The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-06-10


to accomplish that end is now pending |
in congress. / believe IL has passed
the caucus, and therefore has the undi- |
vided support Of the southern members !
and their northern allies. This is a /
a grave matter. II that bill should be- 1
come n law, no federal officer would be /
safe for moment in the south. Their I
legislatures would have the power. aud |
they all seem TO have the disposition TO |
make an offense out OF any and every act !
which an officer might be called upon |
10 perform; aud tried before q State
rights jury, aud State rights judge,
his hopes Of obtaining justice would be
small indeed. With that result accom-
plished, the execution Of national
authority would be impossible; the
would become the laugh
ing stock OF the nations OF the earth,
and this great republic, the best expert.
ment which the world has ever seen OF
a government of the people, by the
people, for the people, would perish
from the earth. And that is the result
to which we are invited 10y those lately
engaged in the attempt TO overthrow
the government by violence, and who
have been restored to power through
the unparalleled magnanimity OF a
deeply wronged and outraged people
NY friends il has not been altogether
a pleasant task 20 dwell upon these
topics upon an occasion like the pres
ent. IL would have been pleasanter TO
have refreshed your minds by q recital
OF the glorious deeds OF the brave men
whose memory we seek TO honor. But
it seemed TO me, that, in view OF the
present attitude of the southern people
toward the great questions upon which
the war was fought, such words would
be bEt bitter mOckery. The dangers
winch threatened the country in 1861
have not vet passed away, and 1t is our
duty, as patriotic citizens, to look them
fairly in the face. Do not comfort
Yourselves with the thought that all
this talk in the halls OF congress and
10y distinguished public men about
starving the government to death,
about states rights, and the ultimate
triumph of the lost cause, is mere
show of rhetoric by trained politicians
for selfish ends. We thought so once
before, and paid dearly for our creduh-
ty. The trouble about these mischiev-
Gus ideas is that while their authors may
not intend their full meaning; yet, by
their constant repetition they become
so instilled into the minds of the more
ignorant and unthinking classes, that
at last they carry them beyond the con-
troll OF their leaders. For years we
heard the cry OF "wolf. At first there
was no wclf. Il was only an alarm cry.
We rested in unsuspecting security,
needless of the repeated cry, until at
last savage beast, trained for the oc-
casion by the patient labor OF his keep
ers with the hot flames Of war rolling
from his throat, burst upon US and de-
voured hundreds OF thousands OF our
fairest and best. We do not propose
TO be taken unawares again. Again
the cry Of wolf Is raised, and now
we say TO his keepers. stop your foolish
cry of wolf, and let the animal come.
We are ready for him now.
Does some one ask me If have any
fear OF the ultimate success OF these
Vaccinations against the Government?
/ reply, not the slightest in the world.
Turn your ear a moment 10 the swift
flying years as they hurry on TO join
kuH luA AANAfA W AAAN ANoelN%a'
which they teach.
Eighteen years ago, "A cannon shot
was fred which started every loyal
man 10 his feet like an electric shock;
our flag was insuited; our Government
defied; the life of the nation was threat
ened. There came call for 5000
men. Compared with our former ex-
perienee that was large army, but
men enough were ready 20 make ten
such armies. They crowded to the
froat, aud in some cases even bought
the privilege OF serving their Govern.
ment. And now We hear the busy
notes Of preparation. The drums IN
our streets call 90 arms, men are hurry
ing 10 and fro, geutle fingers are busy
with their needles while now and then
4 tear will drop unbidden upon their
work aud the shadow of great dread falls
upon the bright and loving heart. The
day of departure comes. The loving
sister, the newly welded wife, the fond
mother, the gray haired father, whose
trembling hands buckle on the armor
for his son, send forth their best be-
loved as sacrifice for the altar Of
their country, and they bid him God
speed while their hearts are breaking.
Who can tell the agony OF such an hour
and from those aching hearts now comes
the'plaintiye question was 1t all for moth
ing. We follow these brave men as
they leave their happy homes. We see
/ them on the tOilsome march, weary and
sick in body, but brave and stout of
heart, bearing on their broad shoulders
the hopes of humanity. We see them
on beds of sickness and pain in the
quiet hospitals; we see them in the
Southern prison pens, perishing by
starvation in a land OF plenty; we see
them on the field Of battle, standing
thickly in tkeir steady ranks, "stormed
at with shot and shell, while the mes
sengers Of death reap great haryests in
a single hour. We stand again in the
stricken home circle when the tidings
Of death come, and the light OF hope
aud Joy goes out forever. And from
the prison pen, the battle field, the
stricken home, there comes the plain
tive cry, "was il all for nothing:
Have all these brave men died in vain?
And from the South comes the hoarse
demand, "buln up your tattered battle
flags, tear down your granite columns,
aud your monuments Of brass erected
in honor OF your dead soldiers, We
have captured the capitol aud the lost
cause shall triumph yet. And ther
there comes the quick response from
millions OF loyal hearts in the strong
free North, mo IL cannot be. Nc
il sIaH not be. The cause FOL
which our brothers fell is still oul
cause. They have not died in vain
You men Of the South have misunder
stood our magnanimity. You have be
trayed our confidence. You have in
deed captured the capitol, but yoy
have not triumphed yet, aud you shall
GOT wrench from Us tho fruits OF ou
great victory"
And so my friends the old loyalty II
the North is reasserting itself. MeI
are gathering quickly around th'
standard Of those whose loyalty to thi
great nation never faltered in the day o
trial. The cause for which we Tough
aud for which our brothers died shal
yet be firmly established beyond Tia
power Of man TO shake. IL is the caus
Of humanity, and has for its great de
fender the Lord God Of Hosts.