The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-16
Thoughts for Union Soldiers.


Friday at Wixom, Oakland county. OF
the cavalry 20, and Of the infantry l29
survivors we're present-among the lat
ter, John O. Cannon, register Of deeds
for Ingham county. Ihe tables were
bounteously supplied with excellent
food, and 100 persons were seated at
one time, aud after four sets had been
entertained there was an immense
quantity left. In all the history of
Oakland county barsacues aud picnics,
nothing has occurred like this. The
recent developments IN the South have
brought out the old love of the people
for all that pertains TO the union army.
The number on the grounds was about
1000.
Among the speakers we're Col. john
Atkinson of Detroit, Col. III. s. Dean
of the Ann Arbor Register, and Ser
geant Miller, who was a prisoner at
Libby and Andersonville for 10 months;
he said he now regretted that, so far as
liberty for all men in this broad land il
concerned, his sufferings had been in
vain. We copy the Post aud Tribuue's
synopsis OF the address of the orator
OF the day.
COL. O. T. BEARD.
am informed by officers of the 22d
Michigan infantry that they have pres
eut l29 members, aud 10 IL believed that
OF the ZOO members OF that gallant
regiment not more than l75 members
are now living. The Sth Michigan
cavalry have 70 members present, and
il is the belief Of those survivors best
Informed that the mortality of that
regiment has been quite as great as
that of tie 22d. Some of those who
have gone have died from causes indie
pendent Of the war, but not so OF the
multitude who are missing. They
were the wrecks Cf marches, sieges,
aud prison pens. The survivors know
IL. The survivors remember ID, and to-
day they ask what was IL all for? The
people OF '6l remember the aiacrity
with which the men of Michigan sprang
10 arms at the call Of their government.
History will remember their courage
aud endurance. But will there be
fruits TO perpetuate an everlasting me-
mortal of their triumphs?
Comrades, We fought for a country.
Have we a country? In no event were
our struggles in vain. IL they do not
produce the full fruit we imagined,
they have produced much that was val
liable. We learned something. One
Of the first things we learned came
from our disasters-the value OF skill
and the impotence OF undisciplined
courage. There is a thousand pound
rock. You seize IL. You bend over il.
You strain at 1t. It remains motion
less. You apply lever and get at its
end. then it moves where you will
That is power applied by skill. Disci-
pline is courage applied by skill. II
was a valuable lesson in the war and TO
its survivors. 1t is skill aud discipline
that triumphs everywhere, on the farm,
in the workshop. in the counting-room
or the professional Office. Skill and
discipline triumphed.
Another lesson. At the beginning
the South knew one Southerner could
whip six Yankees, before the end they
concluded il would bother one South
erner to whip half Yankee. Laugh
ter and applause. Then came sieges:
with what result? The South attOmpt-
ed them. IL they were repulsed from
the first effort they were discouraged.
| They never pressed a siege in which
they succeeded. On the other hand, IL
the men Of the North were repulsed il
only spurred them 10 more vigorous
and heroic effort, and they never aban-
doued a siege which they had once be-
gun until they compelled their foe 10
surrender Applause. This was the
difference between the two armies. -
The one was patient, persevering. dis
| ciplined, and heroic. The other was
| petulant. undisciplined, and daring.
More than that, the men OF the north
were humane, their courags was tenn
perei with generosity. The South was
brutal then as now. IL shot from be-
hind trees; il starved in prison-pens -
| Then as now IL was the surprise box OF
! the world. You touched a spring and
devil spraDg ont. The South hated.
The loyal soldier did not. He hsd but
one desire-tO preserve the union and
establish liberty in the land. APP
plause. When tie end came and the
rebels were sent away 10 their homes
with horses and food, without paius or
punishment, the soldiers who bad
marched and fought and endured the
intolsrable barbarities OF Southern
prison.pens were satisfied. They ask
ed no more. They sought no punish
meuts. They hoped the nation was
established and that the liberties Of the
people would never again be assailed.
Comrades. events have proved that
II was a vain hope. do not think apy
OF US regret the leniency of 1865. But
we are disappointed. What did you
aud l and all Of us believe then? This
from that time forward any union sol
der, any loyal man, black or white,
can enjoy liberty OF speech and free
| dom Of person In any one OF the con-
quered States. Did we not2 tCries Of
"yesl yes!"l Have We such liberty
r,Nol norf 'Yazool'' "Dixonf'l-
That's it, my friends. I am coming to
Il. Applause. No, we have not such
liberty. II Se had any doubts on the
subject in 1865 the war would not have
ended as it did. Applause. Itnever
would have ended until that question
was set at rest forever Applause. !
IL must come sometime. "That's SO, "
and applause. Every one OF us must
have the right TO express our opinion
and vote as we please in every State Of
the union without fear OF assassins'
bullets while we do il. lGreat ap.
plause.
"Oh,' says one Of the prominent pa
pers OF this Stakeholder the consti-
tuition the government can protect the
citizen in foreign lands but cannot pro-
tect them in the States" Laughter
think il you 60 back and examine the
records you viii find that paper among
the fire-in-the-resr crowd. Cries, 'lt
was copperhead. Exactly, my friends.
But il that paper is right, this govern
ment is n strange blending Of power
and impotence. II can protect you on
me in Russia or India or China, thou.
sands OF miles away over the seas, but
is powerless TO protect us at home.
i reject the doctrine. believe the
government has the power and that il
Is its duty TO protect the weakest and
humblest OF Us on every foot OF Amer.
lean soil. CONTINUED applause. Il
there any doubt sboutit? "No7 nol'''
IL there is il is time for us all, demo
crats. republicans, nationals. 10 forget
our. parties as we did in 1861. aud never
cease our united efforts until We graf
on the constitution a new amendment
conferring upon the government power
10 protect its citizens in Mississippi
and everywhere in the South a. we'll a.
i, does 10 the Sandwich Islands. fCrie.
chats the doctriDe;" continued ap
plause. With anything short OF thai
The war is q failure. The murderers o.
Dixon-the murderers Of liberty in th,