Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-18
THE EVENING STAR.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
important ulteranCes Upon Lead.
ing NaliOnRI Questions.
THU RSDAY. September is, 1879.

| many OF my old comrades at this yearly reunion
OF the tWenty.third regiment. Since we last
| a vast Improvement In the business condition
| or our country. Whatever differences of opinion
may be stu found among the people OF this
art of Ohio as to the Importance of the re-
sumption OF specie payments, and as to the
n ethods by which it has been accomplished.
there Is one kind Of resumption which is very
Iot1ceaDie In Youngstown, and which is max
1ng rapid progress In the whole country, about
which l imagine we are all heartily agreed
When last visited this beautiful valley OF the
Mahohlbg, four years ago, the financial crisis,
ana the gloomy outlook for business and labor
al d capital, occupied the thoughts and de-
pressed the spirits OF the people wherever |
met them, whether in public assemblies at
tier places of business, or at their hospltable
ZONES. Now, however, how great and how
gratifying is the change! All around US here,
ard throughout the country generally, we see
cheering and hopeful indications Of better
times Not only have specie payments been
resumed, but business activity and profitable
employment for capital ard labor have come
also. The chief industry and interest OF this
Valley-the great iron 1pterest-already begins
TO share largely In the benefit Of our improved
condition, and therefore heartily congratulate
all classes of citizens in this large assemblage
on the present favorable business situation.
which the future holds out.
There is subject interesting to every citizen.
and esI ecialy to those who served In the Union
words:
Since our last reunion. IN several of the states
and In Congress events have occurred which
have revived the discussion OF the question as
to the objects for which we fought In the great
conflict from 1861 to 1865, and as to what was
accomplished by the final triumph OF the Union
cause. The question u.s. what was settled by the
war? What may those who fought for the
Union Justly claim: and what ought those who
ought for secession faithfully to accept as the
egitimate results Of the war?
An eminent citizen OF our state, Mr. Groes-
beck, said some years ago, that war legis-
lates." He regarded the new constitutional
amendments as part of the legislation of the
war for the Union, and said, With significant
emphasis, "and they will stand" The equal
rights amendments are the legislation OF the
war for the Union, and they ought to stand
Great wars always legislate. little more than
bundled years ago, this land, where we now
are, was claimed and held by France General
Wolfe, on the plains of Abraham, settled that
claim and the result was the transfer of the
title and jurisdiction OF this entire section OF the
country to England. For few years its chief
ruler was the English King: The revolution
followed, and the question OF It's ownership was
again the subject OF war legislation, and it be-
came part OF the United States, no longer
under a monarchy, but under free republican
need not enter into any discussion OF the
causes Of our civil war. We all know that the
men who planned the destruction OF the Union
and the establishment OF the confederate states,
Dased their attempt On construction OF the
constitution called the state-rightS doctrine
and On the interest OF the people OF those states
in the extension and perpetuation of slavery
TIE doctrine Of state-rfghts was, that each
state was sovereign and supreme, and might
nullffy the laws OF the Uuion or secede from the
Union at pleasure. They held that slavery was
the natural and normal condition Of the colored
man, and that, therefore, slavery in this coun-
try could and should be the cornerstone Of
free government.
No man has ever stated the issues of the civil
war more fully more clearly, or more accurate
~ than Mr.. Lincoln. In any inquiry as to what
may ia fairly De Included among the things set
insttnctively turn to Mr.. Lincoln. To him.
more than to any other man, the cause of Union
and liberty is indebted for its final triumph
Besides, with all his wonderful sagacty, and
wisdom, and logical faculty, dwelling intently,
END anx1ousiy, and prayerfully. during four
years Of awful trial and responsibility, on the
questions which were continually arising to
Ierplex and almost cOnfound him, he at last be-
came tie very embodiment OF the principles by
which the country and Its liberties were saved
heed his words. None have more reason to do
IT With respect and confidence, and a genuine
regard, than those whom he addressed in his
first inaugural speech as ''my dissatisfied fel-
low country men," The leader Of the Union
cause was so just and moderate, and patient
and humane, that many supporters OF the
fast Ell Tough, and assailed his opinions and his
COZ duct: but now all men begin to see that the
plain people, " no at last came to love him, and
to lean upon his wisdom and f1rmness with
absolute trust, were altogether right, and that
In deed and purpose he was earnestly devoted
TO the welfare OF the whole country, and OF all
its Inhabitants
believing that Mr.. Lincoln's opinions are of
higher authority on the questions of the war
than those OF any other public man on either
side Of the controversy. I desire to present
IN the third year OF the war, and while its re-
suit was still undecided, Mr.. Lincoln made his
memorable address at the conservation OF the
Gettysburg National Cemetery, on the 10Th of
November, 1863. He was standing on the field
OF the greatest battle OF the war. He was, no
doubt, deeply impressed with the heavy re-
VI nor how 1<r>1 TI1
spoke not as partisan, embittered and narrow
and sectional, but In the broad and generous
spirit of patriot, solicitous to say that which
would be worthy TO be pondered by all OF his
countrymen Throughout all time. In his short
speech CT only two or three paragraphs he
twice spoke of the objects of the war, once in
The words have been often quoted, but they
cannot be too familiar. They bear clearly and
forcibly on the question we are considering.
4" -Four score and seven years ago." said Mr.
Lincoln, "our fathers brought forth on this
continent new nation, conceived in liberty
and dedicated to the proposition that all men
great civil war, testing whether that nation, or
any any nation SO conceived and SO dedicated, can
Ard again, In closing, he said: at Is rather
that the dead shall not have died In vain; that
the nation shall under God, have new birth
OF freedom; ana that government OF the people,
by the people, and for the people, shall not
perish from the earth"
No statement OF the true objects Of the war
more complete than this has ever been made
1t includes them all-nationality, liberty, equal
rights, and self government. These are the
principles for which the Union soldier fought
and which it was his aim to maintain and to
perpetuate.
If any one supposes that that construction OF
our national constitution, which Is known as
the state-r1ghtS doctrine, Is consistent with
sound principles, let him consider few para
graphs from Mr.. LtDcOln'S first message to Con-
gress, at the extra session OF 1861.
Speaking Of what was called the right of
peaceful seceSSion-that is, secession In accord
ance with the national COnstitution-he said
'This sOphism derives much, perhaps the
whole, OF Its currency from the assumption
that there Is some omnipOtent and sacred
supremacy pertaining to State-to each state
OF our federal union. Our states have neither
more nor less power than that reserved to them
In the union by the Constitution, no one of
them ever having been state out OF the union
The original ones passed into the union even
before they cast Off their British colonial de-
pendence, and the new ones each came into
the union directly from q condition OF depend.
ence, excepting Texas And even Texas, In its
temporary independence, was never designated
state. The new ones only took the designa-
ton OF states on coming into the union while
that name was first adopted for the old ones In
and by the Declaration OF Independence,
Therein the United Colonies were declared to
be free and Independent states but. even
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