Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-28


since, as innumerable acts of greatness
and grandeur, noO appearing impossibili-
ties TO us, will be accomplished, with per-
feet unConcern by generations to come
aye, they will even perform feats surpAss
ing our deeds rs far as our works leave
behind, those Of "Aud Lang Sine" There
is no limit for us to place upon their prog:
ress. They may clear at single bound,
one petty limit, and The next moment have
turned upon us the finger Of derision, call
us pigmies, and go on in the work beyond
our comprehension, though perfection is
not yet attained, These grand feats are
but innovations upon it, but 1t never
reaches it's acme, until the last generation
that stands where we stand, shall hail
with delight the glad morning the last of
time-whCh gives perfection as heritage,
and stamps upon oil things--in letters Of
light, this is the ends perfection.
Those who shall be of that band, will
look upon our works here to-day, and
will accord us the honor Of sincerity at
least: dare we hope for more2 Who half
century ago, thought that these hills
enclosed millions Of tons of ore, which
was SO soon 10 become the great mineral
region Of Southern Ohio Who fifty years
ago thought there would to-day be meas
ures in vogue, contemplating the naviga-
tion of the beautiful streams upon whose
hanks we stand2 Who Atty years ago
dreamed that we would 80 soon have pass :
ed through the m Ost terrible civil war that
ever dsrkened the fair escutcheon Of any
nation on the globe Who fifty years ag o
dreamed, to-day would find us, recovering
from the shock Of battle, and standing
upon the great ideas Of liberty, MS we
learned them in other years. Yet see
among this Ihrong, earnest in the Celebra-
tion Of this day, those who during the
late rebellion, stood shoulder to shoulder
in the cause of right, and battled bravely
for the supremacy Of the Old Flag; those
who endured the bardships Of the soldier {,
and who bled in tho cause Of our common
country; who thought that it deserved
better of us, than to see it torn by fac
lions, but that as a single government,
erected upon the glorious principles Of
humanity and freedom, both of speech and
Of Ihe press, (for which oil men contend
as Il come TO us, whole and as q unit,
so should it pass from us, with not q
star dimned of all the constellation Of
States, and not q stripe of the old flag
polluted: and though We rejoice in the
deeds Of our brothers ana sons, upon
many bitterly contested field, there is
yet painful thought, which will cause
the eye to grow dim, and the lip to quiV-
er, as we remember, that of all those
who bore with US the burthen Of the war,
that of all those who left everything in
ODE dience to the coll Of the country, and
went forth upon the battle plain, who
took their lives aud their muskets, many
came not back in the end. Many with
whom we went forth, yielded up their
lives, the most uRsel6sh, and precious
gift they could bestOw upon the altar Of
their country, and falling; when death
had marked the soldier, how often have
we seen him, in his dreams, or as wild
delirum racked his brain, go again
through the terrible battle, 'murmur the
name of some loved one OF home, far
away from his dying bed, too distant TO
hear the soothing voice Of o mother whose
soft hand alone could soothe the purturb-
ed spirit and whose voice bring back the
wandering faCuIties--see bim, graphing
with sone imaginary foe, and e'er the
help could come, he was dead--some who
went with us, were left among the noun
taius of West Virginia, some sleep in tn e
beautiful Shenandoah, some have gone to
rest in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ken
tucky, others, have found quiet in the bot
tom of the sea "the far unsounding sea,
Others, were compelled to succumb TO
disease, and died, breathing for the old
flag prayer, whose solemn grandeur
evinced the startling patriotism, with
which men could die, Father, you who
sent forth for the struggle, q son the
staff Of your declining years, armed with
your blessing, and dedicated to the cause
of liberty, if he yet ta.ries if he fingers,
, lies where thousands Of his comrades fell
, perhaps, his grave unknown, and unmark'
. ed. If he leaves you TO breast the storms
of life alone, TO ride into calm harbor
while all around seems nothing but break
ers If he has left you to 60 down th'
uncertain and unchnritable highway Of
life, alone, IL is the fortune of war; and
we extend TO you The sympathy which nat
uraly comes up when we remember o
ia lien comrade, and the hand Of welcome
here to-day, and ask you 10 join with us
in concentrating this day, the dawn oi
American liberty we invite you to par-
ticipate in these festivities, knowing thai
you have done your duty to your country
and to day you deserve we'll Of Tit is
your right TO witness and participate IL
the pleasures, which make this grand
gala day-sll over the country. Let tber
such knowledge atone as far as may be
for the loss Of those you gave TO your
country, though 1t is meagre payne
for the sacrifice. Let also The knowledge
that the end for which you did so much
being accomplished, you have to-day SOM
reason at least to bo content. The future