The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-06-20

it be, is the question Of questions to-
day, and that it occupies the American
mind with as much anxiety and inten-
sity, at this very hour, as at any time
during the two last decades. This
however, lis neither the time nor the
place to dWen upon it's details Suffice
it to say the radical fact Of all is that
allegiance and protection must go to-
gether. That, whether we cast the re
sponSlbility upon the State or Nation
al Government, whatever body seiZeS
the property, takes the body. or COM
mands The life OF the citizen for its de-
Tense, must, III return, give protection
ample and complete. And if it cannot
do this there is q vital defect i'll the
Government itself, which sooner or
later will shake it to it's foundations,
We have undertaken to do this through
certain constitutional guarantees.
First, we have guaranteed to each
State q republican form OF government.
Second, we have provided for repelling
invasion and suppresSing domestic
violence. Now, if these provisions
fail through maladministration, such
administration should be corrected, and
ii they fail through some defect in the
grant CT authority itself, then such de-
feet should be supplied and the power
made complete But if, with repub-
lican form Of government guaranteed
and provisions made to maintain pub
lie order and protect the citizen, there
be no public opinion in State which
will enfCre these provisions, then in
such State republican institutions are
failure, and the fact might us we'll
be admitted first as last.
Civil war under any form Of govern
ments is a dire calamity. Its wounds
heal slowly; it's scars never quite dis
appear. 1t our own great struggle
virtually two civilizations clashed to-
gether. The North, with its small
farms, its district schools, it's educated
masses trained from youth to partici-
pate i'll public affairs; it's hardy labor
and gradual, but sure thrift, confront
ed the South, with it's baronial acres
its ancestral traditions, it's private tu-
tors, its universities, it's able, eminent
educated few and ignorant many; with
the fixed habits OF imperative com
mand on ihe enc hand, and unqueS-
tioning obedience On the other
These two mighty forces, generated
under the same. constitution and laws
Iet face to face, and grappled to the
death. If the South succeeded, il
meant ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Federal
Union, or the embodiment of slavery
in the National Constitution. If the
North succeeded, it meant the over
throw of slavery and the ultimate do
minion of Northern ideas and meth
DDS, not by arbitrary enactment, but
by the natural workings of inevitable
forces.
1t meant education and citizenship
for the masses, homes for the many
dignity Of labor, division of lands, com
munity Of intererts, and combination
of efforts. 1t meant better roads anC
stronger bridges; more fuitful fields
and thrifty towns mills, FORCES, facto-
ries, and ships; and, best Of all, assured
freedom and general prosperity.
Thus was the issue made up, AND
thus was it accepted, and if there be
justice on earth or honor among men
the result should be securely abided
The price was a fearful one; it was
Ipaid in tears, in treasure, and in blood
1t was for this that not only the dead
who rest here, but all who lie in the
village cemeteries and on the hill sides
Of the republic, gave up all that men
hold most dear-hOme, wife, and child
the hearts fondest affections and
| life'S best ambitions, and accepted
hardships, captivity and death, that
their country might live.
We may forget the long march, the
dreary night, the weary siege, and all
the horror and hell of the battlefield ;
we may forget those who, torn in limb
Or mangled in body, found death by
bush, bog, or along the lonely waysside;
but just God will never forget them.
These things are as clear to undimmed
vision to-day as when the wild fires of
war lighted up the Southern sky in
terror. Call you this empty sentiment
or idle eulogy? Then ask the next
surviving soldier you meet hobbling on
canes or crutches, and dragging dis
eased and mutilated body on into the
darkness of the grave. if he calls it
empty sentiment. Ask him, as he
sees those who sacrificed nothing, and
even those who struck the fiercest and
deadliest blows against the cause for
which he fought, remembered and re-
warded, while he feels himself desert
ed and forgotten ask him if these
memories have any meaning for him.
Empty sentiment indeed! Walk down
these long lanes of headboards and
read the 0min0us word
UNKNOWN.
Stand by this granite monument be-
meath whose pedestal sleep two thous-
and unknown dead, and remember that
each one Of these was some mothers
boy, sent to the field with a mothers
blessing, struggling between a mothers
pride and mothers love, but from
whom when the clash Of arms was ST.
lent and the roar Of the conflict was
dead there came back no word forever!