The Russellville Democrat., 1876-06-08
Decoration Day---The Union
 of the Sections.

pubrlOJlC cuStoill Ol utCOIdttlg bHe graves of the soldiers who fell fighting in defence of the Union. All nations honor their heroic dead; the patriots name and memory are ever cherished and perpetuated; and assuredly never did men die in a holier cause, or for a nobler object, than those who gave up their lives for the preservation of the American l Union, the Ark of human liberty.
 The establishment of that Un- ion forms one of the most impor- tant epochs in the worlds history. It brought not only freedom to America, but hope to all other people whose liberties were in the keeping of tyrants. It was the day-sta Of political freedom. Were the United States to remain colonies of England, the nations of Europe would still be enveloped in the black shroud of slavery; civilization and progress would still be subject to kingly proscrip- tion; and the sword of the despot would still usurp the balance in the hand of justice. The benefits of our constitution are beyond calculation. The revolution from whence it took its origin Wash ington truly called "the peculiar light of the age" Freedom, talk ing possession of this great coDti- nent, set a bound to monarchical encroachments, and, for the first time in history, fairly vindicated human rights. Beneath the shad- ow of this constitution the op- pressed of all climes find refuge. They find every avenue open for honorable ambition, every right of manhood recognized, every idea of prescription excluded, and personal worth substituted for the titles and trappings of the artistic monopolirs of the old world.
 This Union of States-each State a miniature republic in it. self, and all the States forming one grand constellation-is, and has been since its foundation, an object of hate to the taskmasters of the human race; and they have never lost an oportunity to show thelr aversion thereto and to SOW the seeds of dissension here. Its very existence gives the lie direct to the degrading doctrine that men cannot govern themselves. Heae, in truth, ''Labor is Nobili ty, Democracy is King" It is to guard this precious boon that the founders of the republic have ever been so fiercely averse to any thing pointing toward disunion. It is this thought which stlmu- lates us to set apart day to hon. or the me- ory of those who died in the defence of the Union, while those in whose blood it's foundations were laid have never been vouchsafed that honor. A disruption of the Union is synon- vmous with anarchy and slavery. Large as is this continent, it is not large enough for half-a dozen wrangling, jealous nationalities. Sectional sentiments should, above all things, be discounte- nanced here. There should be in our politics no North or South, no East or West. Patriotism con demns all such distinctions. The illustrious Father of his Country, whose name belongs to no party, and whose memory is equally rev cred in every section of the Re public, we'll developstthis thought in hls farewell address, as follows: ::
 "Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.
 The unity of government, which constitutes you one people, is now also dear to you. It is justly so: for it is a main pillar in the edifrce of your real independence the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to ioresee that, from different causes and from digerent quar- ters, pains will be taken, many artilices employed, to weaken in l your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and ex- ternal enemies will be most con stantly and actively (though of ten covertly and insidiously[ di- rected-is Is of ingnite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your nation al union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to It; accustoming yourself to think and speak of it as the palladium of your political safety and pros. perity; watching for it's preserva, tion with jealous anxiety; dis countenancing whatever may sug gest even suspicion that It can, l in any pvant ho ohnndouo1. ana