Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-05-25
a GREAT UPRISING.

The Surprising Material and Moral
Strength Of the Loyal States in 1891.
As tho years roll by we get a proper
perspective of the civil war, and as we
have leisure and opportunity to compare
it with other wars we realize the i'm
portance of Y feet too often over
looked. In our impotence and criticism
in 1875 we forgot that no war OF
modern times had been waged by n
nation with rulers so little prepared by
experience. The soldiers of the Union
in 1851 were at s9iutely new to the art of
war, and by an extraordinary combina-
ton Of circumstances the civil rulers
were at the same time almost devoid OF
experience in practical administration.
The Republican party was led by very
new men, whose almost entire experience
had been in political opposition. They
were indeed ardent patriots, but SO far
as experience in governing went they
were in 1851 just like passengers who
might suddenly be called to take charge
Of q ship going to pieces beneath their
feet in a storm which made thrice sea.
soned mariners pale.
Suddenly they were called upon to
deal with the most embarrassing COM
plications in diplomacy, the most diff
cult problems in finance, the most SUBJ
tie and complex issues in constitutional
law, and to meet demands for military
purposes which would have staggered
the most powerful monarchies in Eu-
rope. Russia, Austria, England and
France had in turn owned their inca
pacity to suddenly mobilize a quarter Of
a million men. The United States, which
had but 10000 men in its regular army
In April, 1851, had before the frosts Of
autumn fell nearly 700,0 600 men armed
and equipped and in camp or on the
march.
And with what success? Comparisons
are In this case indeed eloquent. Great
Britain's administrative system confess.
edly broke down in supplying less than
$4,000 men in the Crimea. In the win.
ter Of 1851 the Washington administers.
ton supplied 600, 900 men, scattered
along a line Of $500 miles from tho
mouth OF the Potomac to New Mexico.
Before the wal a revenue of $50. oOO. GOO
ayear alarmed the nation. In a few
months Secretary Chase had to raise
xooo,ooN,oOO q year, and soon had to
double that.
In ava warfare the Americans Of
April, 1881, were as children. vet in
eight months they had established q
naval blockade the most thorough in
history, and in eight more their roms
monitors and other ironclads had rev.
olutionized naval warfare.
The energy of the north was indeed
wonderful, its reserve of strength vastly
greater than itself suspected. To o,ote
a western byword, I'VE achsa with
strength" No country in the world was
ever stronger for war purposes than were
the adhering states in 1861.
And back Of all the material resonrcos
were the soul, the moral yigor. the fierce
and high resolve that the time he'd co,,a
TO settle the great issue once for an
Oniy twice in al history has there
been anything at ali approaching if
the uprisings Of Holland against Snain
ana Of france in her early revolutionary
ira. Time, instead of ,essenino ha;yht-
ems oar appreciation of that great and
truly national movement. The nersnac-
1--we OF 10 odd years gives us a more IN.
spirang view of the great uprising Of tba
north. II oh0