Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-07-04
Gen. LOgan's Grammar.

The way some Democratic news
papers have of poking fun at Sena-
tor Logan for his ilIeged misuse OF
the English language is not at all
commendable nor fair. There is
no argument in it as applied to his
candidacy-there is but a small
modicum of truth in the charge as
q matter of fact. Gen. Logan's
grammar is fully up to the average
standard, although in the impet-
uosity of speech he may sometimes
over leap the rules of the schools,
as other and more highly cultured
men not seldom do.
The Republican candidate for the
Vice Presidency were none the bet
ter were he finically exact in this
respect, and is none the worse for
now aud then INDUCING in I'M
grammatical eccentricities; and we
protest against the hypercrltlclsm
that would magnify the latter into
serious faults. Gen. Logan is an
entertaining converSationalist, and
the impressiveneSs of his Oratory,
in spite of its occasional extrava-
gances of phrase, is universally
recognized.
1t may be said of him, moreover,
as it cannot be of all Congressional
debaters, even those of greater
pretensions, that his speeches read
we'll. Their magnetic and egical
effect does not perish with their
delivery. In snbstantiation of this
assertion we refer at random to the
pages of the Congressional Record.
1t happens to be of the date of
February 5, 1861, when the Record
was known as the Globe, but dates
and names are immaterial.
Upon that date we find Mr.. LO.
gan, then a Representative in Con-
gress from Illinois, making an
elaborate speech upon the state of
the Union, and, as will be remem-
bered, it was a critical period i'll
the history of the country. Fol-
lowing are a few extracts from his
speech:
Cup to the time of the last Presi.
dental election we were prosper
Gus and happy; never before had
so many elements cOnspired to
augment the wealth of the land.
But now tornado RACES, spread
ing desolation in its path. Our
political system is crumbling to
pieces, and ourselves verging al
most on state of universal bank
ruptcy. Six of the pillars and sup
ports of our proud temple of liberty
have been wrenched from their
places. Six stars have disappear
ed from our glorious old flag.
Revolution exists in six States,
with the caances that it will spread
ere long, as a fire on the prairies,
over many more of the slave-hold.
ing States. What a sad change,
Mr.. Speaker, few short months
have wrought.
These sentiments are certainly
very we'll expressed. And again:
No man, sir, who is versed in the
political history of this country,
having regard for truth, will for
one moment contend that there is
any other cause for the difficulties
under which we now labor than
the miserable agitation of the sla-
very question.
Still again:
We are told, however, that the
act of secession being unconstitu.
tiOnal, it is the duty of the Federal
Government to call into reQuistion
the army, the navy and the military
of the nOn-Seceding States, and
with them invade the revolving
States, and enforce the laws. If
this method be reSOrted to OH the
part of the Government, with a
view of cOercing States, it VIII be
forced in such conflict to recog.
nize and observe all the laws of
war. Sir, are our hearts sufficient
ly steeled against our erring breth-
rem to witness all the horrible scenes
of such an unnatural strife? For
one, sir, my heart sickens at the
very thought. They are not our
enemies. with whom we should be
willing to measure swords, but a
part of our people. They are our
kinsmen and should be death with
kindly. Their return from their
wanderings may be looked for at
some future day, if our action shall
be tempered with forbearance and
moderation; but if you 'let slip the
dogs Ofwar, never. never!
This is not only strong English,
butnnexceptiOnaIly good grammar,
as is also what follows:
Can it be possible that any of
the friends of Mr.. Lincoln will at
tempt policy that will bring upon
this country all the disasters of
civil war, when he himself was so
conscientious about the spilling of
blood that he opposed his own
Government when engaged in war
with Mexico, an enemy, and on
foreign soil Sir, this nO-eOmprO-
mise war-pOlicy of gentlemen is not
apIOper nor a practical remedy.
The entire sDeech of Mr.. Logan