The Columbus journal., 1881-09-14

will repay you to meet here Il
strengthen the sacred ties formed il
the dark days of camps and battle
fields. You nobly answered th'
nations call TO arms and now tina
the need which drew you from youl
homes is of the past, this cannot buI
be 8 week of pleasure. You will
recall the vivid scenes in which you
were actors when the nation was
struggling for life. The tented field
is yours again. The mystic chord
of memory, stretching from every
battlefield of the rebellion, to this
our camp of peace, saddens, yet
heightens the interest we all feel in
this vast neutrality-suspicious., for
memory, true to noble deeds, but
into living presence, the brave who
died for their country. We cannot
look upon this gathered army, over
this sea of tents, on the warlike atti-
tude in which you stand, without
thinking that this is but faint re-
hearsal-a shadowy recollection-of
the great tragic act twenty years
ago.
Then, human slavery hung like a
dark pail over our land, and obscur-
ed the nobler elements of our insti-
tutions. Then, doubt and uncer-
tainty clouded our future, and shut
out the glory that is to-day, while
even marshalled armies felt a fear
lest the nation itself should die.
Then tie mOnarchies of Europe
whispered among themselves, and
laid their plans for the future, as
though the republican form of gov
ernment were at an end. We say,
whispered-fOr, although they be-
lieved we were in our death strug-
gle, in the coined words of Lord
Russell, we were the diSunited
StGteS"-yet, even then, they feared
10 speak so as TO be heard on this
side of the Atlantic. Hence it was,
that the plans for the recognition of
the southern confederacy never went
beyond the secret condolences of
diplomacy, and never became en-
bodied in the outspoken word.
Now, how changed the aspect; the
same flag that we see floating to-day,
unfurled its folds to cheer on TO
victory then. Yet one almost thinks,
a. he looks upon il, that il also is
changed, other than in the number
of its stars. We almost imagine that
its stripes bear a deeper red, ming
ling the blood of the great struggle
with that of the revolution, while
its fold has caught more of the sky's
unfading blue, and its stars reflect
more of heavens eternal justice.
To-day il floats a symbol of a broad
er humanity-a nobler civilization.
Thanks 10 the brave men assembled
here and their comrades throughout
the land-thanks also to the honOred
dead-a new era has dawned. The
monarchs of the old world no longer
assume an attitude of defiance to-
ward us; but, with their own exist
ence threatened, they are endeavOr-
ing TO satisfy an enlightened age
that tyrrany, in a modified form, is
better than liberty. But their efforts
will be vain. The progressive opin-
ion of the civilized world is stamp
ing this great fact upon our day and |
generation-thatt tyranny and perse-
cution have become their own exc
cutioners, like Milton's angels,
Vital in every part, not frail as man,
Cannot but by annihilating die.
Our welcome is not extended to-
day simply to perpetuate military
prowess, but rather the principles |
for which brave men died. 1t is to |
celebrate the struggle that establish
ed the equality OF man. 1t is to re-
mind the young and generous that,
from the camp fires and bsttlefelds |
of the civil war, truth and liberty
came forth victors and, under their |
guiding staff of peace, babe US march |
to heights in national prosperity,
and national greatness, unparalleled |
in the history of nations. From that
struggle a new era dawned upon the
world. The darkness of slavery
passed away forever, and, in the
bright light of freedom, we are now
writing the grandest history of ell |
the ages. 1t is for this cause that
the soldier is welcomed here to-day,
in the name of a union restored, a
nation redeemed-in the name of
this state, the first born of this "new
era" the first to proclaim that high
er, purer, nobler liberty declares to
the wide world that, no matter what
color God painted His child-wheth-
er bleached at the poles or blackened
by the tropics - the moment he
our soil he arises to man.
hoods height, boiding in his right
hand the freeman's shield and wea-
pon-the ballot. In the name of
this city, which never knew the
blight of slavery, and which owes
so much of its magic growth to the |
new idea, we bid you welcome.
The interest in this meeting is