Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-07-27

tdfHeu u1 INC sweat Oh OtneT men y
brows: and enriching themselves by the
unrequitted toll, the tears, the blood of
enslaved millions. Yet not unlike the
avaricious rulers of Great Britain, they
had within them an unquenchable thirst
for wider domain, an Unsuitable desire
to spread where ere they would upon
the free soil of AmeLica, the curse of
slavery, and to make of n free people,
a nation of slave hunters. The crisis
came. The liberty loving people
throughout the nation arose in their
might and declared by their votes, that
not another foot of the free soil of the
Union should be slave territory. They
who worshipped at the shrine of slavery
declared that this great Republic, found
ed by the blood of the Revolution, should
cease to be, without the right of its ex-
tension. Hundreds of thousands flew
TO arms determined upon the prcserva-
ton of the Union. The story of that
fierce struggle, so familiar 10 all of rs,
| need not recount,
Following the history of this nation
through those four long years, it seems
one long age of suspense unspeakable,
of heart aches and mourning. of brave
men dead and MANNED, of widows weeds
and orphans tears. Its cost in blood
and treasure was appalling. Waged
for the preservation of the Union upon
the one hand, but for the perpetuation
of slavery upon the other. Eternal JUS
tice demanded the freedom of the slave
ere it should cease.
And when in its darkest hour, he who
was at the helm of State, he TO whom
the Nation looked to as its Savior Abra-
ham Lincoln gave TO the world that Inn
mortal Proclamation that emancipated
the enslayed millions of our land; it
nerved the brave, the good, and true to
greater deeds of valor. 1t gave new
impetus to the cause of freedom, and
the nation emerged from that long bap-
tismal of blood redeemed. and free iu-
deed. Then and not till then was this
government, one of equal rights, equal
privileges, and equal opportunities, ms
contemplated by the Declaration of In
dependence.
Contemplating thepast from thcproud
cminence upon which this nation stands
to-day, so placed by this simple net Of
justice TO an oppressed race, in view OF
the fact that scarcely two decades have
passed since, millions of human beings
We're held in servile bondage. that hu-
man slavery had hecn authorized by
our government from its formation up
to that time; credulity is taxed 10 ITS
uttermost, and amazement grows dizzy
gazing down upon the scene.
Out Of that struggle the nation arose
the envy of the wcrld. Time was when
Europe sneercd and we'll she might
at our boasted love of liberty. a liberty
that amitted of slavery. A quarter Of
a century ago she had little faith in the
stability of our government. looking.
aye hoping for ITS ACKNOWLEDGMENT. A
few years later she WAS astounded nj the
Of our struggle for principle.
and when at length principle triumphod
the yastnesS of our resources thwartcd
her hopes for our financial view. The
crowns sit more lightly upon the heads
of Europe's monarChs to-day than ever
before, and our free institutions are the
beacon light of hope. for the liberty low
ing people of every land. The present
prosperity Of the nation a
unparelled is abundant evil
dcuce of the vastneSs of our resources.
The experience of n century, century
that records within its limits. four wars
two of which would have taxed the
endurance of any nation fought, not
by standing armies aud navies. but by
It's citizens each one of whom is guar
dian, not only of his nations honor but
Of his nations, safety; its rapid advance
ment in the domain Of invention. in edu-
cation, the arts and sciences. in all that
tends to make mankind intelligent, use
ful and happy, is overwhelming proof
Of the success of self government.
The duty of founding this Republic
rested with our forefathers. Upon the
present generation was forced the her
eulean task of its regeneration. All the
brilliant possibilities as well as all the
grave dangers of the future are for us
and .posterity. And while we should
not look into the future with the eye of
one who sees in the smallest innovation
that which portends national disaster,
hey are true patriots and lovers of their
country who. making their country and
It's people study, with watchful eyes
discern impending danger and engage
in earnest endeavor to avoid them if
possible without sacrifice of princi-
pie, but, Sinking no responsibility as
overcome them if they must
The dangers that menace our future
are not from foreign foes. Slowly but
surely fraternal feeling is cementing
The different sections of our land into
closer bonds of unity, and | may say
with safety that not an American eiti-
citizen within this broad land to-day
but that believes fighting for a right
cause against foreign foe the United
States of America is unconquerabc.
Dur dangers are, however, from within
our own borders. Even times of great
like the present do not pre-
vent but rather tend to bring them upon
as. Over confidence in the future breeds
of impending danger. At
such times, in the accumulation of
wealth, we loose sight of the govern
ment from which we derive these bless
ngs, forget our duty to country and
forget everything save self
and the almighty dollar until prosperity
may be said to have run mad. Re-
action comes, and with it blasted hopes,
ruined fortunes and desolate homes.
With it always the deplorable
conflict between capitol and labor Even
IN the midst Of our prosperity there can
G seen in our matte MI horizon spot
much larger than a mans hand, caused
BY the antagonism of these interests
The antagonism of these interests in
terests upon which SO much of our pros
perity and happiness as nation de-
ponds is always calamity. An or
ganized force Of one hundred and forty
thousand intelligent, resolute men de-
termined upon wiping out of existence,
for the time being, millions Of dollars in
capital IS calamity to the business in
terests Of the country that can hardly
be overestimated, and when such force
is determined upon depriying other men
Of their laborby trampling upon all law it
has within it the elements of mob viO-
lence, bloodshed and anarchy. Honest
labor is always right, and when | de-
mand that you cease from labor, re-
main III idlenesS unless You receive q
named by me, | deprive
you Of your manhood, of your Godgiv-
en- right to labor and ignore one of the
foremost principles of the declaration of
equal rights. A dogma
Of this character carried TO its legitimate
conclusions. would create n despotism
worthy of a George the Third. Upon the
othe hand he who derives his only pro-
tit from the fruits Of other mon labor but
whose only god is Mammon, whose on
IL ambition X sordid sraju unrqstruinnd