Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-12
SOLDIERS IN REUNION.
Gen. W. Q. Gersham before the So.
ciety Of the Army Of
the Tennessee.
III. speech Delivered 4" Chicago To-Day.

Chicago, Nov. l2.--tieneral w. Q.
Gersham spoke as follows before the meet.
ing Of the society Of the army Of the Ten
nessee in this city to-day:
Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemea:
The tendency Of our civilization is to
substitute for the rule Of physical force that
of reason and law, and the occasional resort
to forcible measures by the governments of
the civilized world in their dealings
with each other il deprecated as
return to the usages Of barbarism.
War is manifestation Of physical
force that is regarded by many az an un.
necessary evil. But even in barbarons
times it was not an unmixed one. The evil
that 1t wrought in those times is apparent
upon the most cursory inspection Of their
records, while its benefits are diacernible
only upon careful and comprehensive
retrospect of the worlds history and a COM
psrison Of nations and epochs, one with
another. We can thus see that in the early
ages of the world wars were not only impor-
tant factors in human progre 9, but that
they we're absolutely necessary for the ele-
vation and advancement Of our race. They
were the agency by means Of which small
and weak communities were fused and
welded into large and powerful nations.
Men gained strength and mutual protection
from their coalescence in this way they
were gradually relieved from the active and
incessant vigilance which was once required
for the preservation of their lives and prop.
erty; and they were vouchsafed leisure for
the arts and enterprises OF peace. Having
obtained an immunity from the murderous
and predatory attacks Of their stronger
neighbors they quit making reprisals
on their weaker ones and turned their
minds to other things. They ceased to
be nomadic and became pastoral F; they be-
gan to till the soil and learn the ways of
commerce. Peace and civilization were
thus the results of the warfare Of the pri-
milive world; the condition. OF their ex.
istence grew out of it; their foundations
were laid by it.
As war was once the means Of making
nations, 30 in modern times it has been em-
ployed to prevent the dismemberment of
our own nation, and again the end has JUS
titled the means. II secession had been
permitted, or if it had been victorious in
our last war, it is easy to see that we should
have been ultimately rent into small and
factious states whose dissen,ions would have
been ruinous to the peace and prosperity of
continent. We should have been torn
into fragments at time when the wisdom
and patriotism of Europe were moving in
an opposite direction, and we're seeking the
popular good in the unitica,ion of Germany
and Italy. Our progress in civilization
would have been arrested and reversed we
should have sunk to the level of the South
American states and our voice would have
had as little influence a. theirs among the
nations of the world.
But the sentiment of nationality which
made us one was strong enough at the out
break of the war, and throughout the period
of its duration, to resist and overcome the
effort for our disruption, and it has been
strengthened by the victory. This sentiment
was long the inspiration Of one of the pur.
est and ablest Of our political parties, and it
was renounced BY that party only in the
days Of its degeneracy, when it had cea' ed
to be guided bv the couusels Of it's first
great leader, Alexander Hamilton, and when
it was split into factions and controlled BY
unworthy men, who were reckless and un'
scrupulous enough to make any renuncia
tions or professions in its name which
promised restoration Of the power it had
lost. Whatever may have been the final
shortcomings of the federals, We have learn
ed in the stress of war to more fully appre
ciate the force and significance Of this senti
ment by which they were once actuated
Instead of the bodily resurrection of othe
defunct parties, it is to be hoped that tn
s'ul and vitalizing principle Of this on
that still sleeps in an unmolested grave ma.
continue to walk the earth and to exert ii
beneicent influence upon the minds AM
hearts of our countrymen. Or, it is to b
desired, rather. that by some such proces
as that through which the ancients suppose
the aouls Of the dead were transmitted t
the living, it may penetrate their minds an
hearts and be ditfus,d throughout thei
systems, and become thoroughly aud vital
Incorporated with them. For in it's vigc
and permanence, and its complete identiGc'
ton with our thought and existence, is III
assurance of the stability of our govern
mentor material prosperity. and our rgrowt
in civilization.
The nation was summoned to the asslze
war by the advocates Of the supremacy
the states they chose the tribunal whic
was to determine between their theory
the government and ours; they made ii
appeal to that last court of the nations
the world-''the sole means of justice" b
tween them, according to Burke. Tht
refused to accept any peaceable decision
the controversy or to be satisfied with aug
else than the stern arbitrament Of war. II
trial was long, bloody and desperate Il
sacrifice Of life and treasure was stupendot
but at last their own tribunal decided again
them, and that decision is irreversible
from it there is no appeal. The polite
dogma for which they coutended was p,
nounced heretical by the war. and i,s opl
site, that the union is . government found
on the adoption Of the people. with dir,
relations between itself and individua
which relations no state authority has pow
10 dissolve: and that it may use necess,
force against domestic "A we'll A. forei
enemies TO perpe.uate its existen
were established as carlinsl teneH
our politics. The ''Iigh,s' which
south aaserted and we dem
were surrendered At Appomattox and
confederate soldier who was paroled by
leaders Of our armies can ever again ma
tain them With honor. The rebellion its
vas an effort 10 carry into practice ,ha .
tended right Of . stats 10 voluntarily vi
tConc.adcd on second pagcl