The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-06-05
Sentiment That Needs Sitting.

the humane side OF our natures are ap-
pealed to, usually there is what might
be termed gushing response. No more
striking illustration of this condition Of
the sentiment OF these times can be found
than was exhibited at Richmond, Va,
last Thursday at the unveiling Of the
Lee equestrian statue. The reports from
Richmond say, in regard to the cere.
monies on that day, that they were In-
precedented in the history of that city.
No fault need be found with that fact,
but the additional statement reaches us
that thousands Of Confederate (it used
to be rebel) flags were displayed from
every advantageous spot, while thous-
,ands of the same kind which had been
carried in battle were found in the i'm.
mense procession. Now the drift Of
public sentiment through the press of
the country is about as eulogistic of this
demonstration at Richmond to the mem.
.ory of General Lee, rebel flags and all,
as it is in regard to the ceremonies at
Cleveland last Friday to the memory of
the Union General and martyr Presi.
dent, James A. Garfield. OF course
there is an undercurrent in the breast of
every true Northern and Union.loving
Southerner that the principles govern
ing the action of the two men were radi-
.cally different. But is not this adher.
ence to principle and true patriotism be-
ing lost sight OF in the strong demand to
forget the past in the glowing descrip.
tons of every parade in honor of some-
body, be he anarchist or rebel, that so
frequently meet the eye of the reader in
the columns OF our public journals, and
in the false sentiment that is to all ap.
pearance gaining ground that those who
honestly contenhed to the death or to
their defeat must be not only forgiven,
but the motive which led to the taking
up of arms must be forgotten? Nay,
more, that if true forgiveness is in our
breast we will join with those who
fought against their government in hon.
,oring the leaders in those battles.
This sentiment needs a little sitting.
There must be distinction drawn be-
tween the principles which govern the
actions of different individuals regard
less of the devotion or honesty of the
men holding to or fighting for such
principles. If this be not true, then
.Mormonism, Free Loveism, Anarchism,
even slavery, must be tolerated and re.
,spected. We notice that the members
OF the Morton G. A. r. Post, of Terre
Haute, Ind, denounce the ,nanuf cture
and honor paid to the rebel flag to-day,
while the following words from the
oration of Boutelle, of Maine, at Airing.
ton las Friday are worthy OF solemn
thought: "The rebellion was a conspir-
acy organized in the interest OF human
slavery. 1t sought a pretext for precipi.
tating bloody conflict with the pur.
pose of establishing slave-holding con.
federacy or ultimate empire, to embrace
large portion of the territory of the
United States, including great sections
OF territory that had been purchased by
the whole people. 1t was conspiracy
against popular government, revolt
against the authority of government
elected in accordance with the require.
ments of the constitution and laws"
No one will dare to call in question
the correctness OF the definition OF Mr..
Boutelle of what the rebellion was, and
if this be true, then any honor to the
emblem, the rebel flag, adopted by the
conspiracy is so much honor bestowed
on the lost cause. Ii the rebellion was
wrong in its inception, if the men were
wrong who tried to overthrow this
Union by force OF arms, if secession was
wrong in 1861, then honor to the en-
blem of secession in 1890 is wrong now.
Further if the people of the North in
sincerity thank an overruling Providence
for upholding then in the defense OF a
righteous cause, namely, the preservation
OF the Union, how can those same people,
with any degree OF consistency, take
part in any service or celebration in
honor Of those men who fought to over.
throw that Union We might, in the
language of Erin, say OF those who rep
resented the lost cause, "peace to their
ashes," but ii the struggle had vital
principles, it is impossible with consis.
.tency to honor their ashes. 1t is not
enough to denounce the manufacture and
sale of rebel flags; the sentiment that
gives countenance to those flags in big
parades also needs attention. Wrong
,and right are two opposite principles,
and it is impossible for the one to oc.
cupy the place of the other. Sin in
priestly robes is no less sin than it is
TuRder the assassin's mask. Treason is
treason, whether it was committed by
.an Arnold, Burr or Beauregard. In the
words OF the illustrious Grant, "Let us
have peace" Fling aside this sicklv