Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-02
Letter From Mem phis.

been granted such u magnifice Mt triumph,
in connection with the recent ceremonies |
at Montgomery and Atlanta, dedicating |
those monuments. True, he was not con- |
queror like the Roman Pompey, who, re-
turning "from his fame, fresh and gory,"
had but to await the decree of the Senate, !
opening the streets of the city for the vic
tors procession, in which at his chariot
wheel, he might lead ''many captives
brought to Rome" But our modern hero
was acting well his part. There are sout b.
ern historical societies whose aim will not
be accomplished until the shareholders re-
bellion shall have been rescued from de-
served ignominy. The statue Of "Old Hick-
ory," Calhoun's evil genius, is not more
conspicuous in the square at New Orleans
than that of Robert E. Lee. And do they
not agree (the Southern historians) In de-
nyipg that the perpetuation Of slavery was
the object OF Confederscy, and the sole
cause of the warf They surely do. 1t is
not strange that they were once devoted to
slavery a. an institution Their money
was in 1t, and largo part of their religion
also. The Federal constitution and laws
sheltered it. They claimed their rights.
But when the war, as a ProvidentIal instru-
ment, has destroyed slavery, wo, the Amer
ican people, have been learning more an
more to look back with surprise, II not
shame, upon those times when both races
were in bondage by the accurssd institution,
and while more and more clearly tho logic
of events il demonstrating the truth Of Lin
coins well known sphorism, "the nation
cannot exist half slave and half free" In
view of these things l say it is strange that
the Lost Cause should be dressed up in hol-
iday attire and brought out for so wonder
full On airing. This fact, however, only In
troduces another. There are many Of the
southern people who are in that double
minded condition in which thoy fain would
SEQ progress, but they have not learned any
thing from the past. The cause of the South
Las against the North, ii. e., the loyal part OF
the North they devoutly believe in, pray
cd for, and many died in their faith.
Their property in slaves and the full
right 10 serve every desire within their pow
cr, by and with those slaves, was . sacred
heritage, and no one can fully understand
this feeling, perhaps until he ha, chance
to hear the story from one of these men,
who we're in the prime Of life when South
Carolina took down tho nations flag from
Fort Sumpter. Secession was q costly ex-
pertinent and the terrible war was school
of fiery discipline for this naughty people,
and the trouble now, is evidently . failure
10 distinguish between the constitutional
right which they had to slave property,
and as they believe, 10 secede from the
Union, and on the other hand tho moral
wrong of slavery as q crime against civil
liberty and against the very spirit Of the
Gospel OF Christ. They will not admit that
fact to-day. They excuse and justify So
cession and the war Of tho rebellion on the
ground that they were sine ere in their con-
victions. We are confidently assured that
in time to come the heroes OF the Confeder-
ate armies will be held in honor as true pa
triots, worthy OF Bame aud q place among
the noblest OF Americans. Last SATURDAY.,
the President of the Southern Historical
Society, in Memphis, said st tho decor,-
tion OF soldiers graves: "From personal
knowledge and information, do NOT believe
that there Is . corporal's guard of Federal
soldiers, who would not desire that the
bones Of every Confederate should be plac-
ed in the National Cemeteries and there car
cd for with tho Republics pride, and tho
Rcpubiic's money" In strong contrast
wah thk: sentiment, q gentleman who was
present az the ceremonies in Elnwood Gem
eter point easily reached by two lines Of
street cars, affirms that there aere not more
than two hundred persons present to take
part in the services and listen 10 the orstion
and the poem. Contribution boxes were
placed at each entrance TO the cemetery 70
collect mon ey for the purpose of caring for
the graves of the soldiers but only two men
were seen to put in money and those were
employees of the cemetery. This latter part
may simply mean that the box represents an
unpopular plan for raising funds. The Ma
tional Cemetery, for this section, lies cast
seven or eight miles from Memphis, on the
Louisville railway. The grounds are beau
tifully arranged and kept, surrounded By s
massive brick wall about five feet In height
The tall shade trees stand Ike solemn SEN
tinels above the long rows of head boar ds,
marking in diff erent groups, Illinois, New
York, Iowa, Pennsy lvania, Wisconsin, etc.
The names Of the dead are here, except In
that large group Of "unknown," who, with
their comrades rest till the great roll call.
I've stood with uncovered head and read
the names and counted tho thousands of
head boards. We ask, what brou ght them
here, those loyal legions leaving their homes
and all that was dear to them in life That
canon yonder, and upturped great mouth
ed mortar, set up now as monuments, have
once learned to spesk, and they answer the
questi on, and say. sit vas the uprising of
the South to maintain inviolste the right 10
to perpetuate Negro Slavery" Thank you
old guns, you never can te:ray your trust,
nor bring reproach upon the memory Of
these sleeping heroes, not even by falsify-
ing history. Let the Southern people hold
dear the memory Of their dead who fell in
that war. Let them DO accredited With hay-
Ing cherished honest convictions OF right on
their side, but LET the living forbear to glory
In their shame, by refusing TO admit that
they were mistaken and wrong in a IN oral
sense. If after more than twenty years
tltCe tnc Nhrs uc CHOSEN letLGE OF eeCes- |
sion and rebellion can claim, that, had they |
the choice, they would do the same as be-
fore, and If that sentiment Is greeted with !
cheers, then chattel slavery with its auction
block, its chain gang, its whipping post, its
separation Of families, its enforced ignor- |
ance and degradation, its mischief breeding |
throughout the States and National Gov
srDment and finally the savage warfare for
its perpetuity, all these are still to be held
in honor with the peculiar institution. Why
dwell in this Because, the South cry out
like a whipped boy, when its political crimes
and outrages are mentioned, andat the same
TINS is laboring with zeal 10 gain a place Of
honor in his history, where only dishon or
can in truth be written. "But we must
strive for peace between tbs North and
South p' Yes, peace is good. but truth is
better, even though truth is to be secured
at the expense of peace. The northern man
who gushes over a Confederate soldier as
being worthy of honor and credit for the part
he acted, as a soldier, must be a weak sem