The National tribune., 1888-05-31
THE GETTYSBURG oELEBRAT1oN.

The survivors Of the $4,000 Union veter-
ans who, upon that historic field decided
in the words Of Lincoln, whether this Ne
tion, or any Nation so conceived and so dedi-
Gated can long endure, are looking for
ward 10 the occasion with the greatest in
terest. Wherever it is possible they are
going TO be present ON some OF the days be-
tween the 3Otb of June and the 4th Of July.
They are coming by thousands, with their
wives and children, and with the widows
and children of those thousands who were
slain there.
There is something inexpressibly grand
and touching in this visit, % years later, to
the field Of their fiery trial ard immortal
glory, of the men who fought at Gettysburg
with a devotion and courage as sublime as
that displayed at Marathon and Thermopy-
lac. Think of what a theme it viii be for
the future orator, painter and poet-this re-
turn Of the soldiers Of the Army of the Pc
tomac 10 the scene of their immortal tri-
umph. a quarter of a century has passed.
The most sanguine hopes that nerved their
hearts to press on to the battlefield, and
encounter the enemy with desperate reso-
luton superior to his own, have been more
than justified. The country they saved
has prospered as never did land before un-
der the sun. The direct result purchased
by their yalor and blood, and the lives of
those who fell by their side, is seen in the
mightiest, the richest, the most peaceful and
happy people on earth. This has followed
because they were victorious; an opposite
50 diTeful that the Imagination can scarcely
picture it would have followed their defeat.
What picture it makes of these men stand
ing, surrounded by their wives and children,
where they stood On those awful days a
quarter of a century ago, contemplating
what was threatened, what was achieved,
and the glorious results. History is utterly
without parallel to it. What marvellous
prophetic wisdom moved Lincoln when he
said:
We are net upon great battlefield of that war
We are met TO dedicate portion Of it as the last
1 resting-piace Of those who here gave their lives
that the Nation might live But, ia larger sense,
We cannot ennsecTate, we cannot dedicate we can
not hallow this ground The brave men who
struggled here have placed it far above our reach
10 add 10 detract The world will little note nor
long remember what we say here. 1t never can
/ forget what they did here.
A monument was hardly needed at Get
tysburg, for the whole of the reunited and
happy Nation is a monument, as ali the glo-
res Of Greece were a monument to those
who fought and won at Marathon.
A wise management has made Gettysburg
The most instructive and interesting of all
the battlefelds. No praise can be too high
for the wisdom which has marked with en-
during granite and bronze the positions oc-
cupied by every battery, regiment, brigade,
division and corps, so that every phase and
condition Of the Rlighly struggle is presented
to the eye Of the visitor. 1t will remain
forever great textbook Of patriotism,
teaching to the generations TO come the ex-
allied duty Of loving the country above all
else, and of fighting and dying to preserve
her and her institutions.
The men who fought valiantIy on the
wrong side have, in spirit of charity and
felloW-citizenship, been invited to meet with
the yictors in this great celebration. Their
presence is, perhaps, proper and fitting, for
they have no less reason to rejoice over their
defeat than the victors have to exult over
the victory. Yictors and vanquished have
shared alike in the glorious fruits, and each
has the same cause for thankfulness.
The only cloud that threatens TO rise and
mar the bright anticipations of the celebra.
ton is fear that their presence there may be
in any way misinterpreted. At similar
visit, made by number of Pickett's Division
# last year, occasion was taken 10 pervert the
occasion as IN some sense a justification O
their cause and their valor in supporting it
The spokesman Of the visiting Confederate
wanted it left to the future historian t.
decide who was right" and on a return visit
OF the Union Veterans to Richmond a propo
sition was made to quarter the Confederate
flag upon the star-spangIed Banner
There was much more of this kind @
talk, but this was the gist
All utterances Of this kind are offensive
and obnoxious. They are inefably ba,
anywhere; they are simply intolerabIe o.
the field where 1000 patriots laid down thei
lives in defense of the country. They ar
. intoIerable in face Of the condemnation q
the Nation and the world that the rebellion
was the most causeless and upjustifable wa
that ever disturbed the peace and waste
e the lives and treasure of contented an
happy people. We ardently hope that theI
y viii be none Of it at the coming celebratio,
If there are any rebels who cannot rcstrai
u themselves from extolling treason. we tru,