Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-02-03
TIE FUTURE.

This government was created TO live in per-
pItulty. 1t was sent on great mission TO the
nations of the EARTH which is not yet fulfilled
It is destined to pass through great trials, to
give evidence that it is fit for its work It's
constitution can be modified, reformed, and
adapted to the progress of the people. There Is
no provision for its destruction, but for its per-
fection. These are charging times and
changing world and mind and matter are under
going continual changes. Two things only
change not, human reason and the sovereignty
of the people-the Light of intellect and the
principles of free government These are the
great beacOns to mark out the road along which
the nations of the earth must travel
60 home, not as rivals. but as friends re-
solved to save the State and wipe out slavery
To do this is enough for one man 10 live for. A
life spent in accomplishing a result like this-is
well spent. Though some for a while may
sneer, the time viii come when the nation viii
be utterly astOnished that this great monopoly
has been submitted to so long. Let no man,
then delude himself with the dream, the vague
hope, that he still holds on to slavery; let him
cut the cord at once, and he will feel great
deal easier.
Nor let any man suppose that think that
any portion of the populaee should be turned
forth as lOafers without work. The sooner we
get out of this transition state-whichis is always
the worst-the better for us, the better for the
negroes. IN five years from now the labor of
the black man win be more productive than ev-
er, for freedom simply means liberty to work
and enjoy the products of ones labor. Let US
try to comprehend the times in which we live
and the great principles which are at work.
There is a breaking up of old combinations, and
men are coming together by their Estural afin-
tiles. Old parties are disintegrating, and new
ideas thrown out among men Of mind form the
basis of new parties. Here is the great contest
of philanthropy, of sound reason, of Humanity,
whose foundation is the Christian religion; a
bow of promise, whose base rests upon the hO-
rizon, and whose span arches the universe
In the midst of the darkness which has been
resting on the land for three years, a darkness
| deeper than that of the dark ages-from you,
sitting in the midstof carnage, and of death, has
gone forth a light to illuminate the world and
! teach mankind that you can be free. feel that
| God smiles on what you have done, and that il
meets the appreciation Of the hosts that surround
| him. o how it contrasts with the shrieks, and
| cries, and wailings which the institution o'
| slavery has brought on the landl
| Look along the battle fields of Tennessee
| the new made graves-witness your country
men perishing In battle; see even the Goddess
of Liberty, struggling through desolation, earn.
age, and bloOdshed, and almost driven from our
bOrdersl Might not say with the poet:
'Obloodiest picture in the book Of tinei"
And yet out of all this gloomy scene, beam
a light to illuminate the world in future years
I As your fellOw-citizen who expects in some o
| your valleys to deposit his bones, thank you
! again for the noble work which you have done