The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-07-07
you find these very men wiling to participate
in our rejoicings, and sing as Justify as We do,
"Rally round the nag, beys,
Rally ones againl"

IN our reJoiclngS, ana sing as luSuly a. We 10,
~Rally round the nag, boys,
BAlly ones agan"
[Great applause"
try needed savior; and that the people must
rally to its support, don't your remember how
many there were that then told US that they
were opposed to the whole coercive policy OF
the Government. Now suppose their policy
had carried, where would this country be to-
day Where would those young girls be with
their flags representing all the States of this
Union from the centre to the sea ? This coun-
try would have been torn asunder. mo CO.
ercion.n Thenthe Governmens has no power
To perpetuate its own existence, and therefore
it diesl
The speaker then reviewed briefly and ex-
haustiyely the subject of coercion, saying in
conclusion
Now what is the position Of those men who
are opposed to the whole coercive policy of
the Government Why are you opposed to the
Constitution at II was, and the Union as it is !.
Now, the Constitution as it is says that trea-
son against the United States consists in levy
ing war against them, or in sdhering to their
enemies, giving them aid and comfort and
he asked these men if their denunciation of
lhe co'IfHiHeut, anu oIYOetion W IL coer-
Give policy was not giving aid and comfort to
the enemy OF course it was. Well, then.
they ought to be hung under the "Constitu
ton as it is, because that is the penalty the
Law. attaches to treason. IGreat applause. ]
He then referred to the war and the
sacrifices and heroic labors of the people in
support Of the war and asked if It was too
much. He said they had every luxury they
had when the war commenced. The ladies
have every extravaganza in dress. Why,
hoop-skirts are SO plenty that JEFF. Davis
could find one to disguise himself with in or
der to attempt to get away from our soldiers
Roars of laughter and. cheers. The only
sacrifices that he thought worth mention was
the sacrifice of our brave boys, shot down by
rebel bullets, or starved in rebel prisons. The
speaker then narrated deeply affecting Incl
dent, which occurred under his own observa.
ton Of Michigan mother, meeting her two
sons on the boat at Washington. the one hay-
ing lost his arm and the other in his charge a
corpse. He said he conld not feel like for
giving these men for the slaughter they have
committed, but he supposed he would have TO
if God did But our country. with its marni
6eent territory. its free Institutions. its noble
population, is worth all the sacrifices that
have been made for its preservation. The
speaker then paid an eloquent tribute to the
national flag lie ereferredto the circumstance
of the flag which hung up in the sight of our
martyred Lincoln when he fell as il instinct
with hfe, tripping the traitorous assassin,
causing the fracture OF his limb which event
fully led TO his detection and death. He said
that this noble flag which has come back un-
scathed from so many battle fields should be
sacredly preserved throughout all generations
as the symbol of freedom.
He referred TO that class of people in the
country who had been neutral during the war
I've had no hand in bringing on the war, and
will have none in winding ii up. He referred
to the neutrality of Kentucky during the war.
and said that he had an utter ioathing Of neu-
tralify. Just look here. Israel of old had a
great war, and called upon her Kentucky for
her quota Of troops, but she had none TO give
The rest of the states fought the battles and
were successful. After it was all over. God
said to his prophet: . want you to 20 10
Meroz and curse her bitterly whats the
matter: What has Meroz done r why.
she has done nothing that's what's the
uaaitsr-' She aidn' rally round the Tag !
and now curse her. and curse her bitterly !:
and SO. he said. these neutra.s ought to be
cursed, aud cursed bitterly. [Great applause.
The speaker then referred to the present
condition of the country. Freedom IL tramp
ant, and they can sing " Hail Columbia, hap
py land as they never sang it before. He
referred briefly to the country S future every
indication pointed TO the fact that this coun.
try is to carry civil liberty, and religion, and
civilization to the ends Of the earth. He re
ioiced in the grandeur and glory Of this blessed
Fourth of July, 1865. They could keep il
now as they never had kept it before. He
referred to the unbounded JOY Of the Amer
can army as they saw the American flag rising
triumphantly over the city of Vicksburg,
when the men broke out wild with rapture,
singing the song:
"weT rally round the Gag, boys.-
They felt it then. and we feel it now The
nation is celebrating the Fourth OF July to-
day. and thousands of American citizens
of African descent have got the first Fonrth
to-day that they ever enjoyed in all their lives
and from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, and from
the Gulft to the Lakes, swells up the joyous
anthem:
The Uuj6n forever. Hurrah bo~s hurrsh,
Down Tfsh Tire traitors, up with the stsrs,
We'Ufaav round the hax, boys rally once again,
thaatssg the battie-cry offrcedo@l'
The speaker then closed by calling on the
crowd to unite in singing this patriotic Ma
tional song, and they did it with a vim,
making it triumphal song of victory, as il
had been through the years of the strife q
song Of cheer inciting to the heroic deeds that
have brought peace and union.