Year: 1871

Forgetfulness is great weak
ness, and common to all. It is
one of the strongest criteria of hu-
man fallibility. As a people, we
are oblivious, or there would be no
present necessity to argue any pres
ent political proposition--not one.
We are too prone to complain. If
we could throw ourselves back
eight years, we would be sounder-
minded and purerhearted. Then
there was a struggle--a war for
life-and men cast aside private
interests and personal piques. A
prosperous, powerful, and respcc-
ted nationality is the consequence.
We should think more of the past.
it is important that we should do
SO. 'a 5.s FIa st1


General Grant may be weak; he
may have done many unwise and
foolish things. such as are charged
against him, but he is undeniably
patriotic, and this virtue, in our
estimation, covers q multitude of
sins. What right has any one to
assume that the unpretending tan
ner, who had nothing special to
gain beyond that Of others, but
who, by wonderful perseverance
and determination, closed the
greatest civil war of the world in
IN unparalleled triumph, should
fail in his devotion to the intercs Is
of the people for whom he fought?
In all the clamor of the day let it
he borne in mind that no man oc-
cuses him. We do not feel dispo-
sed to enter into defense--that of
itself would imply charge. There
is no charge, aud therefore there
need be no defense If we could
forget Vicksburg and Appomattox
we might feel very differently from
what we DO, and might reach O
different conclusion. The union
OF the States may be regarded as
complete. The public debt has
been brought within safe control.
The national honor never stood so
high in the estimation Of the
world Why should we not be
satisfied? We would be if we did
not forget.


We have forgotten the perils
which environed US. We have
forgotten the livid corses of our
friends. We have forgotten the
millions expended in a day or in
an honr. In short, we have for
gotten all our sacrifices; and the
result is that in petty villages and
country taverns citizens engage in
learned discussions to settle the
question whether a Savior is to be
trusted. Never in written history
has there been any parallel to the
United States of North America
Never in her birth, never in he,
growth. never in her struggles OF
her resources. or her bresent sta
tus, has she had a peer. It would
seem, it must be, that God reserved
this continent for peculiar peo-
pie. and we are that people, hav
ing passed through this high
training school. In every time o.
tribulation He has been to us the
helping hand. But we forget, anG
like Martha, are troubled abou


many things. and seem, like her
also to have forgotten the one thins
needfui. =.


We care no more about Genera


Grant'than any other living maj


who has conducted himself will
the same marked ability. We hav,


always looked upon him, and still
look upon him as a divine instru.


mentality fer the accomplishment
Of groat good. He is child o
a high destiny. However it ma,
happen to others, We are detsrmin
ed never to forget the fast fadinl
past, nor be unmindful Of the preg
nant present Ir we had but thre
words to utter which should b
heard throughout the land the
would be these: Do not forget


Philadeldhia Press.