Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-04-20
provide for every surviving soldier

ana sailor OF the war, both by the
establishment OF homes and by pen
sions. Whenever through old age
OF other causes, the nations defender
10 in distress or fails to become self
supporting, simple provision should
be made for his care and maintein-
ance. Nor is this asking too much
tom the government. Neither is it
too great tax on the resources OF the
government.
IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUES DRCIDED.
In the past there have been occasions
when the welfare of mankind was de-
tefmined by the fate of single bat.
tie. When the Greeks stopped the
Persian invasion at Marathon, Euro
pean civilization was saved from Ash.
stic domination. When the Gauls
stopped the Saracens at Tours, Chris.
tianity trlumphed finally over Mahom-
mechanism. Had the fate OF that battle
been otherwise the crescent of the Ma
hbmmedan would to-day float over all
Europe. On these decisive and bloody
fields was preserved the germ of the
freedom which we now enjoy. On
the many bloody fields, stretching
from Vicksburg to Gettysburg, were
fought out and decided questions of
- mighty moment as those of Mara
thon or Tours. When the Union sol.
diers stopped Pockets advance at
Gettysburg, the chains were forever
stricken from labor in this Nation.
Free labor triumphed; slave labor
went down.
The vexed question of the right of
secession, which the fathers of the
Republic had failed to definitely set.
tie, was settled there in the sulphur
smoke and battle-.oar, IN mangled
bodies and human blood.
We can now look around us at the
mighty domain over which our consti-
tuition and laws are obeyed and re-
spected; over which our flag waves
1.-THE Supreme and only emblem OF
majesty and law-and contemplate
what would have been were it not for
your heroistti aud sacrifice. Where
how lives one people, one nation,
there would have been two and posi-
bly, three rival powers. 1t would no,
only have been the South against the
North, but it would have been the
East against the West.
The best feature of all Republican
government would have been de-
stfcyed and the human family in its
march set back thousand
years. | will not dwell on this pic
ture. No words of mine can do ius-
tice to it.
AS we look back with generation
Upon the men who won at Marathon
aud Tours, so, too, will future genera,
tons look back with veneration upon
the men who took Vicksburg aud
saved the day at Gettysburg. But
is a poor substance to live
on. Before they die give them some
thing more substantial aud let venera.
ton come in afterwards.
A BENEFIT TO TINE SOUTH.
Never in all the wars that have been
fought has there been one that, in its
results in any manner equals ours.
We conquered not to enslave, but to
make free. We conquered not to de.
stroN but to build up. The Roman
returning from the war,
to his chariot his captives and
10 triumphal procession entered Rome.
Tho chained captive signihed the con-
aition to which the conquered were
subjected. Where our flag waved
in triumph no onerous conditions we're
imposed. Where our army marched
freedom followed in its train.
The industrial improvement of the
Southern States, since the close OF the
~ar, Ii most gratifying to the Union
soidief. Itsvss said that il we would
destroy the industrial system, founded
IN human slavery, that that portion OF
The Union would languish in poverty.
The contrary is the fact. The indus
'ry of that portion Of the country was
crippled by the incubus Of slavery.
Now that it is removed the new re-
constructed South moves onward in