The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-21


ed unsuccessfully.
"In every other age, In every other
land. popular pIaudits have been but
the echoes OF the shouts and martial
paeans OF victory. Public honors, cost
Is demonstrations and universal ac-
claim have been the heritage OF success
full armies Imperial Rome intoxicated
with the glory OF conquest, erected lotty
arches TO her mighty warriors, only
when they bore her proud eagles ABOVE
the ranks OF conquering legion. France
was united and exultant under the
great Corslcau so long as he was vic.
torIOus; but he, too, was defeated, and
at his fall, the Legislative assembly OF
his people abandoned and demanded
the abdicatlon OF this hitherto idoiized
leader. Nor do our own brave conn-
trymen, the brave veterans Of the IN
ron army, furnish any parallel TO the
conditions which surround us, Wheh
they returned from the horrors OF war
It was to homes OF increased comfort
TO augmented wealth and with arms IN
their hands and victory on their BAN
ners They returned to an established
and grateful government.
''The return Of the disarmed and dis
banded Confederates, however, was to
people made moor; to land made des-
Olate, covered with blackened ruins,
where every home was In mourning,
every breath was sigh and every
breeze a messenger OF woe. And yet,
after third OF a century has passed,
after the remnant OF those armies have
grown gray. and the government for
which they fought lives only as mem
DRY. these grim southern warriors gath
err In annual reunions. and are the re-
cipIents OF a boundless hospitality dis
pensed by this recently tmpoVerisheo,
but grateful people.
ION what page In history Will you
find similar history? In what age or
country nave the shattered remnants OF
defeated armies, banded togetheV in a
brotherhood ss-unlque, purpose so I'M
selfish? Among what defeated people
has ever been witnessed such hdellty TO
the memories OF an unsuccessful past;
such devotion to the survivors OF an un-
successful army, couples with such un-
ostentatlous, genuine and responsive
loyalty to the government from which
they so resolutely and cnnsclentiously
sought separation? ] challenge the
worlds annals to furnish parallel.
I'm conclusion let me inquire what Il
nil means. Simple Justice to these
brave and patriotic men. who yielded at
last to Overwhelming numbers and re-
sources; justice to the southern people.
whose devotion to their cause must he
measured by the countless sacrifices
they made for It; justice to their pres
ent attitude toward the American re-
public. whose honor and freedom anu
flag Thea are always ready TO defend;
justice to the self-respect and man
hood OF southern youth, who are 10
stand for all time with northern youth,
In defence OF popular liberty; Justice 10
the past and justice to the future, all
demand that our own posterlty and all
mankind shall know the meaning OF
these phenomenal demonstrations over
the thlnned ranks Of a broken, but
proud and once resIstless army.
our heroic brothers OF the Union
army reed no such care In guarding
themselves from misapprehcnsion; and
FOR the reason that they ore. 80 to
speak, the special wards OF this great
nation All OF It's energies, all Of It's In
UueDce ana iHrEe snare OF us liNllg
power are subject, when required. to
their demands. Besides. as rule. II IL
true the world over that victory Itself
vinditates while defeat dooms to mis-
representation the cause ~ the van
qulshcd.
Let u8 hope. however, that impartial
history. secured thrOugh the iabors Of
our broad minded and able historical
committee, will avert from our people
such wrong.
Again and finally. press the cues
ton, what is the inmost meaning OF
these Confederate pageants7 Are they
due 10 any covert or sinister aims. or, ip
the remotest degree to seli-soaking?
Their open sessions and published pro-
ceedings, which AL tho world is chal-
lcnged to inspect. furnish the answer.
DO these reunions and popular demon
STATIONS. which attend them, draw
their Inspiration from any suggestion OF