The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-02
THE UNIONS DEAD SOLDIERS
Points from Gen. John Coburn's Decorations
Day Address at Martinsyille.

General John Coburn delivered the principaI
address on Decoration Day at Martinsy,lle. IN
the course of his remarks he said:
These men whose memories we honor e. aav fsu.
in no war of invasion conquest; not in the strife
r power not to cramp and bud and tax their felIow
men, but to give more rights, to upft the down
trodden; to shed light and peace and inte;cenca
throughout the land. And humanity shall sit down
to an endless feast generation after generation pre-
pared by these dying hands
We not sorry for ashamed of the work that
was done. But let say that we glory in war
or take pride in its fearful CONSEQUENCES.
or would pallate any of its crueltes-
But there things worse than war;
cruel to nations more debasing, more fatal. There
stood before u.s. in 81, the choice of dismemberment
national death--the upbuilding. SoutherH
half of the Republic of empire OF slavery thus cut
ting us off from great highways to the South by
water and land and the establishment of the doctrines
that dissatisfied State might at any time, upon her.
own will secede; the making of disunion legal the
proclamation of national suicide These We're the
dread alternatives for the life of the MAJ
ton as one peoples to prevent the extension and
ultimate perpetuation of slavery by vast power;
to secure forever free great highways from this
mighty interior valley to the oceans to uphold the
principle that the Nation greater than the State and
can compel obedence war to hold together this vast
free progressive intelligent Nation in her of
Improvement and in the uplifting of all men from the
bonds OF their oppressors
And now, to-day over these sacred graves. in the
presence OF their surviving comrades and before th
GOD OF nations, we say we did no wrong; made
mistake IN our choice; we took no backward step;
of peace in the establishment of Justice in the cu<
largement of personal liberty in the Developments Of
the human race And We match our course against
that of the who set anarchy in order set zs
slavery who dishonored the law, who Knocked at jss-
tice who overthrow the Constitution who gloried mn
human bondage, who sowed the seeds Of NATIONAL
death, VINO authorized and egazed secession and civil
war as remedy In politics. who held conspiracy to ba
lawful and treason a virtue. Against these men, and
all SUCH we match our caase, and, come strife,
war, come desolaton, come everything osse~
but never let such things Thank God they did
not come. and never will come. For
Natonthe foremost in all the earth we are tho lead
ers in the Of liberty and progress; we bear the
blessed banner OF light for all the world have putt
to shame and everlasting secession rebelcn
and treason; We have taught the who advocated
them and have taught all mankind that republi ix
the strongest and safest, well the free and
most tolerant government fashioned by the bra
OF man. This mighty machine is so strong and durable
that trust ii even in the hands of those who
conspired and fought to destroy it, and sleep sound,
knowing well that they can no more pervert or oyer
throw it than they can the government of God hims
self. But greater and better than all, have COTE
quered the hearts of these recreant of the Re-
public, and they would not overthrow it if they
could. They would not renew that dreadful
arbitrament. They proud of the Nation il u.s.
and it shall be- They know that the best things
was done in 61 when drew the sword
We cannot now forget that there are some
who still believe that what did was crime: that
we taught lesson; that we set no example; thafl
patriotism With was but catchword; that the&
liberty gave is bus mockery; that the enc
mics of the country; that we have inaugurated
afchy, hatred, d1SSen60nS, disasters
gust, decay and death. We have the spectacle
of the rebel President in certain States received with
wild exultation by great multitudes. But ii seems
incredible that this be more than transient
ebullition of passion, and that it is true while hss
might buss with delight the carriage hubs Of JEFF
Davis at Montgomery, the great bulk of the peopls
there have no sympathy with his malignant COM
plants
All honest men in all the earth, in all time :
to come, must conclude that the of the rebeIsi
against the Nation unnecessary was unholy, was
wicked beyond conception. And the better days.
shall upon the earth, and nobler dwell In
our pisces more and more will the awful crime OIL
treason 1.-The best and freest of all governments'
stand out in hfdeous backness. When that brights
time shall have come will turn their backs upon
the memories of those who stirred up this terri6o
strife and let them perish forever and remember with
exultation the day when freedom carried her holy
light into the humble cabin of the slave unlocked HIS
manaces and led him out man; when labor cast on
badge of degradation and asserted her honorab
equality in social life; whom civil rights were mbedde
with the rocks of the Constitution, to stand forever
when political equality proclaimed for all within
the national borders and universal suffrage crowned
the struggle for the existence of the Union
These glorious facts will be remembered and recalled
ten thousand times wherever the face of the earth
hereafter shall strive to exalt their condition.
They will encourage the faint hearted and the oppressed
in the hour of trial. they will be beaconlights to tho
bewildered nations they invite all the human race TO-
enter the great temple of liberty and make it heir
abode forever All this suffering, all these sad graves
are but in the vestibue of the building where pro-
sionate patriotism love of freedom generous tolera
ton, manly courage just dealing unfailing charity
and heavenly wisdom shall reign perpetua[y.