Helena weekly herald., 1886-04-22
"BLESSINGS OF WAR;"
Veterans of the Loyal Legion OF
Minnesota Treated to an OrIg-
mai Address.

The Minnesota COmmandry of the Loyal
Legion of America last week held largely
attended meeting at the Hotel Ryan, st.
Paul The event of the evening was an
address by Hon. Eugene NJ. Wilson, of
Minneapolis, who spoke on The Blessings
of War" A few extracts will show the
general tenor Of his interesting address:
1t may seem strangely out of place to
look for blessings in war. But the mile
mum has not come yet, and until it does
the bitter must be more or less mingled
with the sweet. AS certain diseases re-
quire heroic remedies, so the evils that ex-
ist in nations sometimes demand the scourge
of war to abolish them. And yet war is
not an unmixed evil. Religions of all
kinds have been propagated by it. Chris
tanity itself owes much to the sword.
There is no more precious period OF
nations history than in the memories OF
its struggles The human mind is so con-
stituted that something beside the imagi-
nation must have scope; there is need of
the sterner qualities of patriotism and
heroism. The Crusaders did much for
civilization. Brute force made way for
science; the learning that had hitherto
been locked up in the mOnastaries was by
this means spread broadcast. Feudalism,
which had hitherto existed, was given its
death blow While much evil was done,
yet the balance of results must be struck
for the good. Out of the scenes of blood
shed of the French Revolution grew the
republic No nation has been so benefited
by war as the United States. The purify
ing fires of the Revolution brought forth
the nOblest heroes, and placed the youthful
nation on a plane far above that occupied
by any other nation.
SOME BLESSINGS ENUMERATED
Louisiana was the result of the Spanish
war This territory could not have been
acquired in any other manner. The pos
session of Louisiana forced Spain to sell
Florida. Next came Texas and California.
A dispute as to the boundary brought on
the Mexican war, and our borders were
rounded out to the Pacific. Our acquisition
of the Mexican territory was of actual ben
eft to Mexico, she having imbibed largely
of our civilization. But to come down to
later years. The victims OF the late
fratricidal struggle have scattered all over
the South. / need not tell you OF the hor-
rors of that war; you were all actors on
many hard-fought field.
But were there no benefits resulting from
this carnage? 1t was productive OF pa
triotism not second to that of Revolution
ary days. From north, east and west came
the boys in blue, bound together by COM
mon tie I'd fighting for one common cause
that of saving the Stars end Stripes. But
of greater importance than this was the
abolition of slavery. The shackles were
stricken from four million slaves, and
bondsneu were no more. Out of the hor'
rors of the strife arose brotherly feeling
that has made the two sections of the coun-
try one people. But the most blessed legacy
of the war are its memories III Is tnest
memories that bind us together III tue oono
of brotherhood and make reality OF the
Loyal Legion. Had it not been for those
four long years of carnage this couid no
have been. War only has its blessings IL
promoting the greater blessing OF peace