The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-07-09


ago for the ancient kindom of Poland! Just
rs much as France and England would
have for the American States should they
be found disunited, hostile to each other
and detenceless, God grant that history
may not have 10 REGARD how Britain reclaim
ed her fugitive colonies after q century OF
delay, nov Spain seized again upon Florida,
and how France resumed sway over her
Louisiana extending the whole length Of
the mississippi
And the diticultiqs in the way of perma.
nent peace and prosperity with divided
Union arc still more serious if we look at
home. Suppose that for the sake of peace,
to stop this torrent fow of human blood, a
dissolution of the Union we're agreed upon.
Suppose it were possible for us, after cele
brating the birthday Of national independ-
ence and recalling the broad principles and
burning words in which our fathers pro-
claimed themselves free, to recognize, on
our own territory, government whose
corner stone is human bondage and whose
fundamental principle is that there are slave
races born to serve, and master races born
to rule-aU this done ooouIa zoe haze peace
Where shall be the dividing line? What
shall be the channels of commerce? And
that dividing line unless we could erect up.
on it the Andes or the Himmalayas would
be perpetual line of battle. What unceas-
ing jealousies and alarms between France
and England even when united.by treaties
Of alliance and their territory separated by
the English channell Was not almost all
England drilling, five years since, in antici-
patton of an invasion by Louis Napoleon
and all based upon the suspicion that that
willy Emperor was entertaining some such
design? What then would be the state of
things with us, were peace in name con.
cluded while only surveyors line blazed
upon trees or staked upon the prairie sepa.
rated unfriendly countries? You and as
individuals might possibly live in peace
under such circumstances-migh refrain
from aggressions upon those beyond the
line; and few might be found there who,
in like manner, would refrain from lawless-
ness and rapine, but for communities so sit
uted, for governments so situated, to have
peace, is, in the light of past history,a thing
not to be expected. The conclusion of a
peace on such terms would be but prolon-
CATION of war. . 1t would be rolling over
upon posterty a burden too heavy for as to
bear, eta burden which would be continu-
ally growing heavier. 1t would he cow
ardly transmission to future generations of
a military conflict which should be decided
now and forever believe it is a conflict
between opposing forms of civilization, or
rather between modern Christian civiiza-
ton and that which proclaims itself as a re-
action from it and in antagonism with
it. One or other must possess the CONT
nent. Between the Great Lakes on the
North, and the Gulf on the South there is
not room for two nations for two sntago-
nistic and conflicting forms of civilization.
What then Is the duty-the great, para
mount, duty Of American citizens in the
present crisis Of our country. 1t is to
stand By the Union. And is not this the
sentiment Of all this concourse of citizens
before me to-day? There are differences of
opinion on variety Of points, there have
been alterations of feeling and these have
been aggravated by hard words and hard
names believe that under all this and
deeper than all this there exists, to much
greater extent than many suppose, an abid-
ing devotion to the Union. He who is for
the Union is a patriot, friend to his coun.
try, friend to you and to me. He who is
not for the Union is not patriot He is
an enemy to his country, to you and to me,
to our little children, and to the wellbeing
of unborn generations.
Among those who are devoted to the Un-
ion there is room for some variety of opin-
ion. To succeed in maintaining the Union
We must be united. And the platform Of
patriotism must be broad enough to en-
brace all true patriots. 1t is not absolutely
essential that you approve every act of the
Government, 1t is not necessary that you
endorse every feature of its policy. 1t is
not necessary that you think those who ad-
minister the government have committed no
errors nor even that they have been charge
able with no attractions upon the consttu.
ton. But it ia necessary that you stand 6y
the Union. That you discharge the positive
duties of loyal citizen. and refrain from
whatever would embarass the Government.
This is the dictate Of policy, of patriotism,
Of religion. If the ship of state has sprung
leak it will not help the matter in the
least for you to jump overheard. 1t will
not help the matter in the least for you to
blow up the vessel. Suppose the govern
ment gets bowed up, will not you and I be
blown sky high with it, Our individual
interests and those of the government are
identical. It's maintenance is order, pro.
lection and ultimately peace, its overthrow
is anarchy.
But how shall: a citizen who loves his country
and yet has In him deep disapprobation Of certain
features in the policy of the Government discharge
his duty at once to his conscience and his country
Must he refrain from all expression Of disapproval
May he not criticise the acts and policy of those
who administer the Government L answer, every
good citizen is bound to be reful that in the exer
else ofhs liberty of opinion and speech he does not
armed OpDOsitiOn a
Government, and weaken the hands of those who,
with all the disapprobation you may have of their
acts are yet Its sole authorized and Constitutional
administrators. ! have had some experience as
teacher Very rarely nacassaru in fa,niIu 60.