The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-10-14
BLOODY SHIRT PAPERS!
NUMBER XIV.
"They think it's foolishness."

This was remark made by an old
soldier in this county short time ago
the anger of some of the old
timers regarding the displays by the G.
A. r. boys. Objection was made to the
displays at funerals, at festivals, and
public gatherings of various kinds. The
displays only served to revive old memo
ries, and rekindle the fame of passion
which burned so fiercely during the war.
Dear friends, that is the main object
of the society of old soldiers. To
look after needy comrades and their
families, to perform deeds of charity, and
to perpetuate fraternal feeling, is GER
tainly a condition of things worthy of
commendation. Then why foolishness?
If the record of the soldier was honorable,
he has something to remember with
pride regarding his services. If the
record of the citizen was honorable dur
ing the past years of his citizenship, then
he has something to be proud of. Well,
the soldier takes pride in his services dur
ing the war. He takes pride in his re-
sponse to the call of his country in time
of need; he is glad that there was
strength in his good right arm to strike a
blow for his country, for liberty, for JUS
tice; he is proud of his long and weary
marches, and rough bivouacs; he rejoices
in the brotherly ties that bound him to
to his comrades during those dark days;
he looks with fearful pride upon the
sad moment when he laid comrades
form to rest upon some far-off Southern
field; he loves to revive the memories of
an honorable part in standing by the
country in its hour of peril; he performed
his duty as brave, loyal, upright citizen
when, in great emergency, the country
needed the help of every man who could
raise hand in its defense. He loves to
live over again the scenes of the past,
and to show by his life that the lessons
of those days were not in vain. In short
he is proud that he was a soldier.
It remains, then, to see what is the
character of those who thought that
soldering in the Union Army was wrong,
and the perpetuation of the memories of
soldier-Iife is foolishness. They hated
the soldier and his work. They knew
that when the Northern boys marched
South, there would soon be big hole
shot in the Democratic party. They
knew that Northern bugles would sound
the requiem over the grave of States
Rights and Human Slavery. They knew
that there was a possibility that the
Northern rifles might proclaim, through
the glades and cotton fields of the South,
the freedom and manhood of millions of
people then held in bondage and treated
as beasts of the field. All their worst
fears were realized. The soldiers came
marching back, with thinued ranks it, is
true, but with victory upon their banners
and their deeds. The old hatred against
them burned still, and as fiercely as be-
FORE They did not, and do not, like the
soldier, because they acre ON the other side.
True it is that one whose sympathies
with the horrible rebellion cannot see
anything but foolishness in the ties which
bind old soldiers together. That one
who has never stood in the ranks, cannot
realize the feelings of the soldier when
the comrade falls out. No matter whether
it is in the heat of battle, during the i'm
petuous charge, or amid the peaceful
scenes of the home life. When COM
rade falls out, there's vacancy which is
not filled save by heartaches. The ranks
may close up, and present solid column,
yet it is painfully apparent that the col
umn is growing less all the time. We
have played the dead march or marched
with rQUarcnd 9t the fnnnra1 of
many comrade, yet we never saw any
thing like foolishness in it. There is no
false pride which can drive the soldier
from the feeling of fraternity and charity
which exists between old comrades.
There is in the breast of every soldier a
loyalty to, and admiration for the flag,
that look above the mere passions or
jealousies of neighborhood gossip, or dis
loyal sneers. He does not stoop to such
narrow views of his surroundings as to
regard the mere public parade, in the old
uniform, as distasteful, or calculated to
be offensive to anybody. His fraternal
feeling reaches above all lines that divide
men. Social station is wiped out among
one comrade is as worthy as an
other, and there is one common merit to
all of them. The public parade is not
foolishness, but the expression of a
healthy, loyal, brave sentiment which
stamps the best of citizens.
Any man should be ashamed to look
upon the American flag, or the peaceful
and protected home, who affects to think
it disgraceful or foolish for the old COM
rades to get together once in while and
live the old life over again. But the fact
is, they do not think it foolishness. The
most bitter person who finds it in his or
her heart to denounce the soldier, does
not think the soldier is foolish. They
hate him because of his wisdom and his
bravery. They grieve because he has
been spared to return and enjoy some of
the fruits of his victory. They are beaten
to think that instead of being planted in
graves in the South,' the
soldiers can now meteor many of them
and enjoy the pleasures of the social
world.