Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-14
MISERABLE FLING.
The Morning Papers Contempt
ibIe Insult to Patriotism.
SHAMEFUL MISUSE OF OLD SOLDIERS.

Few who Choose TO Dictate Their Use.
hut for All Who Live in Obedience to Our
Laws Under Them.
The u Mon this morning with charac-
terisdc smsIlness appends the Signature
MANY Old Soldiers" TO communication
of its own manufacture, the purport OF
which is couched in this language in ref
erence to today's visit to Rock Island of
the distinguished Texas senator. Roger
O. Mills: LAS il has been the custom of
the republican business houses TO decor
ate their business houses in courtesy to
their democratic friends on DAYS of dem
ocratic rallies, and While we. as soldiers,
are willing to treat with courtesy any
loyal democrat, though he lay differ
with US on the political issues of the day.
We do most earnestly protest against The
flag of our country being injured in
honor of one who trampled it in the dust
and who represents part of our country
where no loyal citizen dare disclose his
opinions.
An anonymous communication is as q
rule I'm worthy of attention or thought in
times of political strife. for as rule it ex-
presses the ideas of some one who is TOO
much of 8 coward to boldly essert him.
self The morning paper has in this in
stance. however. made such contemplate
aud uowsrrsnted misuse of the old sol
diers as class in making them appear
to endorse such an unpstriotic sentiment
and position as that maintained, that
something more than mere notice seems
proper In the arst place, if the Union
MANY Old Soldiers" had ever been
within rifle shot of any Of the men who
actually did the fighting during the wa.
they would have learned from them that
the true soldier does not carry
in his breast an everlasting hat
red for his conquered foe; the
Unions Many Old Soldiers" would |
have learned from the real soldiers, tina;
they do not consider themselves individ-
uaI owners of the stars and stripes which |
by their gsllsntry and heroism were pres
served forever, and that they do not as,
sumo to dictate when it shall be un-
furied and when it shall not in these
days of peace. freedom and prosperity; |
the Union's MANY Old Soldiers" would
have learned from the true soldier OF the
war to whom the nation owes its highest
and best tribute, the never-to be forgotten
words of that immortal hero-''Let us
have peace"
Had the Unions MANY Old Soldiers"
hea cr,li ~ 70
cry. they would have recalled one of the
most touching and beautiful incidents in
connection with the tour of one of the
most gallant of Union soldiers during the
war. as republican president of the United
States. when the women and children of
the state from which he who is our guest
today comes, decorated the preside ntial
train with roses, q tribute which -Presi-
dent Harrison afterward spoke of as one
Of the incidents of his trip that he sp-
preciated the most. Indeed, in his speech
at Galveston. President Harrison said
I'VE close tonight whole week of
uayel whole week of Misunderstanding,
. whole week of talking. 1 have before
me III. 600 miles of handwriting and
speaking. am not in
voice to contend with the fine. but
rather strong gulf breeze which pours in
upon us tonight. and yet it comes to me
laden with the fragrance of your well
come. 1t comes with the softness, re-
treatment and grace which have accom-
panied ali my intercourse with the people
Of Texas" Other speeches OF similar
nature were made by the president
on bis trip.
1t was at Ell Psso. Texas, that Presi-
dent Harrison said in his response to the
address of welcome, and referring to the
war. 1T was one of the few wars in
history that brought blessings to the vic ,
tor and vanquished. and was followed by
NO prescriptions. no blocks. no execu-
tions, but by the reception of those who
had striven for the destruction Of the I
country into friendly citizenship, laying {
apon them no yoke that was not borne
BY the vetersns-that Of obedience to
the law and due respect for the rights OF
others"
bed the Unions Many Old
Soldiers" been old soldiers in fact,
hey would have recalled how many
lines the southern survivors of the war /. .
rave been accused of keeping alive the
hostile sectional feeling in this country,
-