Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-06-27

Chicago Inter Ocean.

Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Inter Ocean is much ineensed
and digusted with Puck because Ii
! has cartooned the Grand Army of
Republic. We think the time when
this bedizened beggar could masque-
rade as patriotic organization has
passed. That there are many good
men and brave soldiers in the G.. "A.
II. goes without saying; but it Is
equally true that the organization as
a whole is one OF the worst and most
harmful that has ever existed in this
country. The very fact that it has
been able to disarm criticism in large
measure by appeals to memories and
sentiments dear to patriotic hearts
has made it all the more powerful
for evil, for il has thus been able TO
prostitute the noblest emotions and
the worthiest motives of the basest
ends. 1t has made merchandise of
patriotism and commodity of valor
and devotion to the Union. 1t has
debauched and corrupted public opln
| ion untilthe old flag has simply be
come tire symbol Of greed and stands
for nothing but an appropriation We
think it will not be long before the
universal verdict viii be that the G..
A. r. has done much to dim the luster
Of the victory in the war Of seces-
sion.
1t Is that delectable sheet, the
Memphis Commercial Appeal, which
disgorges its viscera in this offensive
fashion. Wherever it has been pos
sible for that concern to relieve it.
self Of feculence TO the smearing of
men who fought for the defense of
the American Union it made haste
TO do SO, and generally succeeded,
as in the pre-, nj instance, in betray-
ing its hopeless degeneracy.
The Grand Army, 81 per cent of
which are representative of the mill
liant patriotism that in 1861 rushed
to the support Of the Union, has been
seryiceable excuse for the utter
ance of the malignancy of that baf-
fled treason which lacks the frank
ness and the courage bodily to confess
its chagrin. We admire the south
ern soldier who, having fought val
| iantly, accepts defeat like soldier
and meets his new responsibilities
! like man; but the bushwhacker is %
cowardly wretch, the coyote of hui
man animals; and 1t is the BUSH
whaciyer breed which survives in GER
tain phases Of southern journalism
to discharge such mephitic venom as
the above quotation.
The Grand Army is composed Of
men who came back from a life-and-
death struggle for the rescue OF the
nation from those who sought TO de-
stroy 1t. Some Of them bear fearful
evidence Of the perils and dangers Of
that struggle. Every member of
the Grand Army was q soldier; every
soldier, even those not called upon to
play hero's part in the midmost of
the contest, was factor Of the Fed
eral force that perpetuated the
/ Union.
! 1t does not rest with those who Sc
cretly hate what they dare not openly
oppose to discriminate. The 'good
men and brave soldiers" have seen
to it that only men with war records
| have become members of the q. A. r.
The presumption, there being no evil
dence to the contrary, is that the
Army as whole is made up Of ''good
men and brave soldiers and If this
be so the army should disarm malig-
nant, invidious, and secretly trea-
sonable criticism, by appeals to mem-
cries and sentiments dear to patriotic
hearts. The Grand Army exists for
that very purpose. We vary the
prophecy Of the Memphis paper to
make it say at will not be long be-
fore the universal verdict will rep
rebate the men who have attempted
to dim the luster of the victors in the
war of secession by their bitter, inn
placable viliflcation of those dead
and living victors.'