The Hartford herald., 1885-11-04

for not all the whirlwind's wrath and
the earthquakes shocks of woes within
and woes without have been able to
wreck or destroy us. "The govern
ment Of the people, for the people and
by the people" moves grsndly in its
career Of destiny, challenging the ad-
miration of mankind, who yet wonder
how II IL, that a country so great can
exist with no ruler presumptive or ap-
parent, save only such "a are freely
chosen by the people from among them
selves. But now the world, il would
seem, begins to understand that those
who would wear "civic crowns" in
America must show their fitness to do
so by having "done the state some ser
vice." or by having gained the high
est confidence of their eountrymen, in
whom at last is vested the power of
making and unmaking the nations
rulers.
With these admitted facts OF history
before us, what soldier is there in all
this assembly, who Is not proud that
he was AN American soldier, but proud
er still that he il an American citizen.
We would not change our titles,
American soldiers and American citi-
zens, for the proudest crown that ever
adorned the brow Of Norman, or for
all the titles that Roman senates ever
had to confer
Proud AS We are of those titles, loyal
as we are to our country, let me ask, is
there a single old soldier, on either side,
in whose heart there yet burns a dying
ember of resentment or malice engen-
dered by war? II 40, l bid him look at
the towers and arches that span the
horizon Of peace, and from which is
cleaning a flood of electric light that is
to illuminate our future. Our contests
in fields of blood and carnage are end
ed, the tragic music of shot and shell
has died away and the tramp of charg-
ing squadrons as they marched to bat
tie will be heard no more forever, all
the rest of our marches will be along
the highways of civil life, under the
banners of peace. The long roll, the
midnight reveille. the shrill notes of the
bugle calling the soldiers to arms, will
never more break our peaceful slum'
bers, for Americas hills and valleys
will never shake again with the mar
tial tread of her contending sons, a.
they did in those never to be forgotten
years of 1s6l-5. But that stirring
period will serve to teach us many a
lesson. 1t proved that the American
union was as indestructible as matter
itself, while it proved with equal GER
tainty that the elements which consti-
tute the strength Of the union, were the
products Of peace rather than the pro-
ducts Of war.
For example, when the signal "Let
US have peace" shot out in golden let
tiers upon the red canvas of war, the
whole world paused aud lookedwith as
tOnished admiration at the disbanding
of more than a million of men i'm arms,
which was accomplished without a dis
turbance and without convulsion-an
act that was as sublime as the battles
of the war were heroic.
umphs of peace, that followed quick
upon the heels Of war. Ii was not on<
ly without a precedent, but ii was
contrast with the termination
Of all great struggles that had preceded
it, in all ages.
No longer ago than the close of the
last century republican France was en-
gagged in war for her virtual indepen-
dence, for the protection of her ancient
and the integrity of her
soil. The Italian campaign was ended: |
lis termination was a complete triumph |
for the cause of France. Inspired by |
the ardor and magnetism of their young
and fearless leader, the "French bataI- |
lion had descended, like eagles from the
Alps, and lighting on the sunny plains
Of MarengO, they shattered as with an
IRON mace, the Austrian Empire in It.
aly." This done, they swept like ey-
clone from the foot of the Appennines
10 the tideless shores of the Mediterra-
mean. 1t would seem, when all this
mad been accomplished. that peace
would have followed; but unlike the
American soldiers, the French army,
intoxicated with victory, and moved
'y the prospect of plumber, ,clamored for
Here was ambitions
golden opportunity, here Napoleon's
Wild dream OF glory and empire began.
From that moment the white plumes
IF his marshalls, ana the eagles that
we're displayed on the banners of his
devoted legiOns marked the course of
his marches to Egypt, to Italy, to Aus
ria, to Prussia, to Poland and Moscow.
For fifteen years the imam of desti-
ly," surrounded and sustained by his
plendid armies, continued his vietori-
'us marches until more than "a hun
lred battle fields marked his triumphs
md until every throne in Europe trem-
a Il l.. I