The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-11-06
AN .ADDRE8a
10 sIaas00 by IA. WALTERS, sa
~ Union Celebration Of three Lords-Day
Schools, Anaoch, Sept 28t, 1861.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PARENTS AND chill
DRxN: 70 see before me so many smiling
faces, the majority of which being familiar,
affords no little pleasure, and surely the honor
of addressing an assembly such as has this
day and at this place SO orderly and pleasantly
convened might be desired by any sensible
m an NO matter from what portion of this
territorial sphere he might hail. =5sl4
Having been chosen, in common with others,
gentlemen more experienced in speaking and
consequently better qualified to entertain you
chan my humble self, to say something in
cQmmendation of that enterprise which is SO
replete with all that adorns our fallen race,
shall in the first place express grateful
sense of our many obligations to Him who
forned from his unbounded goodness this
beautiful world and decorated it with its innu-
merable beauties.
TO the Father of spirits we are all, old and
young large and small, teachers and pupils,
parents and children, without the first excep-
tionswhateyer, indebted for the privileges and
pleasures of this day; indeed for everything
that. elevates and dignifes degraded beings
Ike ourselves. Toretire from this place with
out tifeminding you Of the responsibilities that
eesf ON people SO abundantly blessed as cur
selves would leave q sting up0n,my conscience.
It is TO be feared that such creatures we
are, so prone TO go astray, may fail to realize
propefly he duties they owe to each other aud
especially to Him who is the source of all
goodness. and true happiness. And here may
be discovered cause, if not the cause of, the
troubles under which our once happy but now
distracted country is at this very moment
writhing.5 And . + what iwrithing that iss
Her. rivers Redeemed with the blood of her
noble sons, her mountains and valleys covered
with the dead bodies of those who were her
devoted admirers and her atmosphere pollu-
"a
unite to tea for her a tale of woe. From the
nature of the case, it is beyond the power of
mortal tongue to describe rightly the deploia-
bic condition into which the once happy union
OF my prosperous States has been plunged
by thewrsckless deeds of wicked conspirators.
To crafty an unholy ambition there are thou
sands OF rebetlious spirits seeking the
throw Of government the best the world
ever saw The dignity of proud America
seems to be threatened with almost sudden
destruction. But notwithstanding these sad
facts, there is consolation in the hope that
the honor of our nAtioD can and will be main
tained. notwithstanding there is at this time
sweeping, mourning, and great Lamentations" :"
our afflicted Republic signing for her wonted
reputation and glory, ard "refusing to be
eomforted," because rebellion is yet to be put
down; / say, notwithstanding all these things;
tile IhsArtsef the patriot is cheered by the hope
thatsthe: perpetuity of the Government is sure
and steadfast in the hands of her brave and
loyal sons. In response to her call, hundreds
of thousands have left their homes and kim
drsd, ahd have gone forth to stay the practical
workings Of an unrighteous ambition. Yes,
fellow citizens, to use the language of another,
san ambition such as caused the angels of
Heaven TO rebel against God" But those an
gel rebels were subdued, and the rebels
against the Government must be, and dare
say will be subdued.~ The leaders in this
wicked conspiracy seem to have been strongly
DESTROYS of fame and elevation, aud when
fairly and honorably defeated, camel-like, they
got their backs up and have shown an un-
willingness to get them down again. They
appear fully determined to have elevation
even at the expense OF the government.
Well, Uncle Sam has concluded and is now
making the necessary arrangements to grant
them their desires. He proposes in the drst
plaee 70 assist them in getting their backs
down, and then elevate them, as JUDAS iscar-
riot Was elevated when he assembled Lie tope
ladder. 800
Although great calamity is upon our ma
tion, she will recover and ,"arse with healing
In her wings, and the eloquent strain of the
met expresses the sentiment of every patriotic
3cArt.