The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-31

The Story oil Tie uAeulOEAD!SS
vass OF 1876, as Told III Aears
Hence. II
Itisthe first day OF the year-the first
war Of the twentieth century. The scene
Il opposite New York harbor; the parties
IN tbis brief story are bright boy OF six
teen summers and an old gentleman OF per-
Mans seventy winters. Their relationship
!. discovered by their discourse, as they
walk briskly along the Jersey Heights on
a clear mid.winter frosty afternoon:
"Grandpa, tell me more OF the history
Of our country, which you were reading
10 Us last evening. am very much in
terested in it, and have really been
dreaming Of those eventful days OF which
YOU have been telling me" asked the
younger. ,
"T6e remembrance is not pleasant
one, nv grandson. 1t is q sad page.
Would 10 God ! could recall my cOntribu.
ton 10 it." replied the elder.
"But," rejoined the lad, at can't be
helped now, you know, and perhaps the
consequences could not have been pre-
vented"
Not so, my child; they could all have
been prevented. To-day you andl might
belong 10 the proudest, grandest, greatest
nation on the planet if our people could
have seen few years ahead; but to-day
what are we? Al this moment we tread
upon a foreign soil, which twenty years
ago was as much our country as Is the
CITY Of New York, where you and reside.
But for the politicians AID their internal
striies, in which they grasped for the
shadow and lost the substance, hundred
millions OF people would be living here
to-day under one flag and under one
government.
"Bnt,o asked the boy, "are we not
lust as well of as we are? Wouldn't
il be great deal OF trouble to manage
so many people all under one govern
ment?
"So more trouble than to manage the
Republic OF New York, il the people
lived at peace with one another; but
truly difficult task II divided into section
alparties."
well, now come, grandpa, sit down
here behind the shelter OF these rocks
and tell me all about it. want you 10
commence at the Centennial Exhibition;
that part Of your story l shall never tire
Ui."
"No, nor shall I ever tire OF it, my son;
it is the only bright spot in the history
of this continent for half century.
Blu, must go back beyond that Just a
little"
"But l know all about Washington
and the Declaration Of Independence, you
know; and the original thirteen States;
and about the Southern war and the
dissemination OF President Lincoln; and
the election Of Mr.. Hendricks, the last
President Of the United States; butt want
10 hear what you saw with your own
ewes, and then | shall know it must be
true"
"WelI, my boy, must go back few
years; but only few. The Southern war
was brought about by the refusal Of the
Southern people to acquiesce in the cleo
tion Of Abraham Lincoln.
"Oh! yes, know that"
"They thought Mr.. Lincoln was elected
by the Abolitionists, and that war was to
be at once made upon the Institution Of
slavery. They were mistaken in this, /
lived in Philadelphia then, and voted
against Mr.. Lincoln. In Pennsylvania
many Republicans voted for Mr.. Lincoln
simply because they knew him to be OPP
posed to the doctrine OF secession. Well,
The war, you know, lasted four years.
During that time my Sympathies were al
ways with the North, for | believe the
war was uncalled for. was what was
known as a War Democrat. Your father,
then warm.hearted, hot-headed youth
espoused the cause Of the North, served
in the ranks, and left the army at the
close Of the war Brigadier General
He was shortly afterwards elected tO
Congress, and reelected, as you know"
ayes, poor, dear father, his was glo-
rious but short career" sadly spoke the
boy.
swell, | have to take share Of the
blame for his early death. remember
we'll when we both made our fatal mis-
take. It was during visit to the Cen
ennial Exhibition in Philadelphia"
"Now stop just there, grandpa. ! want
TO hear all about the Centennial, as you
saw it with your own eyes" And the
yOungster stared entreatingly into the
old mans face, as though he would see
reflected the Worlds Fair in the old
mans eyes.
II don't wonder, my boy, you want to
know all about it. It will never occur
again. There was but one Centennial
for the United States. Thank God
lived to SEQ it. Would to Heaven YOU
children would live to see another" Ant
as the old man turned his eyes heaven
ward, they filled, he trembled and hi
story fAltered.
ado | distress you, grandpa? You
wept last night when you spoke Of the
Centennial. Why is this"
"Why is it, my son? DO you know
that ali the nations OF the earth came L
Philadelphia, with their offerings, L
commemorate the one hundredth ami
versary Of our existence. Great Britain
was there congratulating her child upon
having taken her position alongside o.
her parent. France was there, gloryinG
for what she had done for US in the Revo
luton. Germany came and shook hands
with the thousands OF her children who
had found happy home here. Russia
Sweden, Norway, Italy, Spain, Switzer
land, even China and Japan, were there
with their treasures OF nature and Of art
all paying respect and homage TO the one
idea OF the national unity Of the UniteC
States OF America. But to-day where il
our national unity? These same nations
laugh at and derlde US. Do you wonder
that am sad? Do you not wonder tina
am not crazed when ! realize that
helped to disrupt that nation%
"Well, grandpa, perhaps l ought not 4
ask you 70 tell me about the Centennial
It makes you TOO sad"
at does, my son. Some other time
some other time-you shall hear all. Blu
Twill 90 on with the history since ther
you want TO hear, for l am warmed VI
10 it now, and it will be relief to me L
tellit."
"Thank you, dear grandpa; have Of
ten louged for this opportunity to hea
all about it, and you promised me yot
would tell me on New Years day.
"Well, my boy, your father had servet
his country faithfully as soldier, ant
honestly in the halls Of Congress, but h
and I wearied Of the eternal sectiona
strife which existed between the Nortl
and the South the dominant party had II
It's ranks and among It's national leader
men who were dishonest, men who woulG
not step aside TO make room for states