The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-15
ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY TO BEREMEMBERED

ING war mas peeu over twenty years, are
tired of hearing anything about it or its les
son. The pardon of that superior being, the
mugwump, is craved, and of such reformers
who would say nothing to wound the feelings
of the gentlemen who once honored the Ma
| ton by taking up arms against it, thereby
demonstrating deathless and exalted patrio.s-
ism before which it is yet "a holy duty" to
''reverently kneeL" To-day is another an
niversary, one we feel chat can be recalled
with good effect. To men who
have full appreciation of the aw-
full offense committed against this
people, by the South against the government,
and by the South against herself, there is no
need of apology for occasional reference to
the past in connection with the rebellion. It's
lesson, written in fire, and blood, and destruc-
ton, can never safely be forgotten, however
completely and properly all bitterness may be
disremembered. The South more than the
North has reason to recall the direful events
between the fall Of Sumter and the surrender
of Lee. There is no desire upon the part of
the North to rub salt in the wounds of war,
nor has there been at any moment since the
Hateful 9th of April, 1865. The South has
been forgiven, freely fully, and the men
who led the South have been accorded
every manly virtue consistent with the truth.
The North can stand before the high column
in New Orleans, latest erected there, and say
that it commentaries the fame of brave
man, gallant soldier, and, if you please,
man sincere in his convictions. It can stand
by the grave Of fStonewalr jackson realizing
that he was Christian soldier. But while
admitting these high personal virtues on the
part of these and other men who went into
rebellion, the North does not and cannot foc.
get that they were fearfully in the wrong in
attempting to overthrow the government and
disrupt the Union. While courageous, manly
and selfsacrifcing, they yet lacked
that supreme virtue of citizenship, the
love of country. It cannot be pleaded in ex-
their allegiance for if that be admitted, as is
still claimed by quite number of people, we
have no united country, only confederation
little stronger than rope of sand. So far
from this being true, the States are but in
tegral parts of one common nation, a heritage
purchased at tremendous sacrifice and be-
queathed to oncoming generations as sacred
trust, the surest guaranty of peace at
home and security from foreign foes. The
large part of this Nation to forget
this vital truth, and the result was direful to
all alike; a terrible penalty was paid by all the
people, 1t is patriotic duty now not only to
bind up the wounds of war, to pour balm into
bruised hearts, and to SOW battle-felds with the
seed of perpetual peace, but to solemnly recall
the errors Of the past, and most sacredly re-
solve never to be again guilty of them. In
| such patriotic education, embracing all the
people, North, South, East and West, there is
alone safety and perpetuity for the future.
To-day it is fitting to look back over twenty
years to that night and morning of
awful distress and suspense, the shadow
of which overIaps the coming CEN
turtles. The Nations joyous and thankful
heart was paralyzed with grief, and the splen
doris of the Union reunited went into pro-
foundest eclipse. We invite South to join
with North in the contemplation Of that day.
| fortitude and forbearance of the people, fresh
| from hard-earned victories must ever remain
a shining example, well worthy of those who
mourned him who, with malice toward none,
but with charity for all, was the one great
victim of malice, and hatred, and revenge
that would have shamed a fend. It is prof
liable to recall the fact that no retaliation
was attempted, none seriously contemplated
The North, which for four years had drunk of
tasted of the joy of better days assured, was
thrown into the dust of agony; but after the
/ first burst of anguish had been uttered, the
charity taught by the Nations beloved Lin
coin pleaded so we'll that no thought of ven
geance was cherished, and none but those i'm
mediately implicated in the crime suffered in
any way for ''the deep damnation of his TAX
ing off," It were well for the South to contem-
plate that day, and on this anniversary realize,
if never before how magnarimous was the
North, and how every proof was given of a
desire for the speedy and perfect re-cementa-
ton of the well-nigh shattered Union. The
South, mourning over her broken idols, too