Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-05-30

ness with thirty millions inhabitant
Peaceful enterprise had DEVELOPED IL
q mechanic arts, manufactures and nou
ished the fine arts. Peaceful enterprj.
had brought us into rivalry with olde
maritime powers.
Peaceful virtues had disseminated cdr
cation and sent missionaries to distar
lands. Peaceful philanthropy had invite,
the oppre ssed of other nations. Our shin
were on every sea and kings did re vcrenc
to our flag. War was hardly remembered
Guided by an unseen hand we had yon,
on in mis- sion of prosperity, philanthrop
and happiness unexampled. All thing
turned into the channels of peace, anG
foreign to US were the rude things O
war. Distance and the sea kept us il
these courses free from foreign entanele
ments.
With such status could we anticipate
the need of mighty armies; the possibility
that
/" Four hundred thousand men,
The good, the brave, the true,
In tangled wood, in mountain glen
On battle plain in prison pen,
Should die for me and you:
-Four hundred thousa nd of the brave
Should make our ransomed soil their grave
For me and you kind friends,
For me and you?"
That we would have said could never be,
We could not see this beyond the vail nor
know the impending storm. Devotion at
the shrine of perez forbade the thought of
such rebellion.
But the plot thickened, the scroll opened
and great internecine war was impend-
ing. Some few there were indeed like
the chiva lric Illinoisan, Douglas, and the
venerable Kentuckian, Crittenden, whose
prophetic eyes, like the dying martyrs,
caught glimpses of the near future; and
who saw or seemed to see land rent by
war and drenohed in fraternal blood-but
their glimpses were vague and shadowy
and like the vision of the Temanite they
passed before them, but the form thereof
was not defined nor was the end foretold;
and they .iived not to see what became of |
their dreams. Venerable men, had they |
known their children they might have
lived and not seen their country wrecked. |
The curtain rolled up. The embattled |
hosts OF treason appeared heightened in
their thoughts beyond all doubt of victorv.'
To us vounp mon thoro wa, - -oIIz.
strangeness to the gloom. The revolt was
causeless, wicked. The consecrated blood
OF the revolution seemed forgotten. The
American Union-that great country-in
its pea ceful march was suddenly challene-
ed to "halt." From the recovered stand.
point of peaceful days does it seem strange
hat this call should have been received
with establishment, bewiderment, confu.
sion.
What seemed then the outlook
Americas destiny9 Should the picture
begun "amid quiet under liberty" be fin.
shed by posterity? Had the world mis-.
applied the revelations of prophets of
reedom; were their visions decisions;
he words of Jefferson only declaration;
md the men of Independence Hall
iecevers or misguided Theorists Must
hat national unity for which Hamilton
wrote and Webster plead be lost and a
ule OF petty states succeed? These oues.
ions were 10 be answered by those who
we'll the vast bivouac of the nations dead,
nd whose pulses then beat with yours.
We need not trench on the service in +
heir memory by dwelling on the manner
nd method of response to the challenge of i
rmed rebellion. 1t is truth of history that
GU did not halt.
1t seemed to be the fate of nations to ri SO s
nd fall. This protested to be the gloomy O
rider of the world. That the country n
,ust buy her perpetuity by the blood OF a
er sons, was lesson learned in war In
The foe had the vantage ground of de. s.
'nce, of unity, OF purpose and of military F
enius. But the wager of battle was &C. W
opted. The cry of the government for "
clip was needed and to the harvest of 81
cath the reapers fastened, and the gar fir
cred were not few. Ut,
And with what results for the dignity of m
ir race and the good of mankind. To it
e thoughtful student the one idea made mr.
rever sacred is that the United States WI
e one nation. This cardinal doctrine do
as made secure. The right of secession "
that political demon-was exercised. es
he breaking of the unity of the nation CT
Is not since been whispered. And the bo
asst lnfrmity," slavery, treated tender!y re,
Id dreaded by the fathers was removed, co
branches, body, roots" Through these as,
critics. was saved the life giving unity Fe
the republic and the voice of disunion to
rever hushed. hr
A stormy time it was that the republic vii
ssed through but she was in the KEEPING p.
good hands. Storm and clouds were an,
lowed by sunshine. And SO it will be he,
universal faith in mans capacity for Elk
If government shall build up an era of ate
erty.
1t has cost much to bring our govern. der
INT to the passage of the threshold of she
second century and it has been the wa
ppiness of this generation to make that res
'sage possible. BY your efforts the onl
'ric reared by The wisdom of the fathers dat
i stands. May that country never for
get that 1t was in her hour of deepest DOC
'om that your comrades died for her. Mr.
cir hearts never quailed, their eyes SON
yer dimmed, their faith failed not even wa,
death. So now we do honor to whom the