Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-02-04
The Greatness of our Cause.

Let lis be careful Of our steps. nor
rnsh,y deneaa, by our conduct, the great
cause which Providence has called ~ TO
uuhoil in tho lace Of the world, against
the rebellious taskmasters. There are
those amongst us, n,en-of narrow hearts
who can see in this great mater Only the
strife of factions; who seek to gain from
i only the triumph of a wretched party
Let us beware how We lower cur stand
ard 10 the groye.Iing ideas of these men.
must moi, ne dare not forget or set
aside the great principle at stake IN our
contest; for in maintaining this, we are
The standard bearers Of the whole world,
and our battle is most truly the battle of
the people everywhere, against the,r op-
pressors.-"Liberty and Equality, now
and forever" this was the cry with which
the founders Of the Union marched tovic-
tory, through fluctuations and trials ind-
nitely severer than any which have be-
,alles us yet; and it IS for that-for the
sacred cause of human rights, of hui
man equality, Of universal liberty, that We
once more do battle for the world.
This is no vague rhetoric; it is tho lit
eraI truth. The American Union has
been since its formation, the cynosuro Of
the hottest hopes aud aspiration Of the
old world. Our peaceful and orderly
liberty has been the envy of the people
of Europe many hundred thousands OF
whom have sought our shores to share is
blessings. Our institutions haze been the
model upon which the wisest statemen
of Europe have aimed 10 establish liberty
within tbeif bounds If Italy, through
many struggles, attained at last to Union
soon. We hope, TO be perfected, Italians
gained their inspiration from US, and one
the uoblest of them all, learned in our
own country the method. and the sup
rene importance 10 liberty, Of Union. 1t
Is not only the eyes of the people Of Eu-
rope which are fixed upon us; the true
est statesmen Of that continent demand
that we shall achieve success, and de
mand it because, in the words of one OF
them: IF their (American) institutions
should fall, ours would suffer by react
or"
LISA heavy burden which God has
laid upon us; but we cannot put it away
we dare not let it fall. 1t is great
and solemn trust which the American
peopio hold, for the people of all Christ
'an lands. Long tamperlng with slavery
has made us forget that we are, AID have
been since the beginning Of our history
the tandard-beagers of liberty for all
Christeudom. When the bitterness Of
defeat unneryes US, when the faint OF
heart ely out-shall not this thought
rouse us once more! Is not this inspir-
alton enough. that we, the American
people, fight this fight that all the world
may be the gamer!
No noblsr place in history has ever
been held than that he'd by Us today.
Bat we must act our part like men, so
that those lhat come after US shall not be
ashamed of our irresolution. Dante,
with noble scorn, places upon the outer
most verge Of He'll those dreary souls |
who in this life lived without blame and
without praise-"they are mingled with
= thai q ,ss OF angels who We're not re-
'.bell;ous, nor yet faithful to God, but
''were for themselves" Heaven chased |
''them forth to keep its beauty from i'm
: pair; and the deep bel! receives them
mot, for the wicked would have some |
lory ever them
Can we afford by failure TO earn this |
place for ourselves, TO gain by cowardice
the sccrn of all noble and true men; to
peril, BY lack of faith in the principle
which has made us long prosperous and
powerful, the progress of that principe
and cause AZ ]. Epeuing Poet.
A Prophecy.