The state capital., 1891-09-12
At GETTYSBURG,

fer's Address.
On the first day of July, 1868, the
union Army of the Potomac under Gen.
Meade and the confederate Army of
Northern Virginia, faced each other on
the field of Gettysburg, Pa. The con-
federates had resolved upon an in
vasion of the north. and the
flower of their armies under their
greatest general was on loyal soil.
Every schoolboy knows the result of
the battle. Every Illinois schoolboy
should know that Illinois troops were
there; thnt many lost their lives; that
tnany performed deeds of valor When
the three days fight was over news
was received that brought sorrow to
many homes in our state-made many
mothers and fathers hearts ache, made
many wives widows and many children
orphans.
Almost every state has erected mon
uments on that battlefield to commem-
crate the deeds of their soldiers. Illi-
nois has been d little tardy, but on
Thursday, September, 8, 1891, her rep
resentatives dedicated three handsome
monuments there that will be credit
to the state On that day Gov. Fifer,
accompanied by Secretary of State
Pearson, State Treasurer Wilson, Gen.
Fitzsimmons, Brig. Gen. Barklcy and
many other disting guished men, vis'
tied tire noted battlefield. They
first viewed the ground where Lin
coin made his immortal dedicatory adj
4 l.
highly resolve that these dead shall not
have died in vain; that this nation, un-
der God, shall have a new birth of free
dom; and that government of the peo-
pie by the people and for the people
shall not perish from the earth" Then
they went to Devils Den," and they
looked down into the wide and deep
crevices where the confederate sharp
shooters were found dead after the bat
tie, and then to the wheat-field, called
the "bloody."
Several addresses were made, but the
principal one was by Gov Fifer, who
transferred the three monuments Ton
the first days field to the Gettysburg
Battle field Memorial association. He
said:
We are upon historic and thrice conse-
| Grated ground. Here American valor
| fought, Ill, d and triumphed for union and
| liberty. Here Lincoln, from out the gather
| ing shadow of sad but triumphant death,
| spoke simple dedeatOry words of such
| high pathos and meaning that all who fol-
| low can but echo his sublime sentiments. II
| Lincoln, in 1868, declared it imposs ble then
further to hallow this sacred place, what
can be left for him who would now speak?
| Nevertheless, 1t is fitting we thus come, un-
| der the eye of an approving nation, and
| with appropriate ceremonies further conse
| crate the manhood and youth of America
| to those great principles which national
| valor here carried through appalling car
| mage, upon the points OF triumphant bayo-
| nets, across the decisive battle field of the
| civil war.
| Scarcely had the American Union been
| formed when the question was asked: "Can
| q state dissolve it?' Scarcely was the SUI
| prcme court of the nation robed when it was
| declared that not this tribunal, but each
component state through its own petty
| agencies, might Judge of the extent of the
| powers conferred by the federal constitu-
| ton. Heated discussion and much ill will
| arose. On one side were the Kentucky and
| Virginia resolutions, with those who drew
| them, and the many who advocated their
| principles; on the other were the wise coun-
1
| ton, the mastery opinions of Marshall, the
| potent and luminous arguments of Hamilton
| and Webster. One side believed this weak
| league of states, each in itself II political
| sovereignty, which might any day jo>tle
| from its uncertain place in the union; the
| other said: 1--WE have n nation with n na
| tion's powers and nations integrity, SOW
| ereign, grand and free"
| But for the firebrand flung into the wan.
| ing cOnflagration early IN the century by the
| rising interest of slavery the doctrine of ma
| tional sovereignty would have had nation
| al and boodless triumph. But slowly and
| ominously up Columbia's fair sky crept two
| great shadows; the first n ast-growins
| slave power, fierce, barbarous and insatia-
| bic; back of that, and its dire consequence,
| impending civil war. The conflict was truly
| irrepressible. Extreme on the northern
| side were ranged sentimental phlanthro-
| psts who would make no allowance for
| southern environments, such men as are
| always on hand to do good at others ex-
| pense and practice high virtues by proxy.
| At the other extreme was the staggering
| slave driver, who delighted in blood drawn
| by the lash, and who foolishly supposed the
| consciences of great Anglo Saxon people
| could be awed to silence by a display OF
| bowie knives. Between these extreme lines
| both sides produced able and conscientious
| statesmen; both were infused with sturdy
valor; both numbered adherents OF the
| truest Amer icanism. who, i'll anguish and
| tears, deplored the awful crisis they help
lessly saw approaching. both prayed SIM
| cerely to the same God.
At length the lightnngs from the cloud
struck. We older ones know what followed
but none can ever describe it. 1t is good
however, to believe that we all see more
clearly since the storm cleared the atnos
phere. Brethren know each other better
| since they have locke d into the muzzlcs o
| each others guns. 1t were folly to now con
tend In the pride of individual opinion as tc
where the right lay in this great strife. His
tory is already pronouncing the final judg
ment That Judgment will be charitable ant
| kind to all; but let no faint hearted patr!o
| doubt that Gods eternal truth will be estab
lished in it. Nor should we forget that a
the bar of history prior adjudication o.
armed force can not be pleaded. He who
would win in the supreme court of civil
lied opinion must leave captured color.
and the spoil of cities, and come with fruit.
of Justice and humanity in his hands IL
this Judgment bar we of the north bring
the broken chain of human bondage; w,
bring tears of Joy from the cheeks unin
vited by smiles; we bring the realize hope!
of a nation and the imposing majesty of
people; we bring the civilizing potency of
union of American interests under single
flag; we bring the answered prayers .,nt
| lHlHllci dSpll'alIONS Ol our HtFOfC IOfeId
theirs, who in sore travail planted free insti
| tutions i'll a wildernt ss and here, In nj
meekness and charity, we are content t.
rest our cause. Let Judgment be pro
nounced. Let 1t be told whether "the hero
| born of woman" has indeed crushed the
the serpent with his heel, and whether Goo
| verify has marched on" over q redeemed
continent.
II any battle of the civil war can properly
be called decisive, perhaps it was fought or
| this field. Here the confederate dream o
northern invasion was dispeIed; and wheI
the triumphant guns of Grant ut Vicksburs
answered these laundering volleys of Meade
| the result was known. a
| The sons of Illinois were here, as on othe
| fields of that war, to do conspicuous ant
honorable service. You have heard wha
| part they took from the lips of a DISTINGUISH