The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-21

lief of the equal rights of man, for their
discussions had compelled them to deal
with fundamental principles, they were
not so destitute of philosophy that they
did not see that what they demanded tor
themselves, should be accorded to others,
and, believing that the whole system would
fade before the noble influence of free gov
eminent as dark cloud melts and drifts
away, they watched, and with jealous care
that when that day came the instrument
they signed should bear no trace of its ex-
istence. 1t was not thus to be, and the
system has passed away in the tempest of
battle and amid the clang of arms.
The conflict is over, the race long sub
ject Is restored to liberty, and the nation
has had "under God new biIth of free
DOM" No executions, no harsh punish
ments have sullied the conclusions day by
day the material evidences of war fade
from our sight, the bastions sink to the
leyel of the ground which surrounded them
scrap and counterscrap meet in the dltch
which divided them. SO let them pass
away forever. The contest is marked dis
tinctly only by the changes in the organic
laws of the constitution which embody IN
in more definite forms the immortal truths
of the Declaration of Independence. That
essary results cannot fairly be commended.
Did | believe that they embraced more
than these, did find in that great instru-
ment any changes which should place or
seek to place one state above another, or
above another class of states, so as to mark
a victory of sections of localities, l could
not rejoice, for / should know that we
had planted the seeds of ''unnumbered
woes.
To-day, it is the highest duty of all, no
matter on what side they were, but above
all of those who have struggled for the
preservation of the union, to strive that it
becomes one of generous confidence in
which all states shall, as of old, stand
shoulder to shoulder, if need be, against
the world in arms. Toward those with
whom we lately warred, and who recognize
that the results are to be kept inviolate,
there should be no feeling of resentment
or bitterness. To the necessity of events
they have submitted to the changes in the
constitution they have assented; we cannot
and we do not think 80 basey or so meanly
of them as to believe that they have done
No except generously and without mental
reservation.
We know that it is not easy to ready
all the relations of society when one form
is suddenly swept away, that the sword
does its work rudely and not with that
gradual preparation which attends the
changes of peace. We relize that there are
difficulties and distfu,ts not to be removed
at once between those who have been mas
tiers and slaves; yet there are none which
will not ultimately disappear. All true
men are with the South in demanding for
her, peace order, honest and good govern
ment. and encouraging her in her work OF
pa1,,iilipar nj tbat IA bt.au poaIp Ipep1a n
We need not doubt the issue; she will not
stand as the "NiAbe Of nations" lameLting
her sad fate she will not look back to de-
plore past which cannot and should MOI
return, but with the fire of her ancient
courage she will grid herself up to the
emergencies of her new situation. she viii
unite her people by the bonds of mutual
confidence which ther mutual interests de
mand and renew her former prosperity and
her rightful influence in the Union,
The lips of him who, % years ago, com.
memorated this anniversary with that sur.
passing grace and eloqunce all his own, and
with that spirit of patriotism In which we
may strive at least to initiate him, are
silent now. Throughout the cruel years OF
war that clarion voice, sweet yet far re-
sounding, summoned his countrymen to
the struggle on which our union depended,
yet the last time that it walked the echoes
of the ancient hall dedicated to liberty,
even while the retiring storm yet thundcred
along 1.-THE horizon, was, as he would have
wished it should have been, in love and
charity to the distressed people of the
south.
PERoRATIoN.
Fellow citizens, we stand, to-day, on
great battlefield in honor of the patriotism
and valor of those who fought upon it. II
is the step which they made in the worlds
history we would seek to commemorate
it is the example which they have offered
us we would seek to initiate. The wise
and thoughtful men who directed this con-
troversy knew well that it is by the wars
that personal ambition has stimulated, by
the armies whose force has been welded
alike for domestic oppression or foreign
conquest, that the sway of despots has been
so widely maintained. They had no love
for war or any of its works, but they were
more ready to meet its dangers in their at
tachment to the cause of civil and religious
liberty They desired to found no Roman
republic "whose banners, famed by con-
quests crimson wing" should float victor
ious over PROSTATE nations, but one where
the serene beauty of the arts of peace
should put to shame the strifes that have
impoverished peoples and degraded nations.
To-day, let us rejoice in the liberty which
they have gained for us, but let no utter
ances but those of peace salute our ears,
no thoughts but those of peace animate
our hearts.
Above the plains of Marathon even now,
as the Grecian shepherd watches over his
flocks, he fancies that the skies sometimes
are filled with lurid light and that in the
clouds above are re-enacted the scenes OF
that great day when, on the field, Greece
maintained her freedom against the hordes
who had assalled her. Again seem to come
in long array, ''rich with barbaric pearl
and gold" the turbaned ranks of the Per-
sian host and the air is filled with the clang
of sword and shield, as again the fiery
Greek seems to throw himself upon and
drive before him his foreign invader;
shadows although all are that fit in wild,
confused masses along the spectral sky.
Above the field where we stand even in the
widest dream may no scenes offend the
calmness of the upper air, but may the
stars look forever down upon prosperity
and peace, upon the bay studded with its
whlte-wnged ships, upon the populous and
wide extending city with its marts of COM
merce, its palaces of industry, its temples
where each man may worship according to
his own conscience, and as the continent
shall pass beneath their steady rays may
the millions of happy homes attest land,
where the benign influence of free govern.
ment has brought happiness and content
ment, where labor IS rewarded, where man.
hood is honored and where virtue and re-
llglon are Tevered