The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-07-20


the use Of force against national troops
holding national fortress. To efface the
insult offered to our flag, to save ourselves
from the fate of the divided republics of
Itlay and South America to preserve our
government from destruction to enforce
it's just power and laws; to maintain our
very existence as a natioI-these were
the causes which impelled US to draw the
sword Rebellion against government
like ours, which contains within itself the
means of self-adj justment and pacific
remedy for evils, Should never be confoun-
ded with revolution against despoilc
power, which refuses redress of wrongs.
Such rebellion cannot be justified upon
ethical grounds; and the only alternatives
for our choice are its suppression or the
destruction Of our nationality.
CONCLUSION
At such a time as this, and in such a
struggle, political partisanship, should be
merged in true and brave patriotism,
which thinks only of the good of the
whole country. 1t was in this cause and
with these motives that SO many of our
comrades have given their lives, and to
this we are all personally pledged in all
honor and fidelity. Shall such devotion
as that of our dead comrades be of no
avail Shall it be said in after ages that
we lacked the vigor to complete the work
thus begun? That after all these noble
lives freely give, We hesitated ana failed to
keep straight on until cur land was saved?
! Forbid it, heaven, and give US frmer,
truer he;.lts than that. Oh, spirits OF the
valiant dead, souls OF the slain heroes,
lend US your own indomitabie Will, and if
| it be permitted you to commune with those
still chained by the trammeis of mortali-
| ty, hover around US in the midst Of danger
and trib ribalation-cheer the firm, strength
en- the weak, that none may doubt the
! salvation of the Republic and the triumph
Of our grand old flag.
In the midst of the storms which toss
our ship of State, there is one great bea-
con light to which We can ever turn with
! .9LeI--@ce an hope. 1t cannot be that
this great nation has played its part in
history; it cannot be that our sun; which
arose with such bright promises for the
future, has already set forever. 1t must
be the intention of the overruling Deity
that this land, SO long the asylum of the
oppressed, the refuge OF civil and reli-
gious liberty, shall again stand forth in
bright relief, united, purified, and chas-
tened by our trials, as an example and
encouragement for those WIN des,le lhe
progress of the human race. 1t is not
given to our weak intellects to understand
the steps of Providence as they occur; we
comprehend them only as we look back
upon them in the far distant past; SO il
is now We cannot unravel the seem
ingly tangled skein of the purposes of the
Creator; they are too high and far-reach-
ing for our limited minds. But all his
tory and His own revealed word teach US
that His ways although inscrutable, are
ever righteous. Let US, then, honestly
and manfully play our part, seek to IN
derstand and perform our whole duty, and
trust uuwaveriEgly in the benefcent God
who led our ancestors across the sea, and
sustained them afterward amid dangers
more appalling even than those encoun-
tered by His own chosen people III their
great exodus.
He did not bring us here in vain, noI
| has He supported US thus far for naught
If we do our duty and trust in Him.
He will not desert US in our need. Firm
in our faith that God will save our coun-
try. we now dedicate this site to the mem
DRY of brave men, to loyalty, patriotism
and honor. cloud applause0