humbul
have no place in such patriotism. Wha
fosters either has no place in IL. What woul'
sion,inilaIned past--has no place IN u. Wha
would overlay self gooyernment with ,emp.r
hos no place in It, What swclls soldiershil
, and contracts citizenship has no place IN il
Wherefore, tnat civil citizenship and its dutie
may have due field and chance against tn
division and detrnction and demagOsues borl
dangerous TO liberty, In the military spirit
let the Grand Army of the Republic TRANSMIT
is memorial, work to the peple ut large, an'
BsS"By the way, what has become o
the fraud issuap There stands Mr.