Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-03-02

nation ne becomes stagndnt ana fr0
its Shiny corruption foul things arise whic
make the air poisonous with ther cont
gion.
1t Is terrible to see the ocean rocks
with storms, and think of the wrecks ar
loss Of life which the tempest brings; bl
1t Is more terrible 10 think of il were
never TO feel the breeze or gale, or storr
It's stagnant waters lying CLASSY and wit
ont motion, and ships and sails rottiu,
piece by piece. This is more terrible ths
the storm. 1t may be that we were beeon
ing a nation of dead people. II NAV
that this storm of war, which makes =
bleed ct every pore, is raising US 10 lii
again.
If wecome up hopefully, with ewes one
to our duty, We shall be better for livin
in this age, and taking part in this wa
Is there man or women here who wi
not say when peace comes, 81 have live
IN time giving me great opportunitie
for growth and Developments No ma
ever before lived in so grand an age
this. 1t is full of everything that helI
70 make young men noble. What wa
the character of this people before thi
war! We're we not settling down to on
pleasures, our trades, our business, witt
no noble ambition? How many could sa
81 have suffered for truth, or made sacri
tices for my country?" Not one in & thou
sand. How many were yielding them
selves up to the pursuits of gain, or seek
ing luxury and summer life, with d
/ electric shock to strike through theil
souls and make them think great Thoughts
do great deeds, and become truly noble
men? The present time is a glorious one
and nobly have many taken advantage ot
It, and been led up to glory. Boys with
pale, almost girlish faces have become he
roes. Many youths passed and re-passed
you daily, and you never dreamed that
behind that pale face there was a hero
ism defying comparison in the annals OF
the world. But the call came and awoke
a slumbering spirit in our youth. Pale,
fragile, and scarcely able TO hold his mus
ket, the boy went out, and in the camp,
amid the shock, and fury, and carnage of
the battle, and germ OF heroism develop
ed and expanded, and the delicate boy
lowered up as man and hero.
how the war, too, has unmasked hum
bugs and hypocrites. You can be noble
man, but you cannot pretend to be one.
Pretenders get no mercy amid these stern
realities. All simulated virtues will melt
like dross in the fierce blast OF battle,
and only the pure gold stands tho test
Noisy eloquence and boasted courage are
OF no use there. The war is making peo-
pie find their proper level. All through
the ranks Of the army there hss been a
re-adjustmsnt of the scale of estimation
IN which people are held.
The old catalogue has been torn up,
and new one made, with an entirely
different classification of the index. But
tels has not been done until the masks
have been torn of in the fray, until there
has been asifting of characters in the hurt
ing Of battle. If for this alone, the war,
dreadful as it Is, has been of use.
Not only in the army, but at home, |
there has been a re-adiustment in the |
icale. The virtues and the selfshness of
men have been brought to the surface
dere and there case has been of a man
Who has said, 81 will make my fortune
'ut of this war" These men are like |
hose whom We see on the battle field |
'obbing the slain. They are like sharks |
which follow the ship to catch the bodies !
IF the dead.
But, as people, how have we develop
I'd in everyt ything,-in every kind of in
iustFy? How many have said, while
his war lasts will lop of my business,
and plant more, SOW more, and do more
han before?" Such man fights the bat
les of his country, in another part of the
army, but as well as the soldier IN the
ield. Those who control the money in
erests of the country have stood behind |
With the purse, and they have done it no |
'ly. Going further back, the women at |
lone have done their work. They said, |
we, too, |ill find way to stand in the
anks and do our share of the rk."-I
20 there has sprung up among up this
wonderful Aid Society, which has increas- Z
d among US to its present magnificent
cope and proportions.
No one knows the good done by all this
'etter than the soldiers. From my own
can testify to the blessed in
luences of these precious gifts. After the
'attle of Pittsburg Landing, when lying
or night after night on that bloody field,
ne of the first things brought me was a
ounterpane from Cuyahoga county work
d perhaps by some aged mother, with
mingled smiles and tears,-which had
Ter children warmed, and now was COM
orting a weary soldier. And assure you
was a luxury TO me. 1t gave me cheer
nd spirit.
Everywhere, where our soldiers are, Just
uch presents follow them. Do you know
low much courage you impart to men by
uch things? 1t makes men brave to know
hat some one is looking at and caring for
hem. There is no man, however brave,
Tho in the first of the battle does not
Tish TO get away-to seek q safer place.
'ut then he thiF Is of those back of him,
Tho are looking at him, talking of him,
rusting in him, and he dares not be q
oward. A nation stands behind him,
heir eyes upon him. He will stand 10
he fight and die before he will disappoint
he expections Of the people. If the sol
ier did not know that they were looking
I him, waiting, watching, hoping for him,
would take away much of the motive
or duty. We all rejoice to know that
och organizations these exist and if we
new the good they we're doing, we would
ut forth greater efforts. Let US turn aside
rom this scene TO contemplate the con-
ition of the country. For the last few
lonths it has been said repeatedly that
re were looking at the beginning Of the
nd. But the people must not be 6eceiv-
d. A brave people are not afraid to know
be truth. If we look upon this war as
ell nigh ended we make fatal mistake.
.et us not slacken our efforts for mo-
lent under the apprehension that the
lonster is dying. II is within our power
} end it by tremendous effort if we
Ill put it forth. I have never for mo-
lent doubted but we should put down
le rebellion, and do not now. But 1t
necessary for US 70 know that we have ,
rived at g point where success trem-
les in the balance The crisis is at hand. {
Ye have cut the bridges, burned the ,
tipping IN the rear and abandoned our ,
lives to the conflict TO perish or succeed. !
here IS no course but onward. Thestrug- :
e IS now for life or death, and it viii not !
ease until one or the other of the COM ;
ltants lies dead in the arena.
Our past successes have been great, and
ave cheered cur armies. The enemy Is
nshed back from the great river and 3
ON the Cumberland Mountains to the
.eat plain beyond where he will make |
is last and deaGliest struggle. We have :