Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-06-07

useful members. Military discipline
had begotten in them habits of regu-
larity, punctuality and dispatch of in
te lligent persistency in the accomplish
ment of difficult undertakings. These
habits brought to the front in the fields
of business the same men who had so
lately been at the front on The fields of
battle.
The period since the war has been one
of unprecedented activity in all lines of
business and in everything pertaining to
the developcment of our country's re-
sources. Who can estimate the degree
of this activity and the share of its re-
suits which are due the experience and
discipline of army life!
Passing from the war itself, let us for
moment look at some of the results
which it accomplished. What are they?
The first and most important is the
demonstration to all the world and for
all time, that the United States is a
nation and not confederation that
the constitution is sacred and indestruc-
tibe; that the Government at WASH
ington, duly chosen and inaugurated,
represents the concentrated power, the
intelligence and the will of the whole
people, and that no State or States
dare gainsay its authority.
Had this been all that was accom-
pished, it is worth the cost. The very
fact, that the question whether we are a
nation, was asked and seriously debated,
was n standing menace TO our existence.
The people have rendered their verdict
and it is recorded in letters of blood. 1t
reads, "Indivisible and indestructible
nationality for the American people. ="
The incidental results of the conflict
are many and important. OF these,
the most notable is that human blood
ard bone, and muscle, and immortal
souls are no longer articles of merchan-
disc. The blot of human slavery no
longer defaces our fair name and fame.
As and outgrowth of this fact, labor has
risen to higher dignity. The man
who performed the tasks which the slave
performed, though he did so of his own
free will, and for compensation, was in
a measure degraded to the level of the
slave. With the death of slavery, ended
the degradation of labor. Now, the
man who shows an honest dollar, re-
ceived for honest labor, shows a patent
of nobility
Another result of the war and incl
dent to the destruction of slavery, is a
new era of material developement in
| the South. Slavery and progress were
incompatible. The chains which hound
| the slave bound the master as well
His sIave.tilled soil refused TO yield its
richest fruits and his mines would not
disclose their hidden wealth. Com
merce and manufactures disdain alike
the company of the slave and the slave
owner.
With the advent of freedom all was
changed. The baying of the blood
hound has given way to the scream
of the locomotive. Instead Of the
groaning of the slave beneath the over
seer's lash we hear the gruaning OF
wheels beneath the burdens of advanc-
ing commerce and manufactures. The
music of the hammer and the saw, and
iha hum of the factory come from
South AS well as North of Mason and
DiXon's line and swell the grand
chorus of Union, Liberty, Security and
Progress.
These words are big with meaning.
They include all that makes our coun-
try's name beloved at home and honored
abroad. All that they imply we owe Ia
men, living and dead, who fought to
suppress the rebellion of 'Gl.
How are we acknowledging the Obli-
CATION? Soidieis' Homes open hOspt-
able doors to receive the Survivors
while shafts of granite and statues OF
| bronze are rising ON every hand 10 com,
memorate their deeds of vaor. The
pen Of the historian is busy prUclaiming
their heroism To future generations
But all this IL not enough. Granite and
bronze are poor substitutes for food
clothing and shelter. True, the Sol
diers' Home provides all these, but thu
veteran who enters il must leave his
family and friends behind.
Many feel that to accept tha hospi
taiity of the Home is somewhat like
entering the poorhouse. Under tn,
existing pension laws. the disabled
veteran must trace the cause of his dis
ability TO something which occurred
while he was in the military service
In many cases this is extremely diff
cult in some impossible. Yet who
can doubt that many veteran whose
physical vigor has prematurely left him
had his constitution sapped by exposure
and hardships endured III the service
of his country?
l believe that the government should
grant liberal pension to every mar
who rendered honorable service in tht
suppression of The rebellion. This gen
eral pension should, in my opinion
vary In amount according to the length
of service. 1t should not be substitul,
for the pensions now granted, but in
addition to them. 1t should not b,
doled out as charity TO the needy, bu
given as a treewill Offering in rccogni.
tion Of great service even as the sol
diers made freewill offering of them.
selves at the altar OF their country. Th,
immense growth of cur national wealth
Cutting the treasury with millions o
surplus revenue, would have been i'm
possible but for the successful issue o
the war, Let the Government Bhar