Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-31
THE GREAT VAR MINISTER.

The dsstruetiTeness of war is by no /
nleans eon1nsd 10 the mortality of the |
battls-held and the hospital. Its fear
fuI labOrs, excftements and anxieties
are joint ministers of destruction with
ne IRE angel in the mont ofdeath.
or the
Fever-angsI lurking in the rear
Of eontending armies. The have sill
vercd many young head with grey,
mined the foundations of many an iron
constitution, and laid many a robust
and stalwarf form in a premature
grave. Brough, Andrew and Rawlins
have each in turn given sad and un-
timely illustration Of this, and now
stanton the most conspicuous Of all in
the administrative 1aboTs of the war,
has in like manner been added to the
list OF freedoms martyrs. The deli
cate machinery Of life that failed not
under the Titanic burden, crushed by
the long continued strain and un-
nerved by its removal, has yielded to
a feathers weight. The great War
Secretary has laid down his life for his
country no less clearly than he would
have done had he perished like Lyon
or sedgwic in the front of battle.
Among Mr.. Lincoln's advisers Mr..
stanton bore the most conspicuous
and important part in our struggle for
national Union. His indomitable viii
| gave decision and vigor to a hesitating
policy, and his genius like that Of
| Carnot, organized victory for the Re
public. A greater than Carnot, his
/ success was more complete and his ca
| reer more iIlustrious. With far-sight-
| ed vision he comprehended from the
beginning the obstacles to be overcome
in crushing the rebellion, and with
sagaeitv and determination adequate
to every emergency, with sublime dis
/ liegard forpersonal interest or popular
/ ity and with a soul absorbed in work
/ ing out his eountry's triumph, he al
lowed nothing to stand in the way of
his plans and pursued his object as the
cannon ball pursues its mark.
with the whole brood Of time-ser-
i vers and schemers Mr.. stanton had no
patience, and his country's enemies
received from him no Indulgence
such a man could not fail to excite the
/ hostility Of every lukewarm friend or
open foe of the Union cause, and it is
Il not strange that a malignant press
speaking for, as it was in sympathy
with. an effete rebellion should
seek to heap his grave with calumny-
But the name of EDWIN NJ. STANTON
win burn with immortal lustre in the
the history of his country when the
! most conspicuous friend or abettor Of
secession shall have passed from NOR
tai memory.
1t was Mr.. Stanton's fortune TO per-
form the most ungrateful and unap-
preeiated, as it was the'mOst arduousi
administrative service of the war. II
was not until the smoke of conflict had
cleared away and the nation saw his
services as revealed by its final tri-
umph that it began to realize what
was due him. Nor did his valuable
and conpieuous services end with the
war. When an apOstate administra-
tion sought to cast away the best re-
suits of our success and lay the nation
bound hand and foot at the mercy Of
it's conquered foe, Mr.. Stanton alone Of
those who remained in the cabinet
, kept answering the blood-bought
+ faith of freedom. Last but by nc
means least of his services, this vii
5 be bright among the crowning jewels
" of his fame.
Much more might be said for him
l but the best that can be sale
and that which includes all is that h'
labored and gave his life for human
freedom. Amongthe ilIustrious hero
list who have perished that liber
: ty and union might be one and insep
arabic in this land his name holds {
> shining place, and millions ofhisf fellow
beings redeemed from degrading thral
, dom viii rise up to call him blessed
A great man is gone; we have none
greater, and it VIII be long before we
shall see his like again.