Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-07-29
POLITICAL.

Ihshed III philadelphia, fts editor, Mr..
John W.. Forney, foif twenty years .
saslwsrt republican. gi'Fes his reasons as
follows for supporting Gen. Hancock
for the presidency:
"There are many aesthless days 10
the American memory; among them the
attack upon the Ainencan flag in
Charleston hsrb0f on the 10Th Of hgFil.
1861; the battle Of Gettysburg or the
1zf, Dad and Ord days of Jolly. 1869:
tlle All nf Richmnnd s,n The alh dav ai
April, 1870, and the assassination Of
AbFahafn Lincoln on the 18th day OF
April. 1865. No daya in human hisio-
ry ever aroused more agoniziug soli-
citude, or closed upsDn more gigantic
transactions. or opened wider vista OF
human possibilities. Each OF these
events bad strange aud almost provi-'
Dental meaning. Each possessed The.
peculiar quality Of coIaquering in an in-
slant millions of prejudices. The ball
fred At the old flag from Charleston
consolidated the Nortlfand struck down
human slavery. The victory of Get
tysburg saved the second great city OF
the Union from the flames. The tall OF
Richmond was the. certain rise of the
republic. and the death Of Lincoln con-
secrated bis great mission offorgiveness
10 all. When we come TO notice the
annals ofou urcIvil war, these four events,
with the emancipation of the slaves on
the first Of January, 1863. will be to the
historian like SO many planets shedding
light on all other objects and marshal
ing the way to the final lesson and duty
of the patriot. Each was revolution
in itself, affecting the remotest interests
and leaving ell men in new condition
Of thought and seli-examinatron.
"But none Of these tragedies wrought
a deeper sensation or gave birth to q
more lasting gratitude than the battle OF
Gettysburg. 1863. Here, at least, is
one Of those occurrences that cannot
easily be forgotten. The human race
is prone to forget. One philosopher
says that ingralitude is the badge of all
our tribe; but hike all maxims il is best
proved by the exceptions. In this in
stance we cannot If we would, and,
thank God, we would not If we could,
blot out what that defeat of the Coafed-
crates did for the city of philadelphia.
Happily 1t is not SO long ago as 10 have
faded out of our minds. 1t IS only sew
enteen years since, and II was day Of
such sharp agony and such universal
terror, and the victory was such an un-
speakable relief, that even the children
now grown to men and women think OF
il as greatfnlly as the middle-aged and
the grandmothers and grandiathers. IL
was the single instance IN which the
fiery blast of war came close to great
Northern metropolis. The Confeder-
ates advanced in tremendous force. Led
by their beloved Gen. Lee and by bis
chosen lieutenants, they seemed resolv-
ed 20 make last stand in the rich val
leys of Franklin and Adams, choosing,
as IL by instinct, the regions called af-
ter two Of the most precious names IN
American history. Grant was engaged
at the same moment winding has fatal
coils around the Southern city Of Vicks-
burg; but the point most vital to all at
that supreme moment was the field OF
Gettysburg.
"What Phlladelphian can ever forget
the suspense Of those July dayss There
was not 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 neigbboring towns, and there
was not a family that did not tremble
for It's loved ones engaged in that fatal
strife, or that did not shudder at the ad-
vance OF the foe who seemed so near,
nr that did not fancy in that advance
the loss Of The ho' y cause Of the Union.
"On the morning of the fourth OF
July, 1863, | was at the Union League,
then on Chestnut street, near Eleventh,
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
filed to overfowing with pale, anxious
men, the streets were full OF silent,
waiting crowd; the sidewalks and win
dows were crowded with women: even
the children were awed into silence as
their elders discussed in whispers the |
Of the dreadful fight in the |
green valleys of the Cumberland. Rey-
nolds had been killed on the 2nd OF |
July, along with thousands OF others,
aud his brother, James L.. came from |
in this State. bowed down |
with terror at the sacrifice, and humble |
women were sobbiagover the dispatches |
already recording their losses. Il was a |
day Of tears aud despair. ! had been
present at other scenes of sorrow. but |
nothing like this Fourth Of July, 1868. |
The commandant OF this department /
was Gen. ]. A. J. Dana, and his office |
was in Girard street, near Twelfth, and |
| held position as consulting mem
Der Of hIs staG. About noon OF that /
Saturday | saw his tall form crossing |
Chestnut stseetto The League. and when |
his eve caught mine l saw he was ir /
tears. He handed me dispatch from
Gen. Meade, Just received. opened /
and tried TO read il bat could not. I'll
saw enough to feel that we we're saved.
And soon the good news became uni-
versal. Then all hearts exploded with /
10Y oyer The deliverance. Ii was q won
derfuf sight, that sudden change from
grief to gratitude. Some shed tears,
some shouted IN Joy. old fees became |
friends, and even infidels joined m the /
spontaneous prayers Of the preachers.
Robert Brownrng's thrilling poem de-
scribing the man who carried the good 1
news TO Ghent, which broke The siege