Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-06-06

world and future generations that they were
neither thieves nor marnudors but brave ana
honorable men and soldiers; that their pun.
ishment was unmerited, and their names
shall shine on the roll OF honor among the
brightest OF all that 'illumine tho pages OF ouI
history. ..
1t is but another added to the many illustra
tions tho world has given OF the mpotcncy OF
blind malice TO blaclSeA virtue, dishgurc worth
and porvort the truth. Socrates has beon all
the nearer to the worlds generation because
compelled TO drink the fatal hemlock. Cicero
has grown continually greater and grander
through all the centuries that his name has
outlived the wicked madness that condemned
him to DEATH And as truth and justice have
vndicated these and thousands, so, too, have
they vindicated those whom we are here to
honor.
This monument is our visible and enduring
testimonial OF that fact. We erect and dedicate
II in an impressive presence. Not only are we
in the midst OF the dead but we are surround.
ed with bloody fields and historic heights Every
spot on which the eyo rests is hallowed ground.
Our memories are filled with the deeds of other
days. Visions long gone come back. torn,
dismembered ind bleeding country arises be-
| fore us. Grief and mourning are in every
household. Countryrhen are arriving against
countrymen. Two flags are in the sky. Two
governments are struggling for the mastery.
Hooker is again battling in the clouds, and
once more Thomas is storming Mission Ridge.
| Again we the moving columns, waving
| flags and glttoring bayonets. Once
more we hear the roar and tumult OF battle
the rattle OF musketry, the shrek OF shells, the
shouts OF the victors, and the groans OF the dy'
| ing. o., horrible nightmarel Break away
| from 1t ..ad look again. The scene is changed
| The armies have vanished. Where was war
| regns peace. Warning states have become Low
ing sisters. One flag floats over ALL The same
institutions everywhere prevail. The curse o
slavery is no more. The union has been pre-
| served. The best blood OF the nation has wash
ed out the one and cemented the other. The
constitution OF the fathers have been perfected
by the sons. The nation has entered upon
new life, We are already the strongest, r ch
| est and happest people on the face OF the earth
and yet all we are is but a eeble preface to the
grandeur that awaits u.s.
What has wrought this transformations TIL,
Union arms Their triumph secured all thes,
| blessings. (
Who now can paint the picture we woult
have presented to-day had the rebellion sue
ceeded. Dlsunted-siavery here-free state
wonder An irrepressible conflict no longe
restrained by common interests. The Oh
river boundary line between hostile govern
ments. AS many flags us fancies and as man,
rebellions as Jcf Davises. Standing armies
burdensome taxes-deprecated credit-re
spected by nobody-despised by all-even b
ourselves.
And yet there are men who sanctimoni
ously roll up their eyes and lugubriousl
proclaim that only God knows which side wa
right .
This monument is solemn protest agains
such silly and wicked nonsense. The man VIII
| would degrade the to mere trial o
strength or display of valor is guilty of Grim
second only TO the rebellion itself. Valor ther
was on both sides. and that, too of the highes
quality, but the sublimity of the struggle was 4
the principles at stake. They related to ou
moral as we'll as our political warfare HumR
rights and personal liberty as we'll MS America
nationality, were bound up in the issue, Free
popular government was on trial. Success wa
our triumphant salvation-failure would hav
been our unspeakable ruin.
Who so blind as not to sect Who so unfaitt
full as not to accept these results and abide
them? Their good influences have not bee
confined to ourselves. While uplifting us the
have gone abroad to be felt in every civiliZe
country on the face OF the earth. An enlarge
ment OF the rights of the subject in England
a republic in France, universal manhood su
frage in Germany, substantial curtalment {
the prerogatives OF royalty, and broader recol
milton OF the right of the people every where
participate in their own government are but
few OF the many important consequences this
have resulted from the impetus our achieve
ments have given to the cause OF humanit
I Who so insensible to all this glory not to /
proud OF the United States of America? Onl
he who grovels in the darkness OF the past.
r Thank God that darkness Cnn not last muC
longer. The brightness of coming greatnei
e will shortly dispel its faintest trace Soon tt
I last of the war generation will be gone and Ell
: we know it our IS 100000 Of people will hay
. grown TO more than 100000, 0O0 In that day I
one will be heard expressing doubt as to til
right of that great struggle. With our me
r chant marine on every sea, our ships trading
t every port and the influence of our institution
dominating the continent and inspiring Il
world, nobody will mourn for slavery, defer
rebellion, or chatter about state so
: | ereignity. Obeyng common constitute
: and following common flag to a con
. mon destiny, the prejudces that have draw
sectional lines will be swallowed up in gene
GUS rivalry that knows not either north, sout
= east or west but only common pride
= every portion OF our common country. 1ht
glad day is swiftly coming, Let US run to me,
1t.
h AT the close OF Gov. Foraker's speech Il
: | cord attached 10 the yelling OF the monumel
was pulled by an eieht-year-old boy, Marion ]
Ross of Chrstiansburg, O., nephew of Mario
), A. Ross one OF the executed, and only ma
survivor of the Ross family.
The event closed with speaking by Maj. G. '
Norwood, of Post 49, pledging that it and Po
4 No. 2, would look after the monument as
!, trust Pie ges of support in this work we
). made by Mrs. Hattie S. Stewart on behalf
the W. II. C.'s and by Mr.. John Patten on b
. half OF the sons veterans.
The benediction was pronounced by Re
William Pittenger, surviving raider. aft
/. which 'go as you please" speaking :heelil
p closed the exercises.
It Neatly Caught.
= Judge Davis was one day in his pl
r vate Office, when he was president
4 tile senate and acting yice-president