The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-07
From the Hannibal Courier.
The Mission of the Union Party = Present
Duties

Oubkcb
During the last four years ofbloody strife,
nearly every section Of our beloved land
has fallen victim 10 the damages growing
out Of the war. Excepting the States Whose
governmental authority was in armed hos
iiIity 10 the federal government, no State
has suffered more than Missouri. Had i'll
not been for the stout arms and brave
hearts Of the little band Of heroes who
maintained the supremacy Of the federal
authority OF the hazard oil their livess. the
case might and undoubtedly would have
been much worse to- day; but while the
Southern States in their hour OF folly and
madness yielded TO the impulses Of their
baser natures, Missouri bore aloft the old
symbol Of our nationality amid the smoke
and carnage Of battle 10 glorious issue.
This was not done or approved by theI
great mass of our citizens as in many OF
the Northern States, but by the Radical
Union men Of our State, who in former years
had struggled against an arrogant majority
deprived Of their rights justly due every
freeman. When the issue was presented
they boldly stepped forward, inviting all
irrespective of past political aftiniues TO-
unite with thom in the. patriotic work of
saving from natural death our bleeding and
mperilled country Il was at tbs time
that the great Union party Of the country
sprang into existence. The exig lies Of
the times demanded anew pa2fy aid new
leaders, without which the old ship of State
would have stranded amid the breakers,
and the proud ensign Of free republic been
consigned to the keeping Of despois and
traitors For four years this organization
has struggled with the slave oligarchy Of a
powerful section and obtained the mastery
obtained guarantee that the Union of these
States is one and indivisible. We are
now asked 10 surrender our power 10 those
who refused and neglected to aid us in the
memorable struggle for national life; but
the great mission of the Union party is not
yet ended. Ayel more, it has not yet ac-
complished its mission in Missouri. A
great work remains undone. Now the clash
Of arms and the tread Of hostile armies are
no longer heard in our midst, the work Of
political and social reform demands the
earnest attention Of every lover of the Stale.
Missouri must rise Phoenix like from the
ashes of day. She has escaped annhila-
ton, and the dawn Of peace must find her
far advanced in the progress of civilization
and refinement. Her broad praries sc
long untrod by man except as the highway
must be made TO bloom and blossom as
The rose. Her heterogeneous population
and local institutions, the scourge AM
curse of the State, has given, place 10 thu
enterprise and genius of the great Eastern
and central States, and her State and mu
nicipal laws must meet the demands of ad
vancing civilization if we would rear al
empire out of the ruins Of the great gar
den OF the North West. Who will aid il
[ this great work except those who in th
bloody era Of her history kept the ensig
of the republic flying and chung with III
n tenacity of life to the ark Of our politica
r safety-the Union. An exchange trul
n says:
e "Missouri possesses wonderful recuper
/, alive powers, which are inherent in he
), soil. Given over TO a generation of slug
q CARDS she would naturally make some pre-
d gress But guided by the strong arms an
II willing hearts Of an industrious and ener
getic population there could be no limit
I 10 her advance. There is not a singl
ST State IN the Union, or single country ur
n der the sun, presenting so many nature
IS advantages to all classes Of people. Eve
IS that newly discovered asylum for exile
re patriots, where nature appears rObed
r. eternal verdure and the flowers wear
n. perpetual bloom, must sink into insight
p canoe when compared with Missour
te Where does there exist finer soil? Wher
HI richer mineral deposits? Where more III
IN mistakable evidences Of inherent wealth?
v We need healthy emigration, which ca
Is only be had by holding out the necessar
at inducements. The temper of the Peep
/. must be toned down to the changed circun
stances by which we are surrounded. II
foundations Of the social structure ha,
been removed and need replacing. The
must be concert OF action. Law must
ne made respectable, perfect order must pr
n vail, and the legitimate forms of ciyizati'
H. must be dOnned. The school system shou
"a be reorganized and put in operation, Il
n churches should be reopened and made
s. perform their portion OF the work in han
H. and the hum OF busy industry should r
d, sound throughout the State, until the wor
sc is convinced that we are not falling ba
r. into barbsrism. Let it once be understo
I'd that Missouri has robed herself in the ha
Ill limenis Of peace, and that her people q
Sc alive to the real obligations of life, a
ITO teeming thousands will take up their abod
r. | ,1,,thin ,.ur hnr1ers -