New-York tribune., 1896-06-04
cTpERCTLTOTS PATRIOTISM.

Memorial Day IL n time when party feeling
and social prejudice are appropriately lald
aside So far are men from wishing To he
harsh critics by 4 grave that even the great
issue Of the Civil War is revived only for a
memory. and kind thoughts 60 out alike to
Blue and Gray. under the sod and the dew.
waiting IN. Judgment Day" Those who In
excess OF patriotic zeal would keep animate old
rnintIcs nrc sIlenccd and rcbukcd. Nation
gathers 10 mourn dead sons. some rich. some
poor some rolllcking fellows. some who went
dreaming 10 their death some the flower OF u
line OF learned ancestors. some ignorant men
luSi freed from bondage. some who fought for
freedom some who bravely. but In darkness.
fought against H. In the decorating OF graves
there l. no room for supcrcous distinctions.
But now and then We find some superior
patriot with taste SO refined. natives so pure.
blood 80 blue. moral perceptions so high. that
10 him Of the living only few seem 1T for the
earth of the dead only few seem III for re-
membrance President Eliot. OF Harvard. on
Saturday delivered scholarly address before
n Grand Army Post in Cambridge II was m
eloquent and worthy tribute to the young men
Of education who gave up promising careers 70
go TO the War worthy except that the speaker
heroes without throwing stones Mt others. NO
"ncrccnary motive can be attributed 10 any of
Them" said the learned speaker The service
these men rendered 10 the country WAS abso-
"lutcly dlsln,ercsted No professional interest
"ln war influenced them No pay. or prize
money or prospect OF pension had the least
attraction for them" They were the arisoc-
rncy OF the army. To them. and ito nll sol
llFar Ia
give admiration. but even on Decoration Day
he cannot forget that other men went 10 the
War and were useful TO stop bullets who had
no poetry and no altr,iistlc philosophy In their
souls They were drafted. or took bounties or
loved excitement and adventure. were profcs
slonal warriors veterans Of border fights and
Mexican and Indian wars They were mcrcc-
naries to bc praised only for 'the faithful full
Nlment OF an immoral contract" Let 1t be
granted that men go to war from different mo
lives. high enthusiasm fills one. doggcd
anger drives another. Some see clearly their
duty to country. others are borne on by the
! tide Of public feeling and the example OF their
| fellows. Facing death may become a habit. just
| as facing life IL. There were thieves and drunk
! ards In the War. men Of petty motives rs well
| as large ones men who sought rank and were
| Jealous OF others achievements. men who cared
more for self than for country. Human beings
| do right from varied motives as they dc
| wrong. and learned and ignorant drunk and
| sober. aliruistc and merccnary. their bodies
| will stop bullets just the same. Then why sii
| I'm Judgment on the dead soldier OF the Civil
| War? The highbrcd youth from Harvard, the
| ploughboy from Ohio, the Immigrant from Ire
| land and Germany. the blacksmith and the mrr
chant. the good boy and the bad boy, the clcrl
| and the clOdboppcr the scholar and the gypsy
| acting on one impulse or another. went ont I,
| the fields of battle and they came not back
| Who shall tell their motives and appraise the
| quality of their patrolsml They fill the sam,
grave now. There Is no need to reserve fol
some all the glory and to give to others snccrs
They who are snecrrd nj do not mind II. i
is the spirit of the sneers that harms the atti
tnde OF the Pharlsec toward his fcllow-men A
| party has grown up in this country conspicuou,
for its select numbers and distinguished abil
| lty. which IL intent upon bettcrng orr politics
| But with nll praiscworthy motives these gentle
men do their best to make honest politics nn,
| dlsnterpstcd patriotism rcpugnnnt 10 the mass
| of citizens They never persuade. they Onl,
| denOunce They can say 10 pleasant word il
a good cause without adding IN unplensan
word for somebody less enlightened than them
selves. President Elots remarks about tn
heroic dead with the implied sneer at other
less heroic Is mentioned only ms typical Of th
hypercritlcal. moralzlng attitude of mind II
politics to-day men are striving with many mo
tives Some are frankly working for the evil
Let MS fight them fought open enemie
IN the War Others want to do right but d.
not always see clearly. Perhaps they stan,
to-day on questions where some Of US, now NOR