The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-13


testimonial o, ihnt fnot wc eroot and dedicate
It in an impressive presence. Not only nre We
IN tho midst OF the dead, but we are surround
ell with bloody fields md historic he ighi s. Every
spot on which the eye rests Is hnllowed ground.
Our memories are filled with the deeds OF other
days. Visions long gone come back iorns
dlsmembered and bleeding country arises DO,
fore US Grief and mourning are in every
household Countrymen are striving ngninsO
countrymen Two flags are In the sky. Two
governments are struggling for the mastery.
Hooker is ngain battling In tae ciouds, ana
once more Thomas is storminR Mission Ridge.
AgGin we see the moving coumns, waving
flags and glttering bayonets. Once
more we hear the roar and tumult OF bnttle--
the rattle OF musketry, the shrek OF shells, the
shouts OF the victors, and the groans OF the dy'
ing Oh, horrible nghtmarei Break away
from It and look again The scene is changed.
Tho armies have vanished. Where wos war,
reigns peace. Warning states have beeomel low
ing sisters. One flag floats over all. The same
institutions everywhere prevail The curse OK
slavery is no more The Union has been pre-
serted. The best blood Of the nation has wash'
cd out the one and cemented the other. The
constitution of the fathers have been perfected
by the sons. The nation has entered upon Q
new life. We are already the strongest rich
est and hnppest people on the face OF the earth,
and yet oil wo are is but afeeble preface to the
grandeur that awaits us.
What has wrought this transformation The
Union arms. Their triumph secured oil these
| blessings.
Who now can paint the picture we would
have presented to-day had the rebellion sue
ceededY Dsunfted-slavery here--free states
| Wonder. An irrepressible conflict no longer
| restrained by common interests. The Ohio
| river boundary line between hostile govern
| ments. AS many flags as fancies, and as many
| rebellions rs Jeff Davises Standing armies
| burdensome p ntaxes-depreciated credit-re-
speoted by nobody-despssed by all--even. by
| ourselves.
And yet there arc men who sanctlmoni.
ously roll up their eyes and lugubriously
| proclaim that "Ohy God knows which side was
| right"
| This monument is solemn protest against
| such silly and wicked nonsense The man who
| would degrade the war to mere trial OF
strength or display of valor is guilty OF a crime
second only to the rebellion itself. Valor there
/ was on both sides, and that too, OF the highest
quality, but the sublimity of the struggle was In
the principles at stake They related to our
| moral as well as our political warfare Human
rights and personal liberty, as well as American
nationality, were bound UP in the issue, Free,
popular government was on trial. Success was
our triumphant salvation-failure would havo
been our unspeakable ruin.
| Who SO blind as not to seer Who so untaith"
full as not to accept these results and abide py
them9 Their good influences have not been
| confined to ourselves. While uplifting u.s. they
country on the faoe OF tho earth. An enlarge.
ment OF the rightz OF thejsubject In England,
q republic in France, universal manhood suf-
frRge in Germany, substantial ourtnilment or
the prerogatives of royalty and broader recog-
milton OF the right OF the people every where to
participate in their own government are but q
few OF the many important consequences that
have resulted from the impetus our achieves
ments have given to the cause OF humanity.
Who go insensible to all this glory as not to be
proud OF the United States Of America? Only
he who grovels in the darkness of tho past.
Thank God that darkness can not last much
longer Tho brightness of coming greatness
will shortly dispel its faintest trace. Soon the
last OF the War generation will be gone, and ere
we know 1t our e5, 100000 of people will have
| grown to more than 100000,000 In that day no
one will be heard expressing doubt Us to the
right of that great struggle. With our mer-
chant marine on every sea, ouY ships trading in
every port and the influence Of our institutions
dominating the continent and inspiring the
world, nobody will mourn for slavery, defend
rebellion, or chatter about state SOW
ereignity. Obeying common constitution
and following o common flag to COM
mon destiny, the pfeiudces that have drawn
sectional lines will be swallowed up In gener-
Gus rivalry that knows not either north, south,
I east or west, but only common pride in
every portion Of our common country That
glad day is swiftly coming. Let US run to meet
it. htff4k F"E .
. At the close OF Gov. Foraker's speech the
, cord attached TO the yelling of the monument
was pulled by an eisht-year-old boy, Marion l..
: Ross, OF Christiansb burg o., nephew Of Marion
:, A. Ross one of the executed, and only male
/ survivor OF the Ross family.
The event closed with speaking by Mai O. W.
7 Norwood, of Post 40, pledglng that 1t and Post
No. Q, would look after the monument as q
trust Pledges Of support in this work were
made by Mrs. Hattie S. Stewart on behalf o
, the w. II. C.'s and by Mr. John Patten on be-
I half OF the sons veterans
t The benediction was pronounced by Rev
: William Pittenger surviving raider, after
, which "go as you please" speaking meeting
closed the exercises.
Neatly CnnnI,t.