Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-01

sterling Inanhood-that a citizen clings to
his country in its direst danger.
Nations perish not so much by the power
of foreign foes as by the fictitious love of
those who profess to be their friends. This
war did not come from alar, or We should
hail it. Let US prove our love of country
not fictitious. Hitherto we have shared all
the benefits of the government without its
burdens. We have glided gently down
the stream, the prosperous wind filing our
sails. 1t has cost Us nothing TO be citizens.
Shall we now say that it costs too much 90
defend our government from treason,
and traitors-to hold the grand old
flag at the masthead of the ship oi
state. Burn that cheek with shame
which resists this -taXation-palised
b. the traitorous tongue which dares to
wag asainst the government in its time of
peril. The speaker Went on to say that 1t
was question Ol no small interest and i'm
Portance whai was the duty Of each citizen
II the hourOf peril. IL was personal ques-
tion which every man must ask himself
Every man was bound 10 exert his full per
5onai power 10 sustain the government.
He portrayed inan eloquent and thrilling
paragraph the sacrifices and exploits al
ready achieved for the cause of Union. Not
only on the battle field, but at home
were their sacrifices felt. Every burial
ground over the whole country is filed
with the hOnOred dead. Our own Weller.
Crockett, Stemm, and now our own Ne
Pherson have fallen, and every railroad
train bears home the body of some brave
hero. Pause by this open grave to-day.
you who talk OF taxation and EXPENSE
ASK this group Of weeping mOurners what
the war has cost. You are talking treason.
you are belching forth the red-hot lava OF
secession from morally putrid bodies
Shame, eternal shame upon the dishOnored
brow OF him who stands at yonder grave
and pratts about the expenses of the war.
The speaker went on to demonstrate that
the rebellion was a blow at constitutional
liberty. Our chief executive was constitu-
tIOnaliy elected and inaugurated, and yet
a defiant minority rise up and insist that
they shall rule or shall not submit. In
spite Of this the northern opponents of the
administration have 40 syllable of denun-
citation against the rebels, all OF them write
and speak as though the success of the gov
ernment would be greater calamity than
It's defeat. The speaker then proceeded TO
show that the only way to close the war
now would be 10 give way TO traitors
and treasOu-to open the territories to
slavery,-to re-enact the infamous fugitive
slave law, and 10 yield TO their demands.
But the war could not have been avoided
and the honor and interest Of the nation
preserved. Any compromise after the first
Diow was struck would have been putting
the honor Of the nation under the feet OF
traitors. Can a criminal dictate terms 10 q
eourt2 No more can these men dictate terms
to US. And say here in the presence Of the
dead what have often said belore--that the
only place at which We can compromise
with treason is at the point of the bavOnet
the mouth of the cannon, the arm of the
gaIlows.
We all earnestly pray for peace,
For this our armies are lighting
before Atlanta and Richmond to day. But
il 1t Is only on conditions which the assas-
sin dictates to his victim, give up all
Thoughts of peace. Better let the war
go on. Better that a thousand McPherson's
should fall--that all should be sacrificed
on the altar of patriotism. l pray for
peace, but for no such peace as this.
The speaker proceeded to say that these
secession sympathizers were in reality IN
murderers of the brave Mcpherson and all
vino had fallen ia the recent battles, and in
proof of it he cited the fact that il they
had not opposed the government the
war would long since have been en-
ded. II his words seemed harsh the speak
er reminded his audience that they were
spoken over the honOred body of dead
hero Over that body he called on all
present to swear new patriotism to the
country and new hostility to its enemies.
He would gather all around his coffin and
there pledge them to new interest and IL
deity.
The speaker closed by invoking the
blessing Of God upon all present.