Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-11-16

mhn c1n posnt " any page VI bibtUiy IN
which il is recorded that any Government
ever survived such rebellion a. this, much
less came out triumphant, challenging the
admiration of the world. remember how
my own words come back 10 me, spoken
when | stood here three years ago, when |
told you that if you were but true, sooner
or later victory would rest on your banners;
that the serene light Of peace again would
cover this land Of ours that law and OF.
der would be restored and the American
nation would come out Of this terrible trial
more powerful than ever before. the &C.
knowledged champion Of civil and religious
liberty for the oppressed nations of all the
earth. That hope has been fully realized.
The nation is triumphant; and to day there
it. There is not throne in the Old World,
went across the waters: The Republic still
lives, saved by the virtue and vslor of her
children The oppressed of all lands lifted
up their hands aad shouted aloud for joy.
The crowned democrat Of Europe, Carl.
batdi, bowed his head in thanksgivIng to
God that the Republic, the last refuge Of
afflicted humanity on earth, had survived
this terrible ordeal.
The question now is shall we simply reap
by our wisdom without the sacrifice Of blood,
without hszarding life or limb-by the sim.
pie exercise Of little patriotism and integ.
rity, the certain reward placed within our
grasp? | ventured to say that night three
years ago, that if we we're only true to our
selves this cause of ours must survive, be-
cause it was linked to the Omnipotence Of
the Deity-because God was on our side. -
[ say here to onight-and there are men here
who may bear my words with them, if the
future Of their history give opportunity to
judge Of the correctness of my Judgment
that if the American people are only true
now to their great opportunity-if they
stand by one great party, simply for their
country, casting aside ali local jealousies, or
mere personal nsiderations-looking only
to the Union and the brotherhood of the
whole people and the maintaining intact
that constitution thus saved, that within
the next fifteen years our brilliant example in
spite Of all opposition of the despots Of the
Old World to the contrary, will draw to these
shores multitude of men who will bring
with them the productive power and solid
wealth which will more than cover the great
debt which this people have contracted in
this holy war for the Union. That is one
Of the issues involved here to-day: whether
the people will be true to the occasion, faith
full to this great trust con6ded to their keep
ing.
A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
Ircmember tonight the words of those
grand men who bore the ark of the cove
nant through the revolution. after God had
given them the victory,in general council, at
Philadelphia, they sent out their address to
few millions who then constituted the Uni.
ted States of America. They said that God
in his providence had committed to the
American people, the greatest trust ever
committed to the keeping of any political
organization. l believe it. Those men
spoke as the very prophets of the living God,
standing there as they did that day with
the dust of Yorktown on their brows and
the blood Of Yorktown on their ga, ments =
God, in his providence, said they. had COM
mi.ted to the American people the greatest
trust that ever was committed to any polit-
ical society. What is it? Why country
that covers q continent as large as the
whole continent Of Europe-large enough to
furnish homes of comfort and abundance to
three hundred millions of freemen; that
abounds in lands the most fertile; that
abounds in all precious metals, gold and
silver; in all useful metals, copper and lead
and iron, to an extent not known in any other
part of the habitable earth, and sheltered
by a Government just to all, and oppressive
of none.
PLEDGES TO BE KEPT.
What is to be done? We have q great
debt upon us. What is to be done about
it? Simply to pay it. 1t is as true Of ma
tions as it is of men, Honesty is the bes,
policy" Men that will net keep their obi
cations and pay their debts, according tc
their ability at least, have no credit, and de-
serve none, amongst their fellow men. Ma
tions that will not do this have no credit and
deserve none amongst the nations of the
earth.
One issue then before the American peo
pie to day is whether we shall keep faitt
and pay our obligations. They are all "a
cred, but some of them are of tho most sa
cred character ever entered into by any na
ton on the face ofthe earth. We are unde
q very heavy obligation to the dead defend
ers OF the republic. We are under yer.
heavy obligation to the surviving defender
of the republic, deprived of their limbs il
the great struggle. We promised them
amongst other things. when they went out
that il they fell by the way side, or perishe,
amidst the thunder and fury of the grea
conflict, the little children they left by tn
fireside, should not be forgotten. That
one obligation to be kept.
REPUDIATIeN.
There is party that proposes to repud
ate the obligation Of the country. If the
repudiate it in part they may repu
diate it in whole. What do you thin
of man who comes to you, has the mean
to pay, and says he intends to pay one quar-
ter Of the debt2 [ see it here in West Vir
ginia presented toyou in the most coward
form. Well, that is not unusual among'
thieves. Laughter. l have read in tn
Holy Writ that it is only the righteous VIII
are 'bold rs a lion." l understand vel
| we'll that thieves and robbers and covenan
! breakers, who we are told, deserve dealt
are always towards The great poet
8 nature has said, "This Conscience dot
! make towards of us all" These POI
: devils, if they have nothing else left, ha,
!, the last remnants Of a. conscience LET
| So they are towards at last.
EQUALITY OF TAXATION.
!. Twas handed the platform of this dem
: cratic organization rather this par
: that proposes tn reorqanize the democrat
= party in West Virginia-that isto resurre
= = the thing from its grave. have read Il
= platform, and see these fellows very soft
" resolve that they are in favor Of equal tai
ton. l understand that they dodge I
L. IL