The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-08-12
The GREAT war IS Over.

The Great War is Over.
With the el0se.of the war Comes relief from
many duties which ihe loyal PEOPLE had learned
to look upon as little less sacred than those
(which they owed % Their families and thsig ~
ligiob.S The bra e men men who byre the bruat and
burden ofahe contest, richly deserve every mark
ofapprqbaiion nd!ryspeet which grateful peo-
pie il giving sahssp! But let us not forget TO
gixea duemeed ofsprafse tothose who, in huilR y
Ter and less public sphere, contributed so much
TO our success nor let us forget the agencies
through which the valor of our armies was made
so effective. The loyal women of the land, in
their tender sympathy for the soldier, in their
patient toiling for his comfort in their devotion,
their self-sacri6ce, their faith that faltered not
and their heroic endurance OF privations conse-
quent upon the absence of'the SUPPORT and pro-
tector of themselves and famlies5 have won some
thing more than empty applause and cheap coml-
splimehts. They have displayed a capacity for
managing the most Intricate business affairs, for
dividing labor and adapting means, to ends, that
would do. honor to the best class Of business
men. None but those who have enjoyed the
blessings of their labors amid the unavoidable
privations of military life, can ever know how
much they contributed to the success of our
cause. And not only in their patient labors for
the physical welfare Of the soldier, but in that
unfalterng spirit Of devotion and that healthy
moral influence with which they stimulated him,
do they deserve well Of the nation. IL Had they
who at any time might be orphans or widows,
been seduced by the peace faction of the North,
into joining the cry against the continuance OF
the war, it may be doubted whether the Govern
ment could have witbstood the combination, or
the army maintained its discipline HAPPY for
us ALL the women remained true, and this danger
was never threatened. 9tD
Nor should we forget that organization known
as the Sanitary Commission, through whose
agency the efforts of the loyal women were made
available. The labors of that body have now
been brought to a close. In announcing the
pleasing fact, the Commission issues the follow
ing eloquent tribute of thanks to those who aid
ed them in their labors. 1t is generous and hon
est, and will be read with pleasure by, those OF
our county who did their sharein the good work
g To the Soldiers Aid Societies, and through
them to each and every contributor to our sup
plies, to every. woman who has sewed seam oil
knitted stocking in the service of the Sanitary
Commission, we now return our most sincere and
hearty thanks thanks which are not ours only,
but those Of the camps, the hospitals the trans
ports, the prisons, the pickets, and the lines,
where your love and labor have sent comfort,
protection, relief, and sometimes life itself. it is
not too much to say that the army of women al
home has fully matched in patriotism and in sac
ri6ces the army of the men in the field. The
mothers sisters, wives and daughters of oAmeri-
ca have been worthy of the sons and brothers,
husbands and fathers who were fighting their
battles. After having contributed their living
treasures to the war, what wonder they sent so
freely after them all else that they had2 And
this precious sympathy between the iresides and
the campfres, between. the bayonetand the nee
de- the tanned cheek and the pale face, has kept
the nation one; has carried the homes into the
ranks, and kept the ranks in the homes, until a
sentiment of oneness, of irresistible unanimty,
in which domestic and social, civil and religious,
political and military elements entered, qualify
ing strengthening, enriching and sanctifyiHg all,
has at st.conquered all obstacles and given us
an overwhelming, aprofound and permanent VIC
tory. 1t has been our precious privilege TO be
your almoners n 10 manage and distribute the
stores you have created and given us for the SOL
diers and sailors. We have tried to. do our duty
impartially, diligently, wisely. For the means
of carrying on this vast work. which has grown
up in our hands, keeping pace with. the growing
immensely of the war, and which we are now
about to lay down, after giving the American
public an account of our stewardship, we are
chiefly indebted to the money created by the fairs
which American women inaugurated and con-
Quoted, and to the supplies collected by you nm
der our organization. To you, then is finally
due the largest part of whatever gratitude be-
longs to the Sanitary Commission. 1t is as it
should be- The soldier will return to his home
to thank his own wife, motherJ sister, daughter,
for so tenderly looking after him in camp and
field, in hospital and prison and thus it will be
seen that it is the homes Of the country which
have wrought out this great salvation, and that
the men and women Of America have api equal
part in its glory and its JOY go - y,1a