North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-15


enjoyed them: that nothing can take from us
the pride and exullation we have felt as we
saw the old flag unfold over us, and realized
its glorious accrctIon Of stars from the origi-
nal thirteen to thirty-four; that VIC say much
when we say, in the language of New Hamp-
shire'S greatest son. If we can with assur-
ance say no more, "The past at least is Sc
cure" But if we cannot be Joyous. nv
friends, as we have been on this anniversary ;
let US show that it is our privilege, with the
blessing of God to be considerate, brave, and
wise. If there be anything Of the great in
heritance, under existing circumstances, to
save, may We not in ar humble, earnest way
contribute to that salvation If we cannot
do all for which our hearts yearn, may we
not at least approach its conBummation ia
that spirit of devoted loyalty to the COnsti-
tntlOn and the Union which we feel Let
the disregard of others for what the Revolu
tonary fathers achieved, and for the compact
which they made, subdued as they were IN
all things ba' a sense of honor and right by
the suff ff,rings of seven years war. now st4nd
out before US. Let the people realize what
this constant ringing in their ears Of the
charge that the Constitution is a covenant
with Death and League with help has
brought about. And then let them see and
feel what we had in eighty years of unexan-
pied prosperity and happiness under that Con
StiFu
eighty years Of civil liberty of the reign of
constitutional law eighty years of security
to our homes, oflivlng in our castles, humble
though they may have been, with no power
to invade them by night or by day, except
under the well-defined and exhibited authori-
ty of law,-a written, published, law enacted
by themselves for the punishment of crime
and for their own protection, eighty years
of the great experiment which astonished the
word. If the people will 90 this, / cannot,
[ will not believe, that we are so snicten bv
judicial blindness that the great mass of our
population, North ani South, will not some
day resolve that we come osether agtn IN.
der the old Constitution with the ,il f,r. 7
vii! not believe that this exP4rim4n 4nt Of mrp's
capacity for self government, which was so
successfully illustrated until all the Revolu
tlonary men had passed to their final reward.
is to prove a humniating failure. Whatever
others may do, we will never abandon the
hope that the Union is to be restored
Whatever others may do, we Will cling 70 il
" as the mariner cings to the last plank when
night and the tempest close around him.
No matter what may have oeen done North
or South, TO produce it, this terrible ordeal If
blood which has been visited upon us, ough,
TO be sufficient to bring US all back to con-
sciousness Of responsibilities and duties
The emotions of all good men are those of
sorrow and shame and sadness, now, over the
condition Of their country, when they retire
at night, and when thep open their eyes up
on the dawning day, struggle against them
though they may. Why should they attempt
TO disguise it f.? Solictule which hinges upon
apprehension of personal danger or personal
loss, and that alone, is contemplate. Ell
fling men may indulge in trdng WORD and
thought, while the foundations laid by the
fathers are crumbling beneath their feet but
the arti fcers who laid those foundations
found no time for traing while engaged in
their grand and serious work n0r can you.
They could lift up their souls in prayer but
they had no heart for levity and mirth. Ny
friends, you have had, most of you have had,
great sorrows, overwhelming personal sor-
rows, it may be but none Ike these, none
like these which come welling up, day by
astcr, red with the best and bravest blood of
the country, North and SDuth-red with the
blood Of those in both sections uf the Union
whose fathers fought the common battle of
independence. Nor have these sorrows
brought with them any compensation, wheth
er of national pride or of victorious arms
For is it not vain TO appeal to you to raise
shout of joy because the men from the land of
Washington, Marion, and Sumpter are barring
their breasts to the steel Of the men from
the land of Warren, Stark, and Stockton; or
because, If this war is to continue to be wag
ed, one or the other must go to the wall
must be con igned to humliating subjugation2
THIS fearfnl fruitIess, fatal civil war has ex-
hibited our amazIng resources and vast mill
tary power. 1t has shown that united, even
il c,rrying out, in its widest interpre taton
the NJ Dnroe doctrine, on this continent, we
could, with such protection as the broad
ocean viii h flows between ourselves and Eu-
ropean powers affords, have stood against the
world in arms. speak Of the war as fruit
less for it is clear that, prosecuted upon the
basis of the proclanatons of September 22d
and September Oath, 1862, prosecuted as
must understand those proclama tons, to say
nothing Of the kindred brood which has fol
lowed, upon the theory of emancipation, de-
vastation, schjugation, it cannot fail 10 be
fruitless in everything except the harvest os