Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-24
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or ever saw anything like what We all see
this day, before the beginning Of tia pres
ent war. It is 3 wonderful thing to be able
to say 6Thsre Is something new under the
SUM-, but believe We may say it truthfully
of this thing to-day, and Of all of which it
forms part. And if it be true, why is it
true? There seems to be question Of phi
Iospphv behind and underlying it all, which
makes il one of the most interesting themes
that could be considered. In the words to
which we have Just listened, we were carried
back this way to the days of great thoughts
and great deeds, Of which it was said
" There we're giants in those days." But
1 believe We now live and move in
time greater than any that has passed.
As the pillar is greater than single block
composing it-as the monument IS greater
than a single stone-as the whole house Is
GREATER than one brick-as the glorious frma-
ment of stars is greater than a single orb, so
il the fate of this nation of greater impor-
tanoe now than that of the country when
Washington lived. It has grown in size, in
grandeur, and in importance, and the fate
Of the nation in its full grown manhood iE
therefore of more moment, and the struggle
for its preservation grander than when the
country was in its infancy.
The American Revolution did great work
for the world, but we are doing q greater.
We Ioak a. ths past with too much reverence.
The telescope through which We vieWit makes
its deeds greater than they are, and We de-
grade ourselves. Let US not look back to-
day, to ind greater interest or more momen-
tous questions, but open our eyes and look
about u.s. The scenes presented to-day, have
never been exceeded. The present war is
greater, and has greater interests At stake'
than any other.
in disguise" If yeu would see woDders-f
YOU would see grsndeur-if you would see
mvsteries-open your eyes and look attic life
We are living. Look at it closely and you
will SEQ that the Pressnt is teeming with
wonders, with grandeur, and with msgnif-
cenoe.
Emerson has told us, too, that man is
more than a lawyer, more than q King and
that TO be a man in the full measure OF man
hood, ono must be not King, but man n
ling, not a farmer, but man farming. SO
VIC are not merely a nation but people
| fighting. And there is wonderful diner
enoe between the mere soldier and the man
between the nation with hirsling armies IN
the field, and a people who are all fighting.
| All are doing their work for the war from
the frat man to the lsst child IN the neId OF
at the fresides.
There is something behind bayonets. The
science of war is not reduced to matter OF
artillery ,horsss, men forage and ammunition
/ The soldiers stand in the front, in unbroken
line of battle. Back of them is the civil
power, and, back Of al, there is another rank
the psopie, cheering the hearts and filling
the spirit of the soldier with bravery. And
behind them ali, giving strength and conf
doncs to them all, are the affections OF home
1.-The prayers and blessings ofths family cir
cle-the active assistance of the women snd
children left at home. Thus the whole pso-
MIA are massed into one grand army. They
are arrayed rank by rank, from the child a.
home to the soldier In line Of battle. And
when YOU f I'D a whole people marching for
ward TO strike down the last vestg'
of treason and rebellion, is it mo-
la spectacle never before seen
| And this is the spectacle which we see thu
day. We are all one grand army. The sol
| diers and officers which are with u5 to-day
who have won badges Of glory by their ser
vice in the field, are hsre merely on Vlsi
| Of inspection. They have come to see Wha
the rear guard is doing, and soon they vii
return and make a report to their eomrade
in the field, that all is well,-the who'll
grand army closed up and pressing on.
The warts m akin z q revelation Of this people
It has shown Us things we had not dreamed OF
It is said that when the prairie is on hre yol
can see all the wild beasts rushing before II
and thousands Of creatures no one believed
there, are seen fleeing for their lives. Th'
hidden mysteries Of the prairie are laid bar
by the great calamity. A FIRE in the cit.
unfoIds the dens Of shame, uncovers its mys
terry and lays bare strange places and strang
lives. The lurid blszs Of calamity uncover
vices, miseries and sins, before unknown ant
uususpeoted. So when great calamities fsl
upon a nation and great disturbances tea
Its internal life apart. The human hear
ia shown. And I know Of nothing which ha
80 opened up the heart of people as thi
war, Though It is a great calamity bless
iuRs grow out oft such as only come from sor
row and grief. As Sampson found honey II
the dead lions Sarcass, SO We may ind goo'
ia the horror and evils Of THE war
God means good for US in it. He who rule
the destinies Of man would not let down tn
upptr milestone upon Us and grind US Il
powder beneath it, unless from the atiietiol
good was to come,
"Though the mills of God grind slowly
| Yet they grind exceeding small;
Though with patience He stands waiting,
Yet he grinds exactly all.
We have all thought of the horrors Of war
1
rors of peace? There are greater evils thai
War. To forget God, justice and truth, i
worse than war. Sometimes a nations life
becomes stagnent and from its shiny eorrup
ton foul things arise which make th'
air paisopous with their contagion
Itis terrible to see the ocean rocked will
storms, and think Of the wrecks and loss o
| life which the tempest bringsi but it is NOR
terrible to think of it were it never TO fee
the breeze or gale, or storm, its stagnant wa
tors living CLASSY and without notion ant
ships and sails rotting, piece by piece. Thi
is more terrible than the storm. 1t may b
that we were becoming nation OF dead peo
| Die, Itmay be that this storm of.War, Whicl
makes us bleed at every pore, is raising u
to life again.
If we oome up hopefully, with eyes opeI
to our duty, We shall be better for living II
this age, and taking part in this war.
| there a man or woman here who will not say
when peace comes, I have lived in tint
giving me great opportunities for growth anC
developmentF" No man ever 6efor'
lived In so grand an age as this
It is full Of everything that help
70 mako young men noble. Wha
was the character of this people before thi
war? We're we Eot settling down to oui
pleasures, our trades, our business, ,iwith NJ
noble ambition? How many could say al
have suffered for truth, or made sacrifices fo
nv country ?" Not one in thousand
How many were yielding themselves mp t.
the pursuits Of gain, or seeking luxury anC
a summer life, with no elsctric shock to strik,
through their souls and make them thinl
great thoughts, do great deeds, and become
Itruly noble men The present time is glO
rious one, and nobly have many taken ad
vantage oft, and been led up to glory. Boy
with pale, almost girlish, faces have becom
heroes. Many youths passed and re-pssseC
YOU daily, and you never dreamed that he
hind that pale face there was herOism defy
ing comparison in the annals of the world
But the call came and swOke slumberinl
spirit in our youth. Pale. fragile, and scarce