The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-14
SOLDIERS ANs sAILs.s, UNION.
Address By Hes. A. n. Ciapp.

Address By Hs.- A. u. Ciapp.
The regular meeting q the Soldiers and c
Union League Hail, and. IN spite Of the ,
storm, there was large attendance. AMER ,
the reading Of several proposals. for member
ship, all further business was suspended for ,
the purpoae Of listening 70 an address by
Hon. A. M. Clapp. That gentleman was In
troduced by the president OF the union, and
was welcomed with hearty and prolonged
In beginning he said that when he was In
yitcd TO make visit 10 the union he accepted,
supposing the meeting would be altogether
an Informal ono. Only few hours since he
had learned that he would be expected to
make any formal remarks.
Woaried as he was by tho labors Of the
day, nothing but the profound respect he
entertained for the heroic men who had
him this stormy evening TO leave his lodg-
ings. He would not take their time In re-
| peatlng the story OF tho long and fearful |
conflicts Of the late war, 50 familiar 10 all,
but rejoice with them In the fact that peace |
now reigncd and all were enjoying the fruits |
OF victory. Above all, he rcjoiced In the |
victory over the foul relic Of barbarism,
which had so long blighted the best interests
Of ono half Of the States, and cast shadow
over the whole land; he would rejoice that
every man, woman and child was free, and
had Gan equal chance In the race Of life;'
the poorest and weakest as well as the strong
est and richest have gu ,ranteed right to
''llfe, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness"
1.-THE destruction OF slavery had been the
only result Of the war, that alone would more
than balance all the sacrifices which had
been made, both Of the treasure and Of pre-
cious blood, costly as they had been. Every
one would acknowledge this who would con-
slider that In the future our spacious domain
Is 10 be the home OF hundreds Of millions OF
people. We would not live to sec 1t, but the
time Is coming, and has been hastened BY
the publication which we have gone through
by the war and by tho great enterprises OF
peace now going on, the chief OF which was
finished bnt the other day-the Pacific rail-
rod.
Rejoicing as we now arc In peace, all
should ask II there may not DC other con
nicts ahead, and In the spirit Of citizenship
prepare lot 'nem' Inc yco Q, slavery sun
shows itself once In while In the south, and
we may have trouble there again. but II y
come, II Will De met win tue courage anu
endurance with which u mas oeen put Gown
In the past. trouble there Is possible 'od
grant, however, that " may never DC.
dispatch IN tno morning Pape,s tens OF
q triple alliance between England, France
and spain, TOT the purpose Of wating upon
|
lion with AID Oh every KIND IN snips, mum,
lions OF war, ana Immoral sympathy, w9uIa
Ike TO see our Union pfoken upi inc En-,
pcror VINO put prince IN Mexico TO Duiid
up government which should embrace not
only that country, but some OF the rag
ments Of ours, would Ike yet 70 realize ms
dream. They would look well In q night
with Uncle Sam and the Russian Bear
against them. They are too wise TO risk
the chances, and VIII let us alone spain
has enough TO do now 70 take care OF her-
self and Cuba. The statement sounded like
a newspaper romance, and we may feel as
sured there Is nothing In III II mere
canard. But II II could be SO, these nations
would learn the force OF the strong arms OF
freemen 10 their sorrow and loss. We wish
for peace cyermore, but will never shrink
10 meet all the foes Of freedom, that we may
overthrow them all.
But these conflicts may never come. We
may no more have 10 use the weapons OF
war against either foreign or domestic foe.
With us in this land may begin the glad
, work OF making over the weapons Of war
into the implements OF peace, and no part
Of the people will enter into n more gladly
than the heroic men who have come up to
the glad time through the great tribulation
Of bloody war.
Though there may be no more conflicts OF
I, arms In our land, there will be contests at
| tno pOiib III NuiCn cNoig SisiLcu mo ~ uccp
an interest as he had In the conflicts Of arms.
The ballot was the most precious privilege
. OF frccmcn, and u was grahfytng 70 see that
. the soldiers and saiiors were deeply inter
. ested In the contests OF the polls. Two
years before he was q candidate for Con-
, gress In his district, and although ne went
= Into the contest with Democratic majority
|, o. s,Sv asa,ns. MN, ne hoPea, oy aia Of
the soldiers, VINO were MS inends, 10 WIN,
and came very near success: One soldier
: who asked him for aid, In reply to the CUES
tlon, .How do you vote " replied, II vote
as fought. lie thought that wise sol
, dier, and could not but wonder now any man
!. who fought Tor his country could vote with
= those who sympathized with his country's
!, enemies.
u He would not dictate 10 any man now ne
= should vote, but would ADVISE every one, In
a elections ior municipal or state or national
officers, TO do as did his Buffalo soldier
\, friend, vote as they fought" There were
y men In tue North, ana also In washington
Union defeat, ~ told you SOL ] knew you
% couiu not WhiP inc nouthi TWO OF tneir men
!, are as good as nye Union soidiersi THIS Is a
= useless waste OF plood' Ana they reJoiced
!, over your defeats, aud were sad over oil
- your glorious triumphs. Were such mer
= NJ candidates Tor the votes OF the soldiers oil
the Union Let every true soldier con
l. siuer tnis question: As or hinseii, ne inaoe
!, them the pole-star OF his politics. He took
= his observation OF their position and felt
4 perfectly assured he was right In going In
= exactly an opposite direction. He had his
( eyes on them, and wonld never take them
A on so long as he had eyes 70 see;
TAXED longer than ne mad thought oil doing.
]. lNoices-.Go on, 20 on.) soldiers AZ nrst
were tmld going into battle. when they
" go' warmed up and commenced 70 get mad
= = tney dia not care whether me battle ever
a stopped OF not; Like tne soldier ne would
not care II MS battle win reoeliioh ana inc
m ghemlcs OF Iee government never cnded.
n put nc icit lint the haPpy time OF peace
:, effort prevailed In tho councils OF civil life
y that had prevailed In the field, with the
" principles OF freedom and good will to all
men, tho nation would grow until Europe
should bow to us and say; "This nation has
l. bpan N liberty thia la thu Ian dinU