The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-26

unaainiay and gsasrssiy.-
the returning soldier has been
received with open arms. Every neighbor'
hood, every village, every town and CITY on
the routes of his long journey, has poured
forth iss crowds Of euthusiasslc people 20 vel,
come him back, and from one euo of the land
10 the other, the citizens OF the country have
proclaimed aloud their debs OF gratitude TO
The army, and their apprecission OF lie distlI-
guished and patriotic services.
Surely the army hes abundant reason to |
be satisfied of the sympathy and appreciation |
of the people. Thus far, however, it seems |
10 have been overlooked that the army also |
owes It's debt of gratitude to the people. a
debt which the people have never claimed. |
bat which it rs not the less duty 70 acknowl-
edge and if possible discharge with equal cor
diallty and promptuess.
This has been emphatioally the peoples
war. Had its prosecution been left to the
politicians and political leaders. either in the
civil or military service, it is safe 60 say that
il would long since have been ended In dis
grace and ruin. But in spite of lukewsrm
and treacherous leaders; in spite Of gross
mismanagement in spite of misfortune, of
disaster and Of defeat; in spite of every NOR
oil aud physical encouragement which could
be arrayed against them, the people steadily
and firmly pushed forward the war until it
has ended in victory and IN the salvation OF
our country. Appliance. The people gave
courage to the timid confidence to the wavei-
ing, and strength to the weak. They pushed
forward those who Jagged behind; they
oheered ON the brave men who led the ad-
vance; they poured forth their treasures
without stint, aud, although every family In
| the land was in mourning, the people-ln
sorrow and anguish, bat with unfsltering
patriatism-mxrshaled to the field, to rein
force our struggling armies, their father,
their husbands, anu the yoa0g Benjamins OF
their households. They followed our armies,
alike in disaster and victory, with ali the ap
pliances which can alleviate suffering; they
nurs-d the sick and wounded they stood by
che bedside of the dying soldier. and soothed
his last hours with tender sympathy; they
shed tears of earnest sorrow over his grave,
and they took his place as the guardian and
protector of his wife and children.
Surely such services these can never be
forgotten Surely every officer and soldier
will be prompt 10 Acknowledge that be owes
TO the people a debt of gratitude not less than
that which the people have 80 freely conce
ded to the army. liz is safe 20 say that, IL
| the day of reckoning between the people and
the army and navy, the accounts will be 81
so evenly balanced as to require no sacrifce
for their adjustment. Applause
The mission of the army and navy was the
destruction of the armed forces of the rebel
hon This duty. aided by the people. they
have. fully performed. The mission of the
, people. however, is still unfulflled. They
are to-day confronted by questions NOR,
grave and mOmentous than were ever befort
presented to any people; questions in com
parison with which the war presented LITTLE
} mat was difficult. The problem of recon
= II
viving civil government in the south, is fnl
of unknown elements, and Its solution is sur
} rounded by difficulty and perplexity which
r will tax TO the utmost the wisdom, the pru
denee and the forbearance of the people,
Let US hope that those whom we have intrus
; ted with the government will adopt the wis
. est and best measures to settle these Official
ties, and will know how TO deal with tn,
crude theories of visionary men, or the Gun
| ningly devised schemes of Interested politi
D clans, to promote, IN the settlement of thes
questions their political objects. Ii behoove
the people, however, to watch with sleeple q
eye and untiring vigilance the measures o
recons truction advocated by those leaders
3 to see that all the facts and the actually exis
ting circumstances of the southern people
, both physical and moral, are thoroughly
known and carefully considered in any plaI
: of settlement to be sure that whilst we pre-
serve the character for m moderation aud mag
nanimity which becomes christian people
we are no: so far led away by such feelings
as to exhibit mistaken leniency which may
shipwr-ck the results we have achieved by
. the sacrifice of so much blood and treasur,
loud .apptausel; TO be careful that We d.
not impose upon our posterity the danger We
have SO narrowly escaped; to assure our
selves that we transmit To our descendant
institutions free in all things. and free espe
cialiy from the seeds of destruction and dis
grace. Applause. So --
: Let us hope that the great armies now be
ing di-banded, and returning in the midst Of
such welcomes, to their homes. may again bt
absorbed into the bosom of the people, snG
may then render to the people the service anG
the sympathy 50 heartily rendered to them
so that our descendants may say with truth
that each of us in his proper sphere, the citi
zen and the soldier. has performed his duty
to his country with zeal with intelligence
and with fidelity. Loud and continued ap
plause.