Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1873 — Rebellion a Virtue. [ARTICLE]

Rebellion a Virtue.

The Sguth has its “Decoration day" as well as the North. Here we observe the 30th of May. There they observed the 26th of April. We honor our dead not only for their bravery and devotion, but for the cause in which they rendered up their lives—for liberty, for unity, for the preservation of the Republic. It is curious to,observe that the Southern dead are honored in precisely a similar way and for similar reasons. There issomething about this solemn ceremony that disarms criticism and softens rancor. It is very hard to indulge in philosophical questionings while tlie mournful strains of a funeral march arc sounding in our ears, and while the long procession of flower-ladenmourners is wending its way to the last resting-place of brave men. And yet one or the other of these observances must be wrong; not wrong as a tribute of love and affection for lost friends, but Wrong as commenda-, tory <if the scrviccs (>f the dead; —'.. In the late ceremonies at Mobile thousands joined in the line of march—young, old, aud middle-aged—and in the oration to which they listened after the decoration occurred these words: “Our spirits are yet aglow with the memories of the days when Lee led his dauntless legions to victory and Semmes made the name of “Alabama” immortal. Battlefields bury men. not rights. The principle for which we fought lives yet, iu the love of Southern hearts, iu the memory of the past, in the stories which mothers tell their children at the knee. Lee surrendered an uiitafhishedsword. He surrendered the policy of resistance, not the principle.” \\nen we come to celebrate the 30th of May, and strew the graves of our dead with floral offerings, words of similar import will be used. Children at the Nortli and South are taught to respect the memory of the men who are thus honored, not for any individual trait or excellence, but because they died to preserve the Nation on the one hand and to divide it on the other. Thus is an antagonistic sentiment being instilled into the minds of the youth of the country. It is not pleasant to reflect upon the consequences of such teach■ings^—lt is not encouraging to know that the children of one section are being trained to regard as just and sacred that which the children of another section learn to look upon with horror and aversion. Such teachings do not promise the restoration‘of those bonds of union which the thoughtful and patriotic have hoped for when the actual participants in the bitter strife of the past had passed away. We would be glad to see ihe ceremonies which mark this anniversarv in tlie South of anotlier character, ami that purely one of affection and admiration for brave soldiers, who exhibited the courage and obstinacy characteristic of their countrymen and of their section — leaving the cause in which these traits were exhibited to the oblivion of a patri 1 otic forgetfulness. We speak in no unkindhess—in no spirit of sectional selfishness; but two principles so radically opposed cannot live in unison, and tis the successful one cannot be asked to give way, we know no other alternative than for the de "seated to yield—not yield their love, their respect, their gratitude; but yield the cause, which cannot concern the dead, and having been abandoned by the living should not be paraded .as the basis of future strife and discontent. Aside from this, a war for the division of the Republic and the maintenance of slavery cannot be applauded by posterity. Gradually the existence of slavery in this country, as the system formerly reigned in tlie South, is coming to be looked upon as a barbarism, shocking to civilization and at war , with our professions as a nation. This sentiment will grow as it grew in England, until the' system of bondage prevalent in the South up to 1861 will come to be Iboked upon as the one dark spot upon our history, ing only reproach and condemnation. A cause, then, which had for its reigning inspiration the continuance of such a system cannot long be regarded with favor or admiration, even by those who were once loudest in its praise. While the feeling of the world is one of admiration for the courage displayed by the Confederate troops, it is at the same time one of regret atythe cause in which -such heroisjiL-.-Rta«unaHifostedr~and~4he-quicker the latter is forgotten and the former only remembered'the better it will be. — Chirarjn Inter-Ocean. A CoTple appeared before a clergyman in Sandy Hill, N. Y., a few days since, and desired to be united in the bonds of matrimony. They were directed To place themselves in position, and, just as the ceremony was about'Tto begin, a little urchin forced his way into the -minister's study, yelling at the top of his voice, “Do’n’t’do it. Mister; mother don’t want yerto.” This produced a “stay of pro; ceedings,’’ and the last seen of the disappointed pair . they were walking arm-in-arm in search'of -some one empowered to' consummate :their bliss by making the twain one flf?sh. o ,