The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-16

DumDef. IT'S Ceutfdl iu6d was tudt dli
men were created free and equal Like
many other republics. its independence
was gained through great suffering and
generous bleodshed All its physical
environments were favorable TO the es>
tablishment of permanent government
of the people. The country occupied
was isolated, and embraced the finest part
of the best continent on the globe Its
people, although of different nationals
ties, were for the most part simple in
their tastes and modes of living, intelli>
gent, Industrious and moral to degree sell
dom before known. Grea, prosperity wa
vouchsafed to the new republic. and from
a population of less than 4 900, 900 at the
time of its formation. it rose in three
quarters of a century to nearly 40 000.-
900 with corresponding increase in ma
terial wealth. 1t is remarkable fact
that The founders of this model republic,
having suffered oppression and injustice,
and fully approaching the value of perr
sonal liberty, should have formed gov
eminent based on the idea of liberty and
equality, when large part Of its people
were held as slaves, and regarded as chat
tells by the organic law of several states
This incongruity was the result of mu
tual concessions, but was ever after Il
source of bitter contention.
Two types of civilization took root on
the same soil. One represented the Pur-
itan element, and occupying the northern
states, was irreconcilably opposed 10
human bondage, and from its traditions.
education and morals of living, was es>
pecially adapted for democratic governs
ment. The other occupying the southern
states, represented various kinds of pe0>
pie, of different antecedents from the
former, less simple in their tastes aud
manner of living, and, believing in the
right of one man to hold his fellow being
in slavery, was better fitted for an oil
garchy than democracy. These two ell
ements had become so interviewer in the
social fabrics of the country. that it was
difficult, if not impossible. to separate
them and by the union of the two was
made possible the formation of the new
government. As might have been
foreseeu, two such incongruouS elements
could not long continue in harmony IN
der one flag. An ''irrepressible confiict"
soon began. The fugitive slave law was
enacted by congress, at the dictatiOn of
the slave holding states, but ITS enforce
ment was often resisted by citizens of the
free states, who regarded the law as
unjust and iniquitous.
Population and material wealth in
the free states increased more rapidly
than in the slave states. New states
were admitted into the union, the greater
part Of which were free states. The slave
states fearing that their power in the
general government was being weakened
if not destroyed. became restless aud
disconnected. Efforts were made by the
representatives Of the slave states in con-
grcSS, to extend the Institution of slavery
into The new territories. Tins measure
WAS strenuously opposed by the represen-
tatlveS OF the free states. After long
contest the south was defeated, and slav-
cry was restricted to the slave holding
states Intense bitterness of feeling was
aroused in the slave state. The free
states were charged with bad faith, and
with a determination to disregard all the
sacred rights guaranteed to slave states
by the constitution, the election of
Abraham Lincoln TO the presidency, WAS
used AS a pretext for the slave states to
secede from the union, a right they claim
ed under the constitution. State after state
seeded. and confederacy of these states
was formed. with slavery as IT'S chief
corner stone. Soon after the inaugura-
ton of Mr.. Lincoln Fort Sumter was fired
upon. With this overt act Of treason and
rebellion the new confcderaCy closed
the first epoch in the history OF the Great
American Republic
The firing on Fort Sumter started and
aroused the north to action. The excite
ment everywhere was deep and Intense.
At once call was made by President
Lincoln for volunteers to suppress the re
bellion From the factory, the field the
work shop, and the counting rooms,
came forth stawart and patriotic men.
ready to do. and to die if need be, to save
the national life Who can ever forget
the response to that call, so prompt, SO
wide reaching, so honest, so determlneds i
well organized army sprang into existence
as if by magic. No such army was ever
before seen; an army that contained so
much of the intelligence, of the culture,
of the skill of a nation. Soon began the
most gigantic and terrible civil war the
world has ever known. The south mar
shalled its fcrces to perpetuate its cher
ished institution aud to gain its indie
pcndence The north, acting purely in
self defense: threw its army OF patriots
into the breach. to suppress an unjustlfi-
able rebellion, to bring the rebels To sub
mission, and to avenge the insult that had
been offered the flag of the nation. With
a singular ma9nanimity, the people Of the
north had no thought or intention of de-
stroying slavery, the cause of the rebels
lion, nor of interfering in any way with
an institution recognized by the organic
law of the land Battle after battle was
fought in quick succession, with varying
and indecisive results.
The national government threw into
the contest men and money without
stint Before the end of the second year
of the war, however. it was feared at the
seat of government that the people Of the
north, having become dissatisfied with
the lack of success of the union army in
It's operations against the rebels. would
withhold the cheerful support they had
given the government up to that time,
and that a general draft would have to
be resorted to, to fill the depleted ranks
of the army, and to meet the increased
demand for troops. All will recollect
those dark days, when the volunteer SOL
diers all along the battle line appealed to
the loyal masses of the north to stand
firm by the government and to furnish
all the men needed for successful pros
ecution of the war, Again were the PEG
pie of the north aroused, and again re-
sponded promptly and generously.
1t soon became evident that it would
be necessary as war measure
to abolish slavery, the cause OF
the war The proclamation of eman-
cipation was issued by President Lincoln
giving freedom to all the slaves in the re
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