The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-04-27

r
rev. Henry ward Bescher's Address
At one o'clock Rev. Mr.. Beecher took
the stand, and delivered an eloquent ad-
dress, from which We make the following |
extra cts:
On this solemn and joyful day We again |
lift to the breeze orr fathers Gag NOW |
again the banner of the United States,
with the fervent prayer that God would
crown it with honor, protect it from trsa.
son, and send il down to our children
with all the blessings Of civilization, liber-
ty and religion. Terrible in battle, may
il be bene6cent in peace. Happily no
bird or beast Of prey has besn inscribed
upon it. The stars that redeem the night
from darkness and the beams of red light
that beautify the morning have been uni
ted upon its folds. As long as the sun
endurss, or the stars. may ID wave over .
nation neither enslsved nor enslaving.
[Great applause Once, and but once,
has treason dishonored it. In that insane
hour when the guiltiest and bloodiest 70.
belGon of time hurled their fires upon this
fort. you, sir, turning to General Ander.
son and small heroic band, stood with
in those now crumbled walls, and did gal
LIANT and Just bsttle for the honor and de-
Tense Of the Nations banner. TApplause.]
In that cope Of FIRE this glorious Gag still
peacefully waved to tho breeze above your
head, unconscious OF harm 90 the stars
and skies above. Once il wss shot down.
A gallant hand in whose care this day il
has been, plucked it from the ground and
reared it again-cast down but not de.
stroyed. After a vain resistance, with
trembling hand and sad heart you with.
drew it from its height, closed its wings
and bore it far away. sternly to sleep amid
the tumults Of the rebellion and the thuu
der of battle. The FIRST act Of war had
begun. The long night of four years hat
set in. While the giddy traitors whirIes
in a maze of exhileration, dim horror,
we're already advancing that were ere lon,
to fill the land with blood. To-day 20,
have returned again. We devoutiy joil
with you in thanksgiving to Almigbt,
God. that He has spared your honored lif
and vouchsafed you the honors Of thi
day. The heavens over you are th,
same-the same shores. Morning come
and evenings as they did All else, hov
changed What grim batteries crow,
the burdened shores. What scenes hav
filled this air and disturbed these waters
These shattered heaps of shapeless ston,
are all that is left of For. Sumter. Dsso
lation broods in yonder ssd city. Solemn
Yetribution hath avenged our dishonore,
banner. You have come back with homo
who departed hence four years ago, leav
ing the air 1ultry with fanatics. The sur
ging crowds that rolled up their frenzie,
shouts as the flag came down, are dead o
scattered OF silent, and their habitation
are desolate and ruin rests in the cradle q
treason. Rebellion has persisted, but Their
flies the same flag that was insulted. =
Great aud prolonged applause. Wit
starry eyes il looks all over this bay fo
that banner that supplsnted it and sees
not. Applause. You that then for tn
day were humbled, are again to trump
once more and forever. [Applause.
In the storm of that assault this Qlori
Gus ensign was often struck, but it is
memorable fact that not one of its star
was torn out by shot or she'll. Applause.
1t was prophecy. Itsad, " Not on
State shall be struck from this nation b,
treason" Applause.] Hail to the IA
of our fathers and our flag. Glory to tn
banner that has gone through four year
black with the tempests Of war to pilot th
nation back TO peace without dismember
ment. And glory be to God, who, abov
oil hosts and banners, hath ordained vic
tory, and shall ordain peace Applause.
Wherefore have We come hither, pilgrim
from distant places ? Have We come I
exult that Northern hands are stroppe
than Southern No, bat to rejoice the
the hands of those who defend : Just an
benefcent Government are mightier tina
the hands that assaulted it. Applause.
Do we exult over fallen cities We exu]
that nation has not fallen. Applause
We sorrow with the sorrowing. We sym
pathize with Che desolate. We look mo
the shattered fort and yonder diiapidate
city With sad eyes, grieved that me
should have committed such treason. an
glad that God hath set such . mark uno
treason that all ages should shall dres
and abhor it. Applause.
Let no man misread the meaning 9
this unfolding flag. It says governmen
shall return hither-it proclaims. in IN
name of vindicated government. peac
and protection to loyalty: humilistio
and pain to traitors this il the dag q
sovereignty. The Nation, not the State
is sovereign. Restored to authority. tn
flag commands, not duplicates. Their
may be pardon, but no concession. + Grea
applause ] There may b amnesty sn,
oblivion. bnt no honeyed compromises
The nation to-day has peace for the neace
ful and war for the turbulent. The onl
condition Of submission is to submit :
Laughter and applause There il Ii
Constitution:-there are the lsvs-th.r
il the Government They rise an M
mountains of strength that shall not 3
moved. They are the condition. Of pa.c.
One Nation under one Government. v;th
out slavery, has been ordained and M
stand There can Be peace on no othe
basis. On this basis recons,rucs;on |;
easy, and needs neitber arch;t.,t ].