American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-05-17


the Rebellion was broken, and then, hav-
ing done the work for which God had
sent him, angels, l trust, we're sent to
shield him from one moment of pain or
suffering, and to bear him from this
world to that high and glorious realm
where the patriot and the good shall live
forever. His example teaches young
men that every position Of eminence is
open before the diligent and the worthy,
to the active men of the country. His
example urges the country to trust in
God and to do right, Standing as we
do to-day by his coffin and his sepulchsr,
let US resolve to carry forward the policy
which so nobly and wholly began. Let
us do right to all men. Let us vow, in
the sight of Heaven, to eradicate every
vestige Of human slavery, to give every
human being his true position before
God and man, to crush every form of re-
bellion, and to stand by the flag which
God has given us. How joyful we ought
to be that it floated over parts of every
state before Mr.. Liucoln's career was en-.
ded ! How singular is the fact that the
assassn's foot was caught in the folds of
the flag, and that for this we are indebt-.
ed for his capture The flag and the
traitor must ever be enemies. The trai-
tors will probably suffer by the change of
rulers, for one of stern mold, who himself
has deeply suffered from the Rebellion,
now yields the s'eord Of justice. Our
country, too, is stronger for the trial thro'
which it has passed. A republic was de-
clared by monarchies too weak to endure
a civil war; yet We have crushed the
most gigantic rebellion in history, and
have grown in strength and population
every year of the struggle. We have
passed through the ordeal of a popular
election, while swords and bayonets were
in the field, and have come out unchan-
ged now, in an hour of excitement, with
large minority having preferred apoth-
er man for President, the bullet of the
assassin has laid our President PROSTATE ;
has there been mutiny has any rival
proposed his claims Out of an army of
nearly million of men, no officer or sol
diers has uttered one word of dissent, and
in an hour or two after Mr.. Lincoln's
DEATH another leader, with constitutional
powers, occupied his chair and the Gov
ernment moved forward without one sim
gle jar. The world will learn that repub-
lies are the strongest governments on earth.
And now, my friends, in the words ofthe
departed, "wth malice towards none,"
free from all feeling of personal vengeance,
yet believing the sword must not be drawn
in vain, let us go forward in our painful
duty. Let every man who was IA Scna-
tor or Representive in Congress, and who
aided in beginning this Rebe lion, and
thus led to the slaughter of. our sons and
daughters, be brought to speedy and GER
tain punishment. Let every officer edu
Gated at public expense and who, having
been advanced 10 position has perjured
himself and turned his sword against the
vitals of his country, be doomed to this
| believe in the will of the American
people. Men may attempt to compromise
ers to society again, but the American
people will arise in their majesty and
sweep all such compromises and compro-
misors away, and will declare that there
shall be no peace to Rebels but to the
deluded masses we shall extend arms of
forgiveness. We will take them to our
hearts and walk with them side by side
as we go forward to work out a glorious
destiny. The time will come when, in
the beautiful words of him whose lips are
now forever closed "The mystic cords
of memory, which stretch from every
battlefield and from every patriots grave,
shall yield a sweeter music when touched
by the angels of our better nature" To
the ambitious there is fearful lessen of
the four candidates for Presidential hon
| ora IF 1860 Two of them Douolass and
Lincoln, once competitors, but now sleep.
ing patriots, rest from their labors. Boil
perished in poverty and misery as trait
or might perish. And Breckenridge is a
frightened fugitive with the brand Of
traitor on his brow, That win be vouch-
ed by the angels of our better nature
[Cries of "good, good. y
- Men of wealth and influence in