Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-31

southern section of the union to poverty,
oesolation and wretchedness.
The people Of the north having abol.
lshed slavery not only regarded it a social
from devotion to the union and desire
Tor peace and harmony this feeling
Tor many years lay dormant But
In the year 1895, when all hopes had
fed that slavery would be abolished by the
southern people of their own accord. anti
slavery sentiment IN the north began to as
sumo the form of anti-slavery purpose.
The early agitators were viewed by the
people of the south with mixed feelings OF
scorn and fear. In the north they were
ostracised socially, their lecturers were re-
garded as public enemies, and their print
Ing presses were destroyed by mobs: their
hand was against every man and every
mans hand was against them. They
proved especially cause OF anger and en-
barrassnent to existing political parties.
They were men of pure lives. moved by a
sublime belief that their cause was just
and that it was their mission and duty to
right great wrong. With constant self
denial and self sacrifice, in disregard of
present consequences, in the spirit of the
prophets of old, they suffered obloquy, os-
tracism and violence without fiinchlng.
The natural and Immediate effect in the
south of anti-slavery agitation, was the
and concerted persistent movement I'M
der the leadership of southern statesmen
to advance the influence OF the slave power
IN every way possible.
in the discussions in congress during
this period and the measures resorted to-
we trace one continual struggle for the
balance Of power, supplemented by laud-
able efforts on the part of statesmen like
Clay and Webster to pour oil on the
h .d
mise and mutual concession a dissolution
OF the union. In the light of subsequent
history, ii is certain that these compro-
misses, so fondly valued in their day, only
served to postpone the final tragedy which
alone could settle and put to rest an ire
presslble conflict.
The South with slave labor year after
year grew weaker in political power and in
fiuence, and comparatively weaker in ma
terial prosperity. The North with free la
Dor, grew in population and wealth when
in 1850, the South through its great leader,
Calhoun, was compelled to admit that the
equilibrium between the two sections in
the government, as it stood when the con-
stitution was ratified and the government
put in action, had been destroyed; and
that unless something decisive was done
to arrest the agitation of the slavery ques-
ton and to restore that equilibrium, the
South would be forced to choose between
abolition and secession. He demanded that
the North do justice by conCeding to the
South an equal right in the acquired terri
tory; and cause the stipulations relative to
fugitive slaves to be faithfully fulfilled, to
cease the agitation of the slave
question, and to provide for the in
sertion of provision in the Constitution
by amendment which would restore to the
south in substance the power she possessed
of protecting herself before the equihbri
UNI between the sections was destroyed
by the action of the government. In this
way and in this way alone the union could
be saved, otherwise it could and would be
dissolved. CalhOun's object was TO save
the Institution OF slavery and this was the
all pervading purpose OF his constituency;
but the institution was doomed condemn
ed by the voice Of civilization, and could
not be saved 10y union nor disuniOn; Meth
err by eloquence in cogreSs. skill in diplom-
acy nor bravery in battle The masses of
the north were quite willing that agita-
ton should cease, and that slavery might
remain undiSturbed in the states where it
had already existed. While most every
body at the north condemned the princ
pie of human slavery in the abstract,
there were many timid people
who feared that agitation
would produce war and bloodshed,
Or at least lncite slave instruction. The
practical politicians desired to maintain
themselves in favor with the South; the
and manufacturer Were anxious
10 protect their Southern market against
and to please their Southern
the rabble was bent on keep
ng the negro beneath them in the social
scale. All these and other elements CO.
operated together to prejudice the North
,rn people against men who simply fol-
owed the dictates of conscience and pro-
posed ahead of their time the absolute and
abolition of slavery.
To the student of history it has been
natter of speculation as to the wisdom
md utility of the various compromises
md settlements by which catastrophe was
5ided over through the agitations of 1920,
1888 and 1850. But as we look over the re-
suit there is seen the guiding hand of a
mysterious power whose ways are
past finding out. Why did an
'verruling providence put it into
he hearts of our aati-slavery forefathers
If the revolution to permit this great blot
# slavery to grow up, which they might
,asily have crushed in shell. Why did He
or more than half a century permit this
curse to blight the material
md moral growth of splendid race of peo
de, occupying a magnificent territory,
My that it might be biotted out forever
Is the result of a great and devastating
war; Why? But as lesson to humanity,
lever to be forgotten, that God reigns and
oppression cannot endure, save as a
courge to bring erring mortals to see and
o lmpei them to maintain the right.
In this great lesson, we read that so long
IS a nation or party shall adopt principles
# equal and exact justice to all men, it Is
but in so far as
t denounces these principles and denies
o any portion OF our fellow beings
hat which is their right, it is to that eX-
lie lesson of the great civil war we are
orcibly reminded that popular forms of
government are possible only, when indi-
idual men can govern their lives on moral |
principles. and when duty is of more i'm |
ortance than pleasure, and justice than |
Material expediency.
We who, in that great contest of arms, |
rere arrayed on the side of final victory, !
ave assembled on this Memorial day. to- |
ether with our fellow citizens, to pay /
nipple though touching tribute to our /
omrades in arms who have paid the debt ,
nature. 1t is unnecessary and perhaps /
Tould be considered out of place on an oc- !
aston like this to attempt any argument !
ased upon the motives of those arrayed !
gainst us. The fierce passions and hatreds !
ngendered by fratricidal strife have. | |
ope, long since been allowed 10 slumber. |
n passing Judgment upon the en-
ors of our southern brethren in the 4
heir attempt at dissolution of the union, /
established by the founders of the repub- /
C, in order that they might perpetuate an
lstitution which had come down to them ,
18th the sanction OF their ancestors, and |
hitch from earliest infancy they had been
lught 20 believe was both beneficent and
seful. it must be conceded that they
1owed fortitude and courage, sublime /
eviction to their conceptions of duty and |
atriotism that must forever eIItitle them
} place am@ng the names of heroes.
When | was boy it was very common
,r men TO settle their wrongs, either real ;
: IMAGINARY by a resort to physical