Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-22

This, then, is the peace programme of the
Union party: Peace won by force of arms,
maintained by an infexible vindieation
of the majesty of the people, and fortified IN
the hearts of the people by the greatest re-
form of our century, founded upon justice TO
ALL
This settlement will secure order, for it fet-
tiers the spirit of rebellion by enforcing the
fundamental obligation of the citizen; it will
secure liberty, for it will cast out the demon
which attempted its overthrow it viii Sc
cure prosperity and happiness, for it will
throw open resources, hitherto untouched or
wasted, to the unfettered genius of the Amer
lean people, and extend the benefit of popular
education into the darkest corner of the
country. But it will do more. This settle
neqt aciH prepare this Republic for that poacer
and greatness among the nations Of the earth, to
artich a manifest destiny points its finger.
THE EMPIRE WE FIGHT FOR.
Lord John Russell once defined the Ameri-
can war as the South fighting for independ-
ence and the North fighting for empire.
accept the word. Aye, the South is fighting
for independence; aye, We are fighting for
empire, and for empire, too, on the very
grandest of scales loud cheers.) 1t is so,
and il cannot be otherwise.
What is the independence the South is
fighting tor? Look at it. 1t is the rending
asunder of what naturally belongs together;
IL is the breaking up of great Republic
which promised to throw its peaceful shield
over untold millions; it is the establishment
of Confederacy on the cornerstone of the
most hideous abomination of the age; it is
the introduction of incessant strife and all
the desolations of internal war, where there
might have been the abode of happy repose
and civilizing industry; it is the necessity of
turning large proportion of the social forces,
which might have all been devoted to the
pursuit of moral and material Improvement,
to the savage and tyrannical pursuit of attack
and defence it is the destruction of free in
it is the interruption of progress
sive civilization; it is the ceaseless and
bloody struggle of factions, instead of the
tranquil government of public opinion it is
restless weakness, instead of peaceful nation
al strength; it is the contempt of the world,
instead of its admiration; it is the poor and
of the world robbed of their asy-
lum; it is great young nation robbed of
great and happy future. Such is the break
ing up of this Republic, such is Southern
(Applause.)
And what is the empire we are fighting
for 1? 1t is indeed not state with an emper-
pire of the Romans of DID, or of Great Brit
ain in India, who subjugated nations, and
coined the sweat and tears of the oppressed
into gold; it is indeed not like that of the
first Napoleon, who placed his brothers and
minions upon the thrones of ruined states,
and threw his iron fingers like a vice around
the threats of conquered nations. But look
at this: here is a country of three million
three hundred thousand square miles, nearly
two millions of which are capable of high
order of agricultural improvement; country
washed by the two great oceans on the east
and west, and intersected by the most mag
nifcent rivers and strings of lakes; a coun-
try able to support more than thousand
million of inhabitants. This is the geograph-
ical character of the empire we are fighting
for. And now as to the people. This coun-
try contains over thirty millions to-day, and
by an estimate tar below the ratio of increase
during the last seventy decades,
il will contain one hundred million in fifty
years, and five hundred million in a century
and elbow room for many more. And for
the untold millions that are to inhabit it, we
hold this country as a sacred trust; to them
we have to transmit the foundations upon
which they can hold their peace, prosperity,
civilization, and power. We will transmit to
them institutions free from the vices and en-
eumbrances of which European nations vainly
strive deliver themselves, nee nOm siic
necessity of large and dangerous standing
armies; free from that pernicious centraliza-
lion of power which springs from the dangers
1ccasioned by the close proximity of power
'ul and hostile neHhbors; free from the
blight of an aristocracy, and free from the
curse of slavery. loud applause.) We will
transmit to them liberty and equal rights,
secured by laws respectable and respected !;
We will transmit to them social organization
n which every human being can enjoy the
ruits of his labor with dignity and independ-
ance: we will transmit to them a full abund- |
lnce of the means which promote the un-
development of the moral and ideal
element in human nature. We will transmit
% them an untarnished national honor; we
will transmit to them power under whose
shield the oppressed of the world will feel Sc
cure, and whose flag no king nor combination
IF kings will dare to touch. These blessings
we will transmit to them in the frame of a
Federal Constitution, the rational form of
self government, elastic enough for ever so
many hundred millions of citizens, leaving
every individual and every community free
10 work out their own progressive develop
nent in their acknowledged spheres, while
binding all together in bond of strength.
In one word, we mean to build up Republic,
greater, more populous, freer, more prosper
Gus, and more powerful than any state history
tells US of; Republic having within itself
all that can make people great, good, and
happy, and being so strong, that its pleasure
will be consulted before any power on earth
will undertake to disturb the peace of the
world. loud cheering.) This, my Lord
John Russell, is the empire we are fighting
for, and this empire We mean to have. Great
applause.)
The nations of old Europe stand aghast and
look with silent terror and amaZement at the
Titantic grapple, at this life-or-death struggle
between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers
of America, between the army of the future
and the army of the past. They have seen
us surprised by a gigantic and well organized
rebellion, as by thief in the night: we had
no army, no navy, no arms, no war-funds in
the treasury; they have seen us create army
and navy out of nothing in the twinkling of
an eye, and the people pouring out their un
told millions of money, as if it had not cost a
drop of sweat to earn them. They have seen
defeat come upon US with such stunning force,
that the nation seemed to reel under the blow
And they cried failure, as now the allies of
our enemies here are crying failure. But
then they saw this nation quietly gather up its
strength, and like the silent waves of the
ocean roll against the bulworks of rebellion.
Another repulse equally stunning, and "fail-
ure" again, but again the wave rolls on with
increased and tremendous momentum. And
so they see the fearful game sway to and fro,
disaster set at defiance with grim stubborn
ness, victory wrung from the grasp of an I'M
willing fortune, until at last the Mississippi is
$1a ia wit