The Van Buren press., 1876-05-16

the survivors of the "fost cawse" might
make, if they had so soon forgotten their
fallen comrades. Long ago it was beau.
tifully said; ITO whomsoever the holy
dead are OF no consequence, the living
are so too"
That nation has already sown broad.
cast the seeds Of disintegration, and vice
and avarcc, with their horde OF attendant
evils are fast sapping its institutions,
which willfully or even carelessy neglects
the dead who fell in its service God for
bid that from such unworthy and ignoble
causes, the Republic should furnish work
for the pen OF a Gibbon or Prescott: and
If to such fate our country must come,
let US look we'll, that these noxious in.
huences tind no nourishment in our South.
ern land Nay! even here among our
dead, we cannot afford to forget our
common origin, our common country,
and our common destiny. Would to God
such had always been the policy of the
general Government toward our stricken
section. For just SO sure as time is.
- The eternal laws Of justice. bind
Oppressor with oppressed.
And close a. sin and suffering Joined
They march to fate ABREAST
In this connection it.must be said, tha,
ten years have wrouglssA . great and mark
ed change in the public sentiment Of our
country. remember distinctly when
the privileges we are now exercising were
denied A year ago witness ed and par
ticipated in the decoration of the graves
of the Federal and Confederate dead.
They sleep side by side in the same
Cemetery and are cared for by the same
hand. Recently, at yonr sister town, my
own home, under the auspices of the
Fort Smith Monumental Association. the
remains of the fearless General Steen,
who fell while leading his old regiment
at Prairie Grove, pierced through the
brain, the fultiIlment OF presentiment he
could not, and did not conceal. were ex.
humed and re inferred by the side Of the
gallant Mcintosh who fell at Elkhorn, and
monument bearing suitable inscrip
tons. erected to their memory; this with
in the walls of the Federal Cemetery, and
by express consent Of the general Gov
ernment. And when all else of the long
and faithful public career of Charles Sum.
ncr is forgotten the world will honor the
noble and generous spirit that moved
him to offer in Congress a resolution to
strike from the battle flags of the FEEDER
al army, the names OF southern battle
fields, Here is monument richer and
more lasting than Massachusetts can ev.
er erect in memory of her greatest states
man.
What If this spirit had pervaded the
general government, when she first pluck
ed from the Constellation OF Nations, the
morning star Of the Confederacy, the
terrible ordeal of reconstruction Got
which l will not speak would have been
averted, and that willing allegiance which
the South bears to the government. which
no human force ever has, or ever could
have brought about, would have almost
Immediately ensued; and may we not
surmise that this Centennial year Of ouI
National existence. -xonld dinstaad of sec
tional chickering's and ageneral financial
depression, have been blessed with diff
tcrent and happier issue. The facts
have just mentioned are ominous Of the
near approach Of different era in the
late confederate States. The re-instate
ment of our wisest, purest. ablest and
bravcst men in Congress, will accelerate
its coming, and affords strong hope of its
permanency and blessings. There they
the true Representatives of our people, by
rising above sectional prejudices, and
moving upon the higher plane of national
greatness, and national unity, ever bear
ing in their uplifted hands the olive
branch Of peace, and In their hearts the
pure oil Of honest reconciliation may sue
cessfully demonstrate, to our late enemy
our faithful return to the flag OF our fore
fathers, and put to shame the remaining
demagogues, who for personal ends, art
continually tearing open the healing
wounds of war; to the destruction Of Lht
best interests of our common country.
And may we not hope that the cruel
BILE through which the country passed
turned it out with more and stronger ele
ments of national greatness Certainly
the great questions which so long rrodu
ced sectional strife, and SO long threaten
ed the perpetuty of the nation, have beer
forever settled, and, though settled
adversely to our section, time, predict
will demonstrate that the result is great
er blessing to us than to our victors
Yea, am persuaded that with the expe
rience OF the past ten years, the people o
the South, upon fair ballot, would not
if they could, re- establish slavery in ou
midst.
So it is even. civil war is not always I
curse to country. 1t ia in calamity ant
adversely that the great resources of I
country, and the energies of people arr
developed. 1t is in country's distress
that great men are produced who make
US proud of our race ard people. 1t i!
in revolutions that are raised up thos
master spirits, that shape and direct tn
destinics of nations. No nation ever be
came great without war, and it is afte
strengthened and invigorated by the dis
cipline of organized warfare, that nation
make their longest strides toward mate
rial prosperity and permanent happiness
Who of you would givo up the prout
memories of Bunker Hill, Georgetown
Brandywine and New Orleans; wha
would the history ofour country be with
out her Washington, her Taylor, he
Jackson and the host Of Patriots tha
followed close upon the revolution o
1776. Peace hath not produced thei
| aouoio II, nur country I waulI x;y.