The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-10-23

Providence in bringing forth strength out
of weakness and victory out OF defeat. can
know but little of the true origin OF our
present happy condition of the methods by
which it was attained, and the conditions
under which alone We can hope to pre-
serve il.
With minds and hearts freed from the
asperities, jeslousies ana misunderstood.
ings which may have been engendered BY
the political differences and personal am
billions Of our time, let us. fOrsaking all
such things. return to the day whose hun.
dredth anniversary we celebrate
1t was the day on which the Continental
Congress issued its proclamation announc-
essential right of human nature" and in
voked Divine aid ito give wisdom and
unanimity to our public councils, to cement
all our citizens in the bonds Of affection
and inspire them all with an earnest regard
for the national honor and interest"
The congress was then in session at
Princeton, in New Jersey, whittier it had
Withdrawn from Philadelphia by reason of
the turbulence of disconnected and muffin
Gus portion of the army, and Washington,
having suppressed the disorder, had at the
request of congress left the headquarters of
the army at Newburg, and taken up quar-
iers at Rocky Hill, 4 few miles distant from
Princeton.
There is happy coincidence in the day
of this proclamation, for it is also the an
niversary of the victory of Yorktown, OctO-
Der 18th, 1871. followed by the capitulation.
on the 18th. of the British army under Lord
CORVALLIS and the virtual end of the war ;
for no battle of importance was fought after
tn It date.
When the news of the preliminary treaty
of peace, which had been signed at Paris,
Januury Goth, 1888. was conveyed TO this
country by an armed French vessel, we'll
named "The Triumph" congress issued a
proclamation OF the event, under date Of
April 18th, 1888, and Washington promul-
gated from these headquarters his memoir
able order for the cessation of hostilities,
and recalled the fact that it, date, April!
18th, was the anniversary OF the battles of
Lexington and Concord, where the first
blood had been shed in the struggle for
American independence eight years before;
On October Is, 1888, General Henry
n,
robust frame of mind and body made him
so distinguished and impressive a figure in
the great Struggle, and whose patriotic vir-
tues and abilities brought him so close in
peace and in war to the heart and conf
dence of his great leader-was here in COM
mand, and by him was the action of con.
gress made known 10 the army, congratula-
tions were rendered upon the prospect of a
permanent anu honorable peace, and thanks
sw arded to the army for long, eminent and
faithful services. Its final disbandment was
announced in these words:
ut is our will and pleasure that euch
part of the Federal army as stands engaged
to serve during the war. and as by our acts
OF May 10Th, June 11ih, August 9th and
September Both last, were furloughed, shall
from and after November Sd next be abso-
luleiy discharged by virtue of this procla
nation from sand service"
And we'll was it under the wise recon-
of Washington, there recited Or
ders for furloughs had been literally grant
ed and that officers and privstes had been
freely allowed ever since early spring to 60
back to their homes until but comparatively
a small body remained here in arms.
For upon these brave men had fallen the
chief stress and burden of the struggle, its
sufferipgs and exposures. The perils oil
var had been dreadfully aggravated by
want of proper supplies, and still more by a
aelusive system of paper money The mis-
cries brought by the fiction of an irredeem-
able paper currency were equal to all other
woes combined. Their starving families,
their honorable debts, their daily needs.
Il 40 h. r
ciated and vitiaied currency
"What man is there OF you, when If his
son asks bread will he give him stone?
Or If he asks fish will he give him a ser
penI?"
Yet this was done by the congress to the
brave =men, who had so fought and bled to
their eountry's liberties and
claimed no more than their stipulated pay
which they never received, and despite re-
iteraied promises, and slime words." prom
ses, which were never kept, and words
which were mere breath, mouth hon.
,r,' the army was disbanded and melted
away; not without angry remonstrapc' $.
not without serious threatenings, not in
Heed without proposed reasonable organ
zation which last. Washington withered
With his fiery Indignation and ground 10
powder under his feet 49, ...- q
Never was the weight OF his personal
character with the armies he led TO victory
more strlkingly manifested, nor its value
% The country proven more importantly,
han in this dangerous crisis when the
:rovn of unchas;ened power and military
ambition was held out to his grasp--only
o be dashed To the earth by love of
country, which never for moment was
Dbscured by personal interest or ambition |
Ii art is ever 10 preserve in marble or Oh
,anvas true likeness in soul and body Of
his great me- The occasion of his thus
putting under LIS feet the solicitations of
Unlawful power arr :mbition will surely |
Ne selected,
V; Was..in-ttn uev,r CEASED, So long az
10 survived, n urge the Just claims o! his !
differing companions in arms for Justice, |
lpon their country and his name at least
s without reproach for the sins of omission |
n, THE ~ xrhsoh hauo ,,n,,op haa~S L