Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-06-09

wheels of Suffers saw-mill in Cali
fornia. Scarcely had this new
born continent taken on the atti-
tude of life, and shaken of the
dampness of the far away past, I'M
til her sacred fringes were col
ored in deepest crimson. lI4s
closed a long and terrible war be-
tween the rival and covetous pow
ers, and each striving to outstrip
the other in the settlement Of the new
country. The Virginia colony. 10y
virtue of royal grants and dishonest
treaties with the Indians. claimed
territory west of the Alleghanies,
while Penn's colony pushed their
claim TO the banks of the Ohio
and along the shores Of Lake Erie
the French took possession of the
vslley of the great River to the
Gulf Of Mexico. We pass that
period of our struggle for indie
pendence, aud that bit of history
which unfolds so much on the plane
of animal mastery, to present few
thoughts upon certain principles
which cluster about the interests
of this day.
The history of our country,
though interesting, is short and
sad. The proud American heart
makes no boast of battle blood, and
we are not here to condemn the
perpetrators of disloyal acts against
the Government, nor to kindle
anew a fire of animal patriotism
beneath the peaceful current OF
veteran blood. When the hydra
of disloyalty raised its crested head
against the life of the nation, sent
out its emissaries, robbed the Gov
ernment, bribed our leaders, NAL
treated our wisest senator's, and
xii its bloody grip on our nations
Gag to rend it in shreds, an army
came forth and reported for duty
in thirty hours, five hundred miles
away and because a larger army
was asked for hundreds OF thou
sands of our brave men went ont
from shop and store, from farm and
great corporation, from students
bench and professors chair, until
first and last, the Union army mum.
bered two millions, six hundred and
eighty-five thousand, five hundred
and twenty-five. See the long lines
of blue and grey in mortal cam
bat! The scene is to appalling, LEI
the curtain fall. Go with me be-
hind the scenes and l will show
you a spirit that sought to lay
the foundation of a black mon
archy in our midst, resting on the
heart of the nation, driving mill
ions to tears and agony; charge ]
not to men but to demons. This
i. that spirit which for nineteei
wears has left "weeds Of woe" il
thousands of homes, which dranl
the blood of our brothers, hus
bands, fathers, and sons; wbicl
starved them in Libby, Anderson
vile and other prisons, and laugh
ed and scoffed at their dying wall
But our national tree of freedom
which was planted hundred year
ago, strikes it's roots into broader
deeper and richer soil to-day yes
her leaves are fresh and full c
verdure. Was it necessary tina
the blood of Americas noblest an
best should be spilled to water thi
planting in order that it migth TAX
on a more vigorous growth If thi
be true it must he well watere
now, for our flag floats to-day owe
o half million honored graves.
All, fifteen years have passed
which seems but yesterday, sine
we hung up our swords, staine
to their very hilts with huma
gore. God grant that there the
may continue to hang until the
may be demanded for pruning
hooks or plow-shares. Has not OF
beautiful country see enough
war! Let us stop and offer
PRAYER that our nation may be In
bued with the spirit Of our gre
representative Of peace; tn
powerful as it is, may look abroa
Cbristlike, upon other nation
winning them to all that makes f
brotherhood and union.
The eagle, poised on yond
flagstaff, seems to me not an a
propriate emblem Of our countr
We want no battle screai
bloody beak, nor piercing tailor
Might we suggest instead the Fl
ure of a Washington with e
tended arms welcoming all peoI
to the Gland of the free and t
home of the brave" In one ha
l would put an open Bible, in {
other q dove, signifying there
"Peace on earth and good will
men," Come we now, to not
Gods wisest purposes often hidd
in a veil of mystery war is m.
terry, studied on the bases OF hum
nature.
Though rivers Of blood ha
- been spilled, yet the nations of I
earth are slow to learn pea
Think Of the Crimean war TWEEN
'. four years ago; with Russia
one side, France, England, Lo
hardy and Turkey on the other.
ne Think again, Of the war OF 1S
the war of liberation 10 Italy.
be The next was our great Ameri'