The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-06-25

WHEN the alarming news burst upon the
lation that Sumter and its little garrison had !
been assailed, the whole people became
aroused, and painted for an opportunity to
cross swords with the insuiters of the nation
and flag, and wipe out the shameful indig-
nifty. The whole loyal part of our country's
population was aroused and in public meet |
ings assembled, they pledged themselves to
stand BY the Government in every effort 1t
might make to snbdue the rebellion, and
maintain the national honor. Troops were
called for, and pledges were made, that the
wives and little ones of those who took up
arms for the defense Of the country, should
be taken care of and amply provided for.
With this assurance many bid farewell to the
comforts and dear ones Of home, to try the
uncertain realities of the tented field. 10
your tents, oh, Israel Y rang through the
| land. and soon the war in all its terrible
| bloody severity, waxed warmer and warmer.
Regiment after regiment was called for, rails
ed and sent to the field from our own loved
State; and each morning our papers womb
tell us how nobly those regiments had met
the foe, and amid the confusion and carnage
Of battle ever kept full high advanced
the "standard of the free" though thouss
ands of them in their patriotic heroism,
found graves where they had fought SO nobly
and SO well, and as their life blood ebbed
away surrounded as they were, the rat
tie and din of conflict, their, minds wandered
backto Iowa. the home oftheir dear ones, and
remembering the pledges that had been
made that those loved ones would ever be
maintained from want, was great relIet to
their minds, And now that the war Is over
those pledges are Just as binding as tehen f'fst
made. News comes to us that many OF the
little ones ofthose fallen patriots aredn need
this information should be enough TO quicken
the energies oferery true man and tcoaidn, to
provide Immediately and abundantly every
thing which the little orphans require. Iowa
did nobly in the war, but her greatest and
best act was in providing a good homes
State institution-for the orphans OF her iail'
en- soldiery, and the pages of her history
which records how that institution was or
eanized, how maintained, and how much
good it accomplished for the little children,
will be, iu our opinion, the brightest and
proudest pages in the book, and to>night,
people Of Keokuk, high and low, rich and
poor, old and young, you will be expected &c
rally to the support of the Orphans Home
and keep the pledges you made to the father;
I.of these children, when they went rebellion
ward to fight for Union, for liberty and fol
law The surviving comrades of the fallen
soldiers are making noble efforts all over the
State to raise funds for the Home, and they
have also commenced the good work here
and we hope to see their labors seconded by
such an audience tonight as was never be
fore assembled within the walls Of the Athe
neum. All the talk yesterday was in rela
ton to the entertainmentfor the benefit of th'
Orphans Home, and we came to the couclu
sion that everybody in the city intended TO 60
The question will be not who was there, bu
| who failed to be there? Let the people 0
Keokuk show to>night, by their presence a
the entertainment, that their former profes
sions and pledges we're in good faith, and lie
them do work Of which they will ever fee
prond.
''To waver now IS little less than crime
To work for This sacred cause e glorious, il sub
lime"