The weekly union record., 1865-07-01
HE union RECORD.
Was il Ever Paralleled2

Under this head a correspondent of
New York Tribune says:
The year we are new passing through,
is Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-Fiye,
ands out in grand, bold relief from all
predecessors star of the first mag
tude in Times constellation.
1t saw the end of the imperious slave
,lding rebellion.
1t saw the end Of American slavery.
Its earliest flowers covered the bier
nations murdered hero.
The sun and showers of its young
onths freshened the green grass over
e martyrs grave.
Its spring time witnessed the gran
,st funeral pageant that ever honored
le dead or graced the living.
1t saw a nation, thirty millions
rong, drop scalding tears of sorrow
/ the tomb of their slain chief.
1t saw the murderer's dlshonored
,rse sunk in an unknown place, ere
e victim reached his grave.
1t saw procession of grief-struck
burners two thousand miles in length.
1t saw the great dead carried to his
>me by nation, in whose funeral
ain cities were pall-bearers, military
lieftains the corpse-watchers, high
vic functionaries guardians of his
er, great imperial States chief mourn
8, millions of uncovered heads bowed
fearful grief, as the mighty cortege
ound its solemn march under the sun
yht of day and the torchlight of night,
ON the scene of active duty to the
liet rest of an honest mans grave.
1t saw millions of a down trodden
ice lifted to the dignities and respon-
bilities of humanity.
1t saw those millions bowed down.
I'd their heads bent with grief as sor-
,wing as children feel at fathers
rave.
1t saw villages clothed in mourning,
,wns draped in deaths insignia, great
ties suspend their traffic, the busy
arts of commerce hushed with awe,
hile the silence of living death cover
1 an Empire, fit expressions of grief
,r a martyr.
1t saw the dwellings of the rich cov-
'ed with costly badges of woe, and
,e homes of the poor draped in the
lore simple and eloquent symbols of
eople's sorrow.
1t heard holy ministers Of Christ's
ospel speak words of peace for the
lurdered dead, and of comforting con-
olence for the living.
1t heard the heart prayers of sim
ere millions for the rest of the depart
d, and that his death might not leave
ne nation in the utter darkness of des-
lation.
1t heard a nation of mourners chant
olemn dirges in accord with organ
eals and the thunder of artillery, over
he passing body of the nations
lartyr.
If respectful, manifest sorrow for
he dead be any proof of civilization,
hen did Sixty-Five witness a great
nd more perfect civilization than any
ther child of Father Time.
As the days of Sixty FIVE rolled in
o weeks, and the weeks wheeled into
months, the meridian of the year saw
he people of other lands meet in sor-
ow for the stricken nation, heard their
,rief utterances, saw their anointed ru-
ers bow their heads in the awe of sor-
owing sympathy, and for once child
|pf Time saw
a world in tears
Sixty-F'ive saw in the mourned one
he incarnation of freedom-loving, lib
'rty -practicing people, the impersona-
ion of the capabilities and possibilities
If institutions based on the voice of
nan echoing the voice cf God in the
,ecognition of human rights and manly
luties, the emancipation of race, and
.he guarantor of their liberties.
1t saw in the "deep damnation of his
taking off" the possibilities and capa-
bilities of the barbaric system which
the great martyr had, with a pen might
ier than conqueror's sword, condemn
led to utter destruction.
1t saw the world-old conflict between
liberty and slavery end in favor of lib
erty regulated by law, of justice foun-
ded on humanity, of civilization based
on right.
Was it ever paralleled