The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-05-30
Looking Backward-and Forward
By COZ. ALEX. DUKE BA1LIE.

N1H5 " steps they tread, yet
DN1 the world moves
steadily forward,
leaving crowns for
the dead, unmindful of the crosses borne
by the living.
This may seem hard, but in strict JUS
tice it is right. With the quarter Of q
render by Lee of his gallant army, since
these years have disappeared in the misty
horizon once SO near-with these have
gone the tears and the mystery, and in
the clear atmosphere of the afternoon we
see that the critical world is right. The
fame of the dead is secure. That of the
living is not, and the prudent world re-
quires ample security for its indorse-
ment
This is a practical age of a most practical
world, and mon Of action, not theory, or
those capable of combining the first with
the latter, alone can become leaders and
rulers. Sentiment is reserved for the
few quiet moments, and hard sense only
is called into llay during the many busy
working hours. The men who died in
the glorious struggle for perpetuation of
our nation as q whole; the men who led
the heroes in that strife; who planned
end gained our victories; who lived
through the storms of battle to die
amidst the peace of a united country
these men took no sentimental view of
the revolutionizing of o world in which
they were engaged during the years of
predict and to advise the material bene.
fits that would result from the then Law
ish outpouring of blood and treasure
which made all nations of the earth to
look on with amazement at the SEEM
ingly reckless, useless o%utpouring.
Fourteen years after the close of the
civil war, General Grant, in friendly con-
vers ,tion, gave expression to views which
are to-day upon the pages of his per-
sonal history as grand testimonials to
his patriotism and which should be held
of this nation, especially those of the
South. 1t was while on his homeward
trip after making the tour of Cuba and
Mexico in 1880. The man to whom he
spoke was n native of the South, though
q steadfast Union man" always. After o
brief review of his political record, touch
ing here and there upon incidents and re-
suits of the war, he unbosomed himself
and gave expression concerning the part
he took in the war, and his ideas regard
ing it's uses, as he was seldom known to
do before or to the day of his death.
The conversation turned upon the bat
ties of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Vicks-
burg, when some personal "reminiscences
were mutually recalled,
"In those battles, said General Grant,
"as in all conflicts of the war, I felt hat
I was performing q duty for humanity as
we'll as for the nation. I was not the
enemy Of the South. I felt no exultation
at the slaughter of her people. I never
ing against the South or fighting for the
North. I felt that I was fighting for the
South, md for the North, and for the
whole nation, and fighting only against a
great wrong. It would have been a great
misfortune to the Southern people had
they been successful in arms and enabled
to establish n separate government. 1t
would not lave been o goyernme nt fash
toned after that under the Constitution of
the United States. 1t would not have
been o republic. 1t would have been an
oligarohy of the aristocrats, and the
young men of the South would have been
reduced to competition with the slaves
in the struggle for existence. More than
that, the poor man of the South would
to-day occupy q position socially but lit
tie above the negro, and he would be
equally at the mercy of tho rich planter
and slave owner. Now, you can see fol-
yourself the different state of affairs. We
have suppressed the rebellion and recon
structed the Southern States.
aYou see the poor of the South in pos
session of the country and rebuilding for
tues on the ruins of war; and you see
the young men of the South going out
into oil parts Of the United States en-
gaging in the professions and the COM
merce Of the country, building for them
selves regulations and wealth and help
ing to enrich their people at home. You
see peace in the North, peace in the
South, plenty everywhere and an equal
opportunity given the people of all sec
tions to better their condition in the pur-
suit of wealth and happiness"
The result of the war as General Grant
pictured it fourteen years after the strife
was anded is the condition that should
exist Throughout the United States al
this day. II it be not So, then the peace
which has been declared is not complete
blood of the dead heroes whom we glo-
rify on each thirtieth day OF May; the
labors, sufferings and years of peril.
daring of the comrades who on Memorial
Day strew the graves of their faller
brethren with flowers, all these have
failed to work out the grand practical re.
suits for which each thinking soldier
from lowest to highest in rank, braved
the dangers of those terrible years Of war.
We are broughG race TO race VIII tne
fact that two classes Of citizens of the
republic have arrayed themselves against
each. other, not in the sa%nguinary con
fict of arms, but in a dispute over a ques.
ton of civil and political rights, which
threatens internecin6 strife.
This disquietude and contention is 81
o~utgrowth, even after these man, years
81 FKS wbr. It IL an anomalous socia
condition arising out Of q peace that wal
established by the abitrament of arms
It is q population Of the conditions of
peace which was accepted as the onl.
alternative.
Suppose the present discussions: g
they sometimes seem to threaten, should
become SO widespread and of 30 serious
nature as to demand Federal interference
When q revolt occurs against the law
which are necessary for the maintenance
Of peaco, it becomes the duty of IN,
power creating such law to arrest tn.
hand Of violence and 10 perpetuate order
conservative with the best interests 0
the republican government, it is the frs
duty Of local authorities 10 execute tn
re- e-S.r 49, .bou1d ha neo1ipent. tn