Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-07-21

?HE HEsl1F GETTYSBURG
COL. F0RNEY'S REASONS FOR
SUPPORTING HIM.
A Graphic Description of Gen. Ham
cocks Service to His State and
Country by Republican who
is Going to Vote for Him
and Tells Why All
Pennsylvanians @
Should.
AN ENDURING DEBT or GRATI-
TUDE.
AN ENDURING DEBT or GRATI-
TIDE.

| lpbAf NlN hlAllN Va hSNNl Nbhl bb VII
lst, I'd and Sd days of July, 1863, th,
fall Of Richmond, on the 9th day o
April, 1865, and the Assassination O
Abraham Lincoln on the 18th day o
April 1865 No days nhunan history
ever aroused more agonizing solici
tude, or closed upon more gigantic
transactions, or opened q wider visit
Of human possibilities. Each Of thes
events bad strange and almost provi
dental meaning. Each possessed th,
peculiar quality OF conquering in an in
stant millions of preiudices, The bal
d fired at the old flag from Charleston
consolidated the North and struol
down human slavery. The victory G
Gettysburg saved the second great city
of the Union from the flames. The fal
: of Richmond was the certain rise O
the Republic, and the death of Lin
coin conseorated his great mission o.
forgiveness TO all. When we come tC
notice the annals of our civil war
these four events with the emancipa
tion Of slaves, on the lst of January
1868, will be to the historian like so
many planets, shedding light on all
other objects, and marshaling the way
to the final lesson and duty of the pa.
triot, Each was a revolution in itself
affecting the remotest interests, and
leaving all men in new condition oI
thought and selfexamination.
But none of these tragedies wrought
deeper sensation or gave birth to o
more lasting gratitude than the battle
Of Gettysburg, 1868. Here at least is
one Of those occurrences that cannot
easily be forgotten. The human race
is prone to forget, One philosopher
says that ingratitudo is the badge of
all our tribe; but like all maxims it is
best proved by the exceptions. In
this instance we cannot If we would,
and thank God, we would not If we
could, blot out what that defeat of the
Coniederates did for the city of Phila.
phia, Happily it is not so long ago as
to have faded out Of our minds. 1t is
only seventeen years since, and II was
a day OF such sharp agony and such
universal terror, and the victory was
.sucn an unspeakable relief that even
the children now grown TO men and
women think oft as gracefully as the
middle-aged and the grandmothers
and grandiathers, 1t was the single
instance in which the fiery blast Of
war came close to great Northern
metropolis. The Confederates ad-
vanced in tremendous force. Led by
their beloved General Lee, and his
chosen Lieutenants they seemed re-
solved to make o last stand in the
rich valleys of Franklin and Adams,
choosing, as if by instinct the regions
called after two Of the most precious
names in American history. Grant
was at the same moment winding his
fatal coils around the Southern city
ofVicksburg but the point most vital
to all that supreme moment was the
field OF Gettysburg.
What Philadelphian can ever forget
the suspense of those July days
There was not a household that did
not throb and thrill between hope and
fear. There were over one hundred
thousand men, thousands Of them from
Philadelphia and the neighboring
towns; and there was not q family
that did not tremble for its loved ones
engaged in that fatal strife, or that did
not shudder at the advance of the foe
who seemed so near, or that did not
fancy in that advance the loss of the
holy cause of the Union
4 On the morning Of the Fourth of
July, 1868, was at the Union League,
then on Chestnut street near 18th,
Philadelphia, in the massive building
now occupied by the family of the be-
loved Matthew Baldwin. The rooms
and gardens of the lovely mansion
were filled to overflowing with pale,
anxious men; the streets were full Of
a silent waiting crowd the sidewalks
and windows were crowded with wo.
men even the children were awed
into silence, as their elders discussed
in whispers the possibilities of the
dreadful fight in the green valleys Of
the Cumberland. Reynolds had been
killed on the I'd of July, along with
thousands Of others, and his brother,
Jas. H., who came iron Lanoasterlth
State, bowed down with terror at the
sacrifice, and humble women were
sobbing over the dispatches already
recording their losses. 1t was day
OF tears and despair. | had been pre-.
sent at other scenes of sorrow, but
nothing like this Fourth OF July, 1868.
The commandant Of this department
was General J. A. ]. Dana, and his
office WASH Glrard street near Twelfth,
and / held position as q consulting
member of his staff About noon OF
that Saturday | saw tall form cross.
ing Chestnut street to tho League and
when his eye caught mine saw he
was in tears He handed me dis.
patch from General Meade, Just re.
oeived. ! opened and tried to read it,
but could not. | saw enough to feel
that we were saved. And soon the
good news became universal. Then
all hearts exploded with ioy over the
deliverance. twas a wonderful sight.
that sudden change from grief to graft.
tude. Some shed tears some shouted
In Joy, old foes became friends and
even infidels Joined in the spontaneous
prayers of the preachers. Robert
Browning's thrilling poem describing
Itha ma, ,-lo .....ol - u.t 80