Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-09-16

the opening exercises were postponed |
until two O'Clock z. NJ. At this time |
Schiller's band executed in admirable |
style and taste that patriotic air that al
ways stirs the soul of q true lover of his |
y or "God save |
the Queen
The Rev. DR.. Vail, President of the
Central Fair, then addressed the people
as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS: We are met together this
afternoon, this large asS1mblage, from the CEN
trail counties of our State and rom the contigu-
Gus portions ofour adjoining sister state of lii-
nois, with honored visitors who represent other
parts of our state and country, To open the Iowa
Central Sanitary Fair to be held III this city du-
ring this week. The occasion is one OF great in
terest 10 us all, for We are about to claim bur
share in Il most important and glorious work of
CHRISTIAN charity. This work, even in this time
of grand deeds, has gained for our land its high
est honors, and, in the magaihcence of its re-
suits not only commands the present admira-
ton OF the world, but VIII be recorded in histo-
ry praise ana an example for future ages
The Sanitary Fair is one OF the splendid agen-
cies of beneN olence which have been developed
by the existing circumstances of our county,
Four years ago SUCH agencies had been unheard
OF among us Our necessities, as they have
been disclosed, have demanded and provided
them.
fearful rebellion against the government of
our nation is in progress The usurpers, by
fraud or by violence, OF the sovereignty OF
eleven of our United states, have adopted what
are called ordinances OF secession, enforcing
these upon their own citizens and against the
lawful government by powerful military organ
iHations, thus attempting to withdraw these
states from their union with the others, to
break up and destroy the Constitution which
our fathers bequeathed To us, and which is the
essential bond OF our unity, and TO establish an
independent Contederacy. To continue
tional unity, to maintain The Constitution in its
integrity. 10 suppress this rebellion, the lawful
O tx ed an
the armies OF the Union have been sent into the
field Our sons and our brothers, the husbands
and the betrotheu ones of our iair sisters and
daughters, have nobly responded to the call of
patriotic duty, and, leaving behind them the
endearments and the comforts OF home, are
during the annoyanceS OF the camp and Drawing
the periis OF sickness and OF battle. From The
pine forests OF Maine-fronl the Green Noun
tains ofNcrmont-froH the White Hills OF New
Hampshire-from the ships and factories, the
social halls and tAe lonely oranges of the Old
commonwealth OF Massachusetts - from the
great cities and rich farms the mines and work
Shops of the Middle States-from the broad bor-
ders of the Northern Lakes-from the long, wide
valleys of the Mississippi and its mighty tribu-
taries, and all the prairicS of the bouniics,
| West-eVeu from The rocky heights of West Nir-
| ginia, the venerable holue>teadS of Maryland
| the hunting grounds of Kentucky and Eastern
and the sqp t of iertle an ire
| liant men, Dy tens ana by hundreds OF thousands,
| taking J4elr lives in their hands, and imDelled
by the love ofthe CIV Institutions under which,
| by the favor OF God, our nation has attained
| from its small beg innings to its present great
ness have gone forth TO suffer, and ii need be,
| to tie IN their defence.
| III such Il war; While the government can fur
nisn the supplies absolutely necessary for the
| military efficiency and tor the feeding of its
| armies ana for the medical care OF the wounded
and OF the sick, ii can not possibly, from the
| very nature of its functions and instiumentiii-
ties, provide those many comforts which are al
most necessities, which the hospitals, and, i'll
some cases, the camps, of the armies require
For these comforts the sufferers for their coun-
trys safety must depend upon the voluntary
contributions OF their 1eiloW-citizenS. We, VINO
remain at home, must think of those who are
far away from home Tor us and for their country
and cR:s We, who, iii our health and in our
sickness, are surrounded by comforts, must
thiu!. OF those VINO for our common country
sake are cut off from all such comforts. Private
beneficcnce must bestoW what public eXpe ndi-
| lures can not reach. The gentle nursing. the
nice easy clothing for the sick ward, the Vari-
Ell les ami tielicacicS of food and drink, the in
StrucliVe entertaining book or tract, all those
little uXuries which the sinking patient The
| weak convalesceut longs Tor and which minis
ter lively to his relief or TO his recovery,
even, i'll many cases, the words of Christian
counsel and prayer. and the gift of the blessed
| Testament. Of the son OF God, these things
must come spontaneous offerings. froui tue
willing hands and the generous hearts of those
who synpat4iZe with the soldier, ana vino
| count it Il privilege to console and cheer him.
| To do this work, IN It's various departments, is
the design OF the Sanitary ami Christian Conn
missions. To aid III tins work vi mercy all
! higb-minded men. and women whatever The r
differences OF political opinion or Of religious
conviction, are invited TO present their services
and their money, ana be ii acknowledged 10 the
| credit Of Our humanity to this invitation our
people, with but n .iawyunwOrthy exceptions,
| nave returned 10 free and munlLccnt, answer
wherever The opportunity mas been accoIle,i.
!tor this we are gathered iiere to-day eSt.tIin.s
it privilege as well as duty to be co-iaDoreIs
| with The benevolent throughout our land III
such al effort Of human kindIincss; yea, of
heavenly charity. IN such u work we follow
Him who sought the afflicted and the needy,
thai He might help them, and who went about
| doing good For this the liberal donors have
| brought into these grounds the numerous ar
| ticles Of ornament or of utility, which will be
offered to you for sale during the days Of this
| Fair. For this you shave come hither, bringing
with you the pecuniary proceeds of your enter
| prise or Of your toll, that you may spend the
same. even though the bounty cost you some
seif-denial and personal privation, for the bene-
tit of the absent sufferers in cur countrys cause.
TO this hallowed work, friends and feilow-citi-
zens, we welcome you this afternoon. In this
work, with all gratitude to God, and With all
earnestness to you, We expect you to take your
part. Then, "when this cruel war is oVer,''
when peace shall smile again upon our land,
| when the terrors OF this rebellion shall be
known only in history or IN the in1amy which
when the Flag of the Republic with all its stars
still shining there, shall wave over our people
once more reunited and henceforth evermore
free,-then, say, in that day, when you shall
| weep with tender memories, over the dead sol
dier-boy departed, whose last hours were solaced
by your care, when you shall rejoice, with
glad comnunings, over the dear soldier-boy re-
Stored to health and returned to you i'll life and
| in blessing, through your gifts; then, friends
and fellow-citzens, will this work of love appear
to you in its true glory, ana you will thank the
loving God that lie permitted you TO participate
| in its trials as well in rewards in its sacri
| fees as well as in its glory.
Rev. Mr.. Robbins then read the 80th
Psalm and offered prayer.
The choir, assisted by the entire audi
ence, sung the hymn commencing,
'sBe thou, Oh God, exalted high
An original Ode, written for the occa-
sion by A. M. Ide, Esq, editor OF the
Taunton (Mass.) Democrat, was then
read by the President, as follows:
come, o West and pause beside
Your mOnarch-river's sovereign tide;
To me its vast majestic length
symbols the lands fraternai strength
Her power and peace-her mastery,
Matching the great unconquered sea!
o vision of a long delight,
An oceans inGivisible might!
Supreme, resstless link Of States,
Upon whose law the Union waits,
The tribute of the smiling plains
Is teeming through her iron veins!
The conscious mountains, guarding stand
By harvest and by herding land,
BY forest, painless and sublime,
With shade and silence for all time;
And prairie, billowy, boundless, grand
The sea-like marvel of the land
Where, isled afar, the homes repose
And Ocean-lke a harvest flows;
OrlOrdly lake, hOrizOn-wide,
And city shining as brde;-