The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-02-15
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Nor IN Prsss, but not 10 BE- pssbiaaed sata
Ae year Of our Lord 1900.
oar. VII. 1850 TO 1870 THs GRxAs LABOR Re-.
voLUTroE. PAET RrRsr.
The wonderful series of even Is which
especially distinguish this decade Of the past
century, beginning with the disruption Of
slavery and terminating in the triumph Of
iabur, will ever be considered by the impair
siaI historian as the peculiar glory Of the
cyle In which they were performed. To the
blessed effects they alone produced, are we
indebted for the position we hold amongst
The peoples Of the world. Upon them, as q
sure foundation, have been erected those
temples Of liberty, peace, and prosperity, in
which, as IN secure but unarmed fortresses,
the nations Of the civilized world have 20
long been permitted 10 repose.
In.order to fully appreciate the magnitude
Of sur debt TO our forefathers, it Is only ne
cessary to examine the state Of the country
previous to and during this revolution. It
presents itself to the view with Cerberian
formation political, commercial, and So
cial. 1t is proposed here, therefore, to pre-
sent clear and concise statement OF the
condition Of the people Of the Union, at the
time referred to, under those heads. In 80
doing, whatever remarks are made will be
based mainly upon the daily literature oil
thai period, of which q few fragments yet
remain. That 90 little il left, OF what was
once 90 voluminous, is q source Of regret to
the historian, although il be not so tie pub
lie; for there is no doubt, from the speci-
mems examined, our morality is gamer By
the loss.
lst. Political. Previous to the war Of the
is viii be remembered that the
people were divided into two great parties,
calling themselves Wings and Democrats.
For . long perod, with the exec osion of
Taylor. q PLAIN honest soldier, who fought
bis way into the position, hardly Q man Of
note on either side had been put forward for
the Presidency. The sseosssors OF jackson
seemed % dwindle in their fair proportions
as men, until they terminated in the nonen-
tlty Buchanan Calhoun, Cass and Benton.
were passed unnoticed BY the Democrats,
and Clay and Webster were defeated BY
traitors in the camp Of the Wings. But in
the year 1860 change took place in the
dreams Of the country. The magnitude Of
the issues involved had previously compelled
attention, as was exhibited in the nomina-
sion Of Fremont, and the gauntlet Of def
ance was thrown at the man-0wners of the
South in the subsequent elevation Of Lincoln.
But there were other parties in the field
Whilst the Republicans elected Lincoln, the
insensible Democrats fixed upon Brecken-
ridge, the sensible ones backed Douglas, and
the dead men ran Bell Of Tennessee A fierce
took place, and terminated in the election Of
the choice Of the <money-holders, Abraham
Lincoln for President. In spite Of the
objurations of the more popuIous churches,
which declared, almost unanimously, that
slavery was not "mdLuns III Sc" the people
persisted, by their votes, in questioning its
Christian propriety. AS was to be expected,
the result Of the election was ignored By the
man-Owners, and the constitutional compact
which bound together the nation was tram
pled under their feet with naughty con-
tempt. As . necessary consequences, Ia the
,ps-ing Of 1881 both parties plunged into
war. -
At the tine treated Of, the distinguishing
Of q politicisn, was total
disree ard for truth. Statesma1Ship and ly-
ing were synonymous terms. Both parties
resOrted 40 It in this crisis. The S3a Ss33C:h ds- H
cl Jared that the rebellion had not been pre-
meditsted and prepared for, and the North
asserted that 1t was totally disconnected
with the question of slavery. The Baron
Munchausen Of the administration flooded
the civilized world with documents instruct
ing ambassadors to inform foreign govern
ments that the ruptnre was merely slight
on land speculation, and that
all would be settled over a supper and a bot
tie Of wine in less than ninety days. of
course the war went on. The brunt Of il
frst fell upon the Western men, who did
their duty bravely. Starting.at Fort Henry,
they did net stop in their victorious career
until they planted the Gag upon the heights
Of Vicksburg. The first levies OF the East
wsfs, With sxzspticnr, allied With the super
numaries Of the cities, q strange mixture,
the kids and rowdies Of New York, Philadel-
phia, and Boston. Many OF them deemed
their regiment Sufficient to storm creation,
and dspiored that 90 many were going, az
the individual shares Of the swag would be
reduced by their numbers. When they ar
rived at Wsshing gton, however, they learned
to appreciate the truth Of Mrs. Glass' receipt
for cooking . hsre--ssfirst catch the animal"
Soon shey have changed into q tiger.
Strange tales were told that the Ereybaoks
not only shot the pickets, but afterwards ate
Mems bones and ~ Tier gradually began
70 like the htitude and longitade Of Wssh-
ington. Bnt the heroes st home, fYa hund-
red or . thogsand miles from the line Of op-
erations, we're more valiant than ever, They
shonted TO their comrades, Go On, boys,
cover yourselves with glsry, hsw yogr way
to Richmond with your sWoedslx Inspired
BY this advice, the boys dsshsd into Bull