New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-30
PEACE IND HEROED.

Mr. Gladstone once characterized the us
Landmcnt of the armies at the close OF the
Civil War and the immediate reversion OF hun
IN, dS of thousand. of soldiers from the stirring
scenes of military life to the commonplace arts
If mace rs one of the most remarkable spec
taclc> in history. For four years war had been
made on an unequalled scale. but win Inc
return of peace martial ardor passed OUT OF
the volunteer almeS aS suddenly aN IL had
been inspired by love OF county or state ana
sectional pride. Br1ver, better disciplined OF
more intelligent soldiers never fought for The
honor of a flag but when the last throw OF
the iron dice was made. they broke ranks ana
wore enlisted anew in farms and workshops,
app,rentlv unconscious that they had been
making history. as Theodore Winthrop had
written. hanI over hand. and that genera
tons might pass before America could again
know an heroic period. The campaigns oil the
Civil War. instead of creating as iii Europe. Il
shirt of militarSm intensified North and South
:, feeling of adherence of war and pro-
found love of peace.
There is only one day in the year when the
battle-iiags are nnfurled and the veterans are
mustered and they bear tribute every new
Of war. They celebrate no victories they join
in no paeans of rejoicing over the glory OF
arms: they have forgotten the songs oil Inc
camp. They hold in remembrance their duty 10
the heroic dead, and as they march to the
graves and monuments they remind holiday
throngs of tie high cost i'll human lie OF what
John Bright once declared TO have been the
only righteous war in modern history. How
little there is in a Decoration Day parade with
its ST angling files. gray warriors and bent hg
ures to inspire enthusiasm for war and the
profession of arms. The survivors OF the
mighty armies disbanded after Lees surrender
were peace loving men, who left the field with
a keen perception Of the barbarism OF modern
warfare, and they have impaired TO their sons
and their ne ghbors their own adherence OF
milita,ism They cOnsecrate one day in the
wear TO heroic Renaissance, but the pathos OF
their march TO the graves eloquently voices
their love Of peace
The Decoration Day Oratory has declined
from year to year. There has been long
sweep of the pendulum since the fall OF sum
ter. The veterans and the holiday crowds
know in advance all that could be said from
the platform They are better pleased when
the patriotic defamation is omitted and the
graves are decorated in silence. Union with
out slavery was worth all the precious blood
that was shed, all the heroic sacrifices that
were endured. No veteran wishes to have the
changes rung upon the familiar theme; nor is
he fiattered at this late day when an orator,
who was possibly in his cradle when Lee gave
up the fight. pays tribute to the courage, patri-
rtsm and herosm of tbe farm bows the me-
chanics. the clerks, the lumbermen, the law
yers and the street laborers who fought the
great battle and "end'lred tho hardness like
patient soldiers" lie knows that the volun-
teer armies from 1861 to 1865 contained not
the riff raft Of the streets nor swarms OF adj
venturers, but the best blood Of the Nation
Because he remembers the high principles and
the noble motives which inspired the Nations
defenders, he is on guard to-day TO honor the
dead