Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-07-27

Husbands and brothers,
What gold can purchase, can
bought back with gold. Where th
lprice is Hood and life, the possessio
becomes everlasting,
We may then form q faint idea c
the price which has been paid for tn
rich inheritance which this great rs
ltion comprizes, and which is thu
secured to the race Of man to be
dwelling place for all nations tribe
and languages for ever. = 3
And is not this fitting occasion
to review the past, rejoice in tn
present, and plsdge ourselves for tn
fntrep a. e fia3.a3s q s
Four years ago the future of thi
nation was shrouded in darkness.
The black cloud of rebellion anC
civil war, hung over all the land, anC
it was with hundreds of thousands o
persons a question of doubt, whetheI
the anniversary of Independence
would ever be celebrated again.
Mems hearts sank within them
encouraging words of hope, were
rarely to be heard; and those who
had hope, who felt confidence in tn,
successful issue Of the great strug
gle, did not derive hope and conf,
dence, from any thing in the condi
tion and circumstances, the country
and the government presented; bu
in the purpose of God in regard tc
the destiny of this nation, and the
great mission it was appointed to full
fiji among the nations and govern
ments of the world. Not in man,
but in God had they placed their
hopes; and trusting hearts waited
patiently; until the resources which q
wise providence had laid up in store
for the time of need, should be per-
fectH welded, when the victory
over armed rebellion would be7com-
pfete and glorious A 3 ,
But for long time, faithful loyal
men seered toE.hope against hope" "
And, as We scan Che course of our
armies TO day, and note one by one,
our defeats and our victories, our
gains and our reverses, from Bull
Run in 1851 60 Richmond in 1865;
the magnitude of the operations is
such as to stagger belief. TTt.
The scene OF Carnage and death, of
misery and pain, of woe, anguish and
morning, IS sickening and appalling
IN the highest degree, ,-d zach a
four years of conflict, the world has
never seen, and history has never yet
recorded.
But now, It is ali over. The great
issue on one side, is forever gained;
on the other side, eternally lost. For
this, the whole nation rejoices to-day.
Every where this is day of rejoic-
ing.
The smitfen and afflicted whose
hearts have beer made sad ard des-
olate. because loved ones vert out
to return no more to the homes which
were gladdene6 by their presence,
stay their tears or this day, and take
part in the general rejoicing
The cheering influence Of joy
reaches every heart gladness ex-
tends to every dwelling, all the. bit
terness of the past is willingly for
gotten, and the present, bright glo-
rious, hallowing, engrosses all our
feeling.
And o. the hearts that have been
gladdened in another wy. Many of
our mol le heroes have returned, will
their honors thick upon them, to
their homes. .-~ ~ ~ rr.
Mothers have clasped their sons to
their bosoms with new and thrill
ing joy, because their work is done,'
and they return no more to the field
of conflict and death. -.
. Husbands and wives are reunited,
never more to be separated by the
stern mandate of military power.
Little children feel themselves safe
once more in the firm embrace OF a
fathers love, the family happily is
complete, and there is no weeping
but such as JOY occasions.
Sisters, welcome home loGg absent
brothers with joy and pride as heroes
worthy the respect, and honor of a
grateful people. And manyof those
heroes receive a welcome from other
maidens, who will soon take a place.
beside them, nearer than that which
sister occupies. ,;f.rrq
And we alf receive the soldiers as
dear and honored friends, to whom
we are indebted for Che preservation
of all we hold to be worth preserving
in the great national Inheritance,
which the God of the universe has
bestowed upon us and our children
to all generations. /.
There is great danger of our fail
ing to appreciate the rich boon which
has been given to us through the in
strumentalIty of the soldiers; we are
in danger of forgetting the hard
ships, privations and sufferings they
have encountered for us, and the
mighty labors they have performed
while maintaining the great contest
with a powerful foe until crowned
with eternal victory. There is a.
passage in the book Of Psalms, which
reads '1f 1 forget thee o, Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.
If do not remember thee let my
tongue cleave to the roof of my
mouth" So would we say in regard
to our soldiers who have saved our
country for us. If 1 forget the SOL
diers, let my right hand forget her
cunning. III do not remember the