Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-12
the rich production Of editors and

tHc Tlcu pTouUclluH VI cuitoIs ailN
authors. tfa gas t
But must bring these remarks to
a close, and now, after this brief re-
view, let us for q moment inquire rs
to the strength and durability of the
G government itself. / am not ono of
those who believe that we are grow
ing worse, and continually going to |
the bad. / believe that we, as a ma
ton. as people, as a government are
on the whole better than we ever
were. believe that the government
that our fathers founded a century
ago as an experiment, has proven a
sublime success; and that. it is better,
stronger. gran(cr than ever, to-day.
Ii has had some severe tests, passed
some severe ordeals, but il has lived
through them all and come out like
tried gold from the furnace.
II was reserved for our time, and
our eyes 10 see this grand experiment
of free government put 10 the seyerest
test, The most dangerous one that al
Republic can be subjected to, and one
of which it stands i'm more peril than
all others--thetest ofinternicincs strife
and civil war.
10 us it was reserved to see arise
the most fearful storm of civil war
that ever threatened any government.
nigh fatal. the very foundations of the
Republic were shaken. the fate of the
nation long trembled in the balance !;
but the patriotism, the intelligent
patriotism, of the people saYedit. 4
And in this we belteld the grandest
spectacle the world has ever seen--a
whole people springing to arms to.
preserve. with their lives, Tie intcgri-
| ty of .hc nation.,as---
Man. H. may well lshes said, is the
noblcst work of God. He is noble in
many phases. He is noble when he
defends with his life his family altar
and his household gods but he is still
nobIer when he forsakes family, fire.
side, and friends to preserve his caun-
try from the assaults Of her enemies.
This grand spectacle il was our lot to
witness: and | doubt not there are
many within the sound Of my voice
that We're participants inthis struggle ;
| and, alas! the bones of numherless
others furrow the land they died to
save, ff E
i These men and their memories are
entitled TO and should receive the
lasting gratitude Of the American
people. And they anil receive it
| This Republic of ours may fall
into decay and perish; the shil
Of state may founder and be lost
the dusky, folds Of oblivion may set
tie upon and bedim our history, blu
so long as there remains upon tn
face Of Gods green earth, one spo
, where civilization and our Language
is preserved. there shall bic lrccountet
the story and cherished tho memor
of the men who were willing to di
| in order that free government migl
5 live. 434 1885
And now in conclusion let lis cate
a hasty glimpsesof thefnture. Wit
y orr vast domain stretching away
Il the Pacific, TO he peopled; itsiresou
: ces developed; its hidden treasur,
G to be disclosed, who shall say, wi
: shall venture to say, that the progre
of the next century will not be c4u
v to that that. is passed?
: With the government renoYatet
e its Interests made more homogeneou
O with that fruitful source of weakness
I, discord and war, human SLAYER
Ie eradicated from the land ! with not
r single slave within our borders; wi
D the land free from gulf to lake al
If ocean to ocean free as the winds tn
in fan our prairies, or as the, catarat
st Of our mountain torrents, who shi
say what achievements, are in I
L. future impossible? In the vision
h Milton:
to "Methinks I see a mighty and p
I'd issant nation, rising like giant fro
he her sleep, and shaking her invincil
lie locks; methinks see her as an ga:
ID mewing her mighty young, and kin
n ling her undazzled eyes in the f
,o splendor of the midday bean.'
n. The old ship Of State is not da
n aged by her voyage thus far. She
,d better than ever before. Her limb
H. are seasoned her scamen are eX
". ricnced.3 She hns learned the waite
ife the rocks, the shoals and quicksan'
ye she is staunch and she is seawortl
III No part of the crew are bondmt
mr. they are all free: and united with
nj common purpose, inspired with
es. common history. Involved in a co
es. mon destiny; with her sails full !
mi furled, with her colors flying and
no peBnon streaming, five are &C
lT seamen, and true TO the interest
We trusted to our Charge we will b
IAN the old ship brayelE, firmly, CRANE
he majestically on--on TO still gre
he er accomplishments; 10 higher {
er- ilization; to more perfect libert
EOS. onward and sill on. towards
ow brightness of the glittering stan
ect on. on, towards the Infinite Eterl