Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-14
Written for the Worcester Daily Spy,


AS, one by one, the "stars and stripes" the
'red, white, and blue" of our national banner
now spreading like angels wings over the pub
lie buildings, business places, and private
dwellings, of our loyal city, for its protec-
ton, were at first unfured each new demon
straton Of patriotism won warmer welcome,
and fresher glow of enthusiasm, by our free
dom loving citizens. Now, if the display of
our country's ensign, waving in the breeze,
conveys such deep and wonderful sgniti-
canoe to the minds of men, as to elcctrify and
move them in such an extraordinary manner
if the very sight OF it is so suggestive OF the
common rights of all to ''life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, - as to urge them onward
to deeds of noble daring in defence OF these
"inalienable rights" then, in the "name of
God, let us set up our banners" humbly, de-
voutly, and earnestly imploring Him TO give
success to our arms i'll this holy warfare, even
though the decisive victory must be won by
precious blood, shed by our dearest and most
loved ones, on the sacred altar Of Liberty. We
look forward to no peace which must be pur-
chased by further compromise with the de-
mon of slavery. Heaven forbid, that at this
tremendous crisis Of our affairs, any halfway
measures or temporizing line OF policy should
for moment be entertained, to avoid the
horrors even of protracted cioa tcar. Let the
question be settle. once and forever, whether
slavery or freedom is to rule hereafter in the
councils OF this nation. The time for decisive
action has at last come, and united North,
now hurrying to the scene of conflict, like the
rush OF thousand Niagaras," is crying as
with one voice, "Libey4y or death p Surely,
no country, in any age, ever present
ed a more sublime spectacle, than We
now witness-of a loyal, peace, and Union
loving people voluntarily iorsakng their cher
v..s-e.is,, rising as one
man in all the majesty and might of their
united strength, TO maintain their violated
rights, and resist the continued aggressions of
a rebellion which has no parallel in the history
of nations. Let us be thankful that the rai-
torous design to overthrow our common gov
eminent by its disloyal subjects was arrested
before reaching its eliminating point, and that
now that our brave countrymen are likely to
prove themselves worthy descendants OF their
immortal revolutionary ancestry, there is
reasonable prospect that we Of this generation
shall be permitted to bequeath, unimpaired, to
our children and our childrens children the
same free institutions we have received as
precious legacy, sealed with our fathers
blood. God bless our beloved country in this
her hour OF peril and Of danger, and enable
her to come forth from this baptism of blood
''fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terri
BILE henceiorth to all opposition as an army
with banners" Who knows but lie whose
hand is distinctly visible in all these mighty
movemements WILL by His woodworking
providence, put an end to southern despotsm,
open wide the doors of that house OF bondage,
'hreak every yoke, and bid the oppressed so
free" May this unnatural contest, forced by
dire necessity upon our unwilling acceptance,
be speedily and honorably terminated, never
again 10 be renewed, and from north to south,
from east to west, the nations flag, with all its
stars undimmed, long wave over "the land of
the free and the home of the brave" NJ