Western Kansas world., 1885-06-13
C0llYEa cAWINGs.
fConclndea from Last Week.l

address few passages are here given:
'The occasion that calls us together is
one of great solemnity. Not the ceiebra-
ton tf some brilliant individual Or local
event, but one in which men of highest
patriotism and purest morals may engage.
It is the tribute OF respect and gratitude
which a great and generous nation pays
to the memory Of its fallen heroes.
"At this time it viii not be out of place
to briefly alluda to the cause, the struggle
and the brave. the memories OF whom the
exercises OF this day revive At the close
of the protracted, exhaust;ng and bloody
struggle OF the Revolution the thirteen
colonies had achieved national indie
pcndsnce. Henceforth they would be
Lett TO tie arrangement of their own in
ternal affairs and the privilege of taking
their proper place in the glorious galaxy
of nations. But the danger was not ali
over with the peace of Ghent. While al
war with Great Britain. the common
danger enabled tie colonies to forget
their local jealousies and unite for the
common defense. Now that the struggle
for independence was over, old differences
and new difficulties arose. TO the states
men of that period it was apparent that
unless the colonies could be united under
one common constitution, the expenditure
of blood and treasure would be little
better than wasted. Local jealousIes
would be intensified. the several states
would he so many petty nations, fretting
and wasting each other III tIifling ami
mosities. But at every approach TO such
a confederation difficulties and dangers
shreate0ed. at last, after long and
earnest debate, in which the wisdom, pa
tience and Craftsmanship Of the best mer
were exercised and taxed to their utmost,
the several colonies made sufficient mutual
concessions, the constitution was framed
and finally adopted by al the states. i .
"But there was another and more for
nl;dable danger which confronted the
statesmen of that period. Human SLAYER.
had been introduced into the New World
at an early day. 1t existed IN the
colonies. and was recognized by colonial
laws. Some Of the wisest and abiest
patriots, among them Jefferson, Adams,
Franklin and Washington, believed
slavery to be morally wrong. as well IS
roc ally and politically dangerous 10 the
state. But they treated the danger rs
prospective. belonging rather to a period
OF the future than the present, and thus,
to prevent more immediate dlsaster-in
the spirit Of compromise e-human slavery
was recognized and lecalized in the con-
stitution of the United States.
"In the New England and Middle states
the sentiments Of the Puritans were dis
seminateJ, until higher moral and more
humanitarian political philosophy pre-
vailed, which swept from the statute
books Of those states all laws legalizing
human slavery. In the South, among
the descendants of the Spaniards and
Huguenots, the system found moro favor
and became strongly entrenched in the |
minds and habits of the people. The
South, pointing to the constitution, fought |
to extend the field Of slavery; the North,
appealing to the tradition Of the fathers, |
the Declaration Of independence, to hu-
manity and justice, sought to prevent its
spread. The discussions, tie threats, the
violence of that period are now all matters
of history. The struggle finally culni-
mated in the prevalence of Northern
opinion IN the halls cf legislation and the
election of Abraham Lincoln to the presi-
depcy. The South declared that if slavery
could not be extended under The consti-
tuition. they would 40 longer remain in
the Federal Union. They openly avowed
their intention to break up the compact
of states, cemented as it was with patriot
blood, the ties of friendship, the interests
of commerce and the national prosperity,
rather than abate one jot OF slavery. The
acts of secession, the insults to the flag,
the deeds of violence, the horrors of
Andersonvilie are still fresh in the memo
ries OF the living. The South was bent
on accomplishing their purpose by armed
force. President Lincoln, relying on the
Justice of the cause and the patrotism of
the nation, accepted the gauntlet of war.
"It is now matter OF record how the
nation responded. Men from the highest
and lowest walks OF life left their peaceful
trades and professions, the sweet blandish-
ment Of home, for the rough fare of the
camp, the toll of the long march and the
danger and death Of the field of battle.
At no period OF the world history was SO
intelligent an army mustered, or con-
tended for a more noble purpose.
The world knows how the soldiers of the
Union armies deported themselves. The
warriors of the Old World were astonisbed
at the Transformation OF farmers and
artisans. in the period of a few months,
into soldiers, who, in skill and courage,
equalled the veterans who fought on the
bloody fields of Jena and Waterloo. On
the skirmish line, in the rifle pits, behind
the breastworbs, in the terrible breach,
in the awful and bloody field, in the very
jaws of death they faltered not. And
when the victory was won, what rejoicing
all over the land 4 triumph such as has
seldom been decreed victors awaited their
return: bat lot an empty, gaudy show |
like the entering OF Roman conqueror; |
true there were garlands OF flowers, wav-
ing OF banners. the strains OF music, the |
ringing Of bells and the firing of cannon. I
but better: beyond all this, they received |
the sincere gratitude Of the nation and !
patriots OF the whole world. It cost the |
nation something. The mother gave her !
son. the wife her husband and the maiden |
her lover. while all over the nation We're |
tokens of the sacrifice; the widows weeds. |
the vacant chair at the fireside the crutch |
and the empty sleeve told full we'll the
deadliness OF the struggle. But The
result! National unity secured beyond |
a conjecture, the dark stain of human
slavery forever stricken from the fair
escutcheon OF American liberty, the
chains torn from the hands of four millions |