Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-08-29
LETTER FROM COZ. FOHNEY,
A VIEW FROM WASHINGTON

LETTER FROM COZ. FOHNEY.
VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
had occasion to pass through the Capitol
grounds few evenings ago. 1t was one of
the most beautiful days that summer had
given us-aud the sun had taken its torrld
rays to Borrico or ssCathay, leaving his sweet
est smile to tinge the evening clouds. The
Marine Band, in their gaudy apparel, were
going leisurely through an operatic march,
and multitude Of people We're saunterng
among the trees and around the garden beds
of roses--men and women with their little
ones; ruddy clamsels fair to look upon, and
bright young men who seemed to live in their
fascination; the inevitable officer in gold and
blue, and pale soldiers who had strol!cd from
the hospital to hear the sweet sounds and
catch the evening air. | passed up the
broad and gently ascending path, and the
steps that led to Congress Hall. The music
ceased, and the strains Of 0fMenddlesSohn died
away among the leaves. While regretting
the silence, and listening to catch another
echo of the strain, the band commenced
again to play. The air was national and pa
triotic-something that stirred the blood with
rapture as it told of our country's glory and
grandcur-the triumph of our armies and
the wars desolation. | stopped and listened
to the soul inspiring melody. | was stand
ing at the foot Of the Capitol, and it looked
majestic even with its uncOuth domes and
unfinished marble work. A weather beaten
tlas was idly clinging around the flag staff
The city, with its occasional glimpscs of
nagnitcence was at my feet, and beyond
the intervening city were the hills of Virgin
a-Arlngton pceping from the trees Fort
Richardson brown and lofty; Fort Corcoran,
massive and irregular; and other forts in
distinct and monotonous. 1t was scene
such as have seldom witnessed, and dwell
upon it now partly because it brought with
it many thoughts and suggestions that are
always familiar and always new.
thought Of the other days when peace
rcgned over the land, and the hills over the
Potomac had no memory beyond May -day
picnic or an evening drive; of the ether men
who had left Washington never to return af-
ter leading us into war that they might
rule or rum. How often their naughty men
aces had been heard in these very halls =
Here their treason came into being; it bud
ded, bloemcd and burst into fruit The
apathy oil Northern men was construed into
slavery their silence became submission. =
Government to these Northern men, was the
developement Of the nations resources and
the establishment Of the nations happiness.
True to the teachings Of their fathcrs-to the
inspiration of Plymouth Rock and the exam
pie of William Penn-they laborcd for civil
liberty, national peace, Christianity, com
merce, and social comfort. They built rail
roads and canals and breakwaters and lines
OF telegraph communication and ocean steam
ers and dry dock and suspension bridges. -
They made treaties Of reciprocity, and pro.
tectye tariffs, and advantageous boundary
lines. Harbors were widencd, channels were
deepened--rlvers were made easy of naviga-
ton-the deserts of the West were cultiyat-
ed, and the hunting grounds Of the Indian
became the corn fields Of the farmer The
mountains of Pennsylvania were burned as
coal-the mountains Of Missouri were ham
mered and rolled into iren-the mountains of
California were melted and turned INTO refin-
ed gold. The Northern statesmen labored
for these ends and attained many of them
The Southern statesman was wrapped in a
dream of personal and selfish ambition, and
lived to no purpose beyond the aggrandze-
ment of a section and the triumph ola party.
Industry brought power, and, as the Nsrih
became rich and powerful, all hopes Of South
ern greatness passed away The cotton mill
triumphed over the cotton gin! Defeat pro-
duced speration-dcsperati produced
treason and treason ended in war, a
| cannot but think of the DAYS that came
upon us after the war commenced The dark
days and light days. Truly it has been a
storm. Clouds, and showers, and clear skies:
lightning, thunder, and silver-lacing sun
shine. The dread that came after Fort Sum
ter the anxiety, the fear; the uprising of the
North; the rush of brave men to the succor
of the capital pennsylvania in the advance.
The New York 7th Its measured tread no
the avenue will never be forgotten. Tens Of
thousands have trod the avenue since that
day; tens of thousands have gone over into
Virginia, never to come back again. never to
answer 20 their names, until the angel of
Eternity calls the muster-roll Of Time. We
saw the mighty North in that scrred array
OF brave men. 1t was War! In the roll of
the drum, the bearing of the soldiers, the
look that came from every eye, the fixed
grasp of the musket, and the fierce meaning
it conveyed, we saw war-war embodied,
equipped and drilled into battaions-war
that carried with it purpose, determination.
courage and truth, With that marching
regiment new men came upon the stage, new
ideas came into the minds Of men, a new
courage came into their souls. The old was
embattling the new; the false had challcng-
ed the true-liberty against license, freedom
against slavery, the spirit Of our race and
cur age against the spirit Of infarny and OPP
pr ssion. The baptism Of blood was for us.
Boldly we stepped into it, and we are COM
ing forth cleansed. 1t might have been
Peace might have remained with US, but ev-
erything else would have gone manhood,
courage, pride, justice and nationality. God
be praised that we had strength to drink the
cup! Its bitterness will be sweet hereafter,
and cur children will bless us when we are
gone, for having given them liberty as well as