Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-17

upon every battlefield let proud mon
ument tower with their names in full in
seribcd thereon, .s heroes who have
fallen for country and free labor.
To-day the world moves with an ac-
tolerated pace. A year is equal to
century of The distant past. Antagonlstic
forces are arrayed in deadly conflict. 1t
is Slavery against Freedom. The igno-
rant and vicious on the one side; the
virtuous and intelligent on the other
God and religion sympatbise with and
encourage the one; while the devil and
his satellites sympathize with and en-
courage the other.
1t is an unequal conflicr. Cowardice
stupidity and corruption bid fair to pro-
tract it in the future, as they have in the
past. Other years will vet roll their
ample round, and the lannon's voice
still awake tho slumbering echoes of our
valleys, and startle the eagle from the
mountain tops. Other fields are yet to
be dyed with the blood Of slaughtered
heroes. Many another home is to be
made desolate, and witness sorrow aud
lamentation. Many another is yet to
return from the conflict manned and
mangIed. Untold treasures are yet to
be expended.
But who that comprshends the con-
flict, its causes. objects and supporters,
can for a moment doubt the result. We
may delude ourselves with the idea that
Union and territorial grandeur are the
primary objects of the strife, but what
cares Heaven for nations greatness in
geographical area, when justice is scout
cd, and liberty trodden under the heel Of
the oppressor--whcn humanity is placed
in the same category with the OK and
the ass, and all alike treated as, and de-
nominated property.
''There is Providence that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we will.
That Providence is shaping our ends
to day by grinding us in the mortar of
affection, and will continue until our peo-
pie and rulers shall have thrown aside
the watchwords "Union" and "Constitu.
tion," and strike alone for FREEDOM and
JUSTICE. Then. and not till then, will
n New Nation arise arrnyed in the Clio
riously gorgeous panoply of entire Free
dom-no stains upon her garments-no
blot upon her fair escutchcon. Well may
tie tyrants and aristocracy Of the Old
World tremble as they contemplate tho
approaching result. Under our old reg
ime. with only partial frceiom--with a
declaration Of truth, but a practice Of
falsehood-they felt the shock of our exc
ample. Thrones trembled as by the up.
henving of an earthquake, and surren-
deree withheld liberties to the people
With the example of new nation such
as we shall be when this bloody
strife shall cease, France, instead Of send
ing emperors to the West, will renouncs
and send adrift her own, and other pow
ers Of Europe will follow, if they do not
precede her example. and Justice and
Freedom become the universal watch
word of all nations.
GRATITUDE DUE TO SOLDIERS.
Representatives Of Free Labor! what a
debt of gratitude & honor do we not owe
to those who are now fighting and will vet
fight for the dignity of Free Labor. If
we respect the patriotism Of those who
vote taxes upon the absent soldier, the
widow, the orphan and the old, to OK
empt themselves from their country's sa-
cred call, prefering the quiet of homo to
the rush of battle and clangor of arms
who shout Forward" to the advancing
battalliops, but are careful to keep a res.
pec;fal distance in the rear; what meas.
ure Of gratitude, of respect, of honor, is
due to those who at the bugle's blast
hurried from their various occupations,
and ma shaled themselves in battle array
to subdue moro than heIish treason
and revolt. The charms Of home and
friends, encircled as strongly their hearts
as ours, but the drums loud and solemn
revelle showed country endangered,
and they rushed responsive to the call ere
its echoess had died away in the distance
Ito the front of battle. Conflict after
conflict has told upon their shattered
ranks. Many noble form lies sleeping
on the fsr-off, sanguinary battle field.-
Yes,
They sleep their last sleep; they havs fought
their last battle
No sound shall awake them to glory again.
Monuments more enduring than mar
bic, should be erected to their memories
Their names shonld be inscribed upon
the rolls of Fame, to be haudsd down rs
Freedoms champions, 10 the latest peri
cd Of time.
AGRICULTURE BRINGS INDEPENDENCE.
But, gentlemen, l have said that farm.
ing was productive Of happiness, and
now add it is also productive of manly
vigor and culture. Happiness is rela-
tive term, and belongs more to the con-
dition, than Surroundings; and yet if the
latter are unfavorable, the proper condi-
ton would be wanting, and the object
would not be attained. The experience
of the world proves that independence,
to greater or less exteEt, Is the neces-
sary condition 10 secure worldly happi-
mas In fact indopandonoo "a rranora 4, .,