The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-06-15

Judas lscariot or Benedict Arnold, and that
devotion to 'the Union, the Constitution
and obedience to the laws" was the first
duty of an American citizen.
They remembered that a generation be-
fore, when South Carolina was threatening
notification, II was reported to President
Jackson that John c. Calhoun was talking
treason In the Senate, the fiery old hero de-
clared, 'le may talk treason as much as he
pleases, but let him commit one overt act,
as Hannah ~
When, therefore, by the election of 1850,
the South saw the scepter. of its political
supremacy broken, and began to make
preparation for secession, and armed resist
ance to the natiO nal authority. the North
refused to believe that they could carry their
resistance to the point Of actual hostility.
tiOns for the armed resistance grew more
formidable, the heart of the loyal North
stood still.
ooh sad and slow the weeks went by, each held his
bated breath,
Like one who waits in helpless fear some sorrow worse
Oh scarcely was there faith in God or any trust man,
While fast along the Southern sky the bightng shadow
ran.
I, yelled the stars one after one it hushed the patriots
And stole from men the sacred sense that pareth right
Then red fash ike lightning across the darkness broke
And with voice that shook the land the guns Of Sumter
spoke. :.
Wake, sons Of heroes wake the wolf breaks from his
den
Truth takes in hand her ancient sword and calls her
Lo brightly DER the breaking day shines freedoms
holy star,
Peace cannot brave the sicky time-al hail the healer
war"
The heart of the loyal North stood still no
longer. The guns of Sumter reused it from
its delusive dream.
Without waiting to be called, her patriot
ic sons sprang to arms From Maine to
California every city, town and hamlet was
in blaze of excitement. The farmer left
his pillow, the mechanic dropped his tools,
the merchant came from his counting house,
the doctor deserted his patients and the
lawyer his clients, students and teachers
left their schools together, and preachers
vacated their pulpits to rally to the defence
Of their country.
The people appreciated the danger, more
han did the government at Washington.
1t called for 5000 men for three months.
They would have furnished 100000 for three
years.
Like the growth of the prophets gourd,
military camps sprang up in night, from
which hastily organized regiments were
hurried forward to the seat OF war.
These scenes are so familiar to those who
ire old enough to remember them, and have
been so often told to those who are not,
hat shall not attempt to recall them, nor
hall l follow those patriotic soldiers
through the four terrible years of hardship,
Exposure and carnage that followed. 1t is
| merciful provision of Providence that
With the lapse of time, the pictures upon
wall grow dim and indistinct, as
In familiar nhiaotC in q lanHca9na G 70
.ede from them. shall not therefore at
empt to recall, for no tongue can describe
Tor pep portray the priyatiOnS, dangers and
of the soldier. Though had the
ongue of an angel, could not if l would
ell you of
"The horrors of the conflict day,
The gloomy field Of death,
The CHASTITY slain, the severed head
The raven STOPPING DER the dead
AS the grasses of nearly twenty-five years
over the remains of our deceased comrades,
70 let the ivy OF fOrgetfulness mantle the
memory of their sutferings. Their names
md deeds, however, should be forever per-
,etuated in song and in story, and upon
ZACH recurring anniversary OF Decoration
Day, our children and our children's chill
lren to the latest day shoEld VISIT the ir !
raves, to draw theretrofA a fesf iE5pifa- I
ion of patriotism and to renew their devO-
ion to the Union.
The Carthagenians annually brought |
heir infant sons to the temple and swOre
hem to eternal hatred of Rome. Let us
ring our sons and daughters annually to |
heSe sacred mounds, that over them, they |
nay, in their hearts, VOW everlasting hos
ilities to dislOyalty and rebellion. This is
10 unkindly or vindictive spirit towards
hose who were once our foes. Since the |
lose of the war have mingled much with
'eople. from the South and some of my
most cherished friendships are with them.
have learned long ago to give them credit
OnvictiOns OF duty, patriOtism-from their
tandpOint-that animated lis. From a sol
iers standpoint, during those four years of
bloody strife, the North and the South be-
anne somewhat better acquainted than they
lad ever been before, and learned to enter
ain wholesome respect for each other.
n all my intercourse with SOuthernerS l
ave never met one who ever expressed
egret that the war terminated as It did, in
luding the eXtinguishment of slavery.
Although not strictly pertinent to the Oc-
aston, can never discuss the incidents
nd issues of the war without advertlng to
he fact, which should never be forgotten
" us or our children, that while we were
ghting against the brave hearts and strong
ghting England as well, and that the war
vas prolonged for years, hundreds of thou
ands of lives were sacrificed, and thou
ands of millions of dollars expended in
Consequence of the aid and comfort given
0 the enemy by ''pertidious Albion The
rOOps that we encountered, so far as they
we're supplied by the Confederate govern
lent, were clad in British cloth, armed
Nth British guns, and shot us with British
all and powder. This, notwithstanding,
ur blockade, which a friendly power was
ound to respect, might have been excused.
But hating us for the successful revOlu-
ion of 1776 and the humiliating of her ma
al supremacy in the war of 1872 and jeal-
us of our growing commerce. when she
aw us in a photographic which she hoped
yOuld end in the downfall of the republic,
he sent forth her pirate steamers to destroy
ur ships: war vessels built in British dock
ards by British artisans, of British iron,
rmed with British guns and manned. by
ritish seamen, but fraudulently flying the
confederate flag.
We also encountered another enemy,
Tho did us no harm except as constant
Durce of irritation and evaporation, the
-orthern copperhead, who cannot be left
nnOtced and of whom have not patience
speak.
No language, living or dead. furnishes
xpletives expressive enough to character
e his infamy. He lured the South into re-
elton by false promises of restraint upon
-. Il. .l