Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-06-02
l,c. protestant or infldel.

lie, protestant or infldel.
I do not hesitate TO declare that
America should forever remain for true
and real Americans, and for such only,
regardless Of the place Of their nativity
and Of their expstriation. And, while
we cherish the memories OF our de-
parted heroes, we should honor and
protect their surviving defenders with
unstInted justice, till the last tattoo
shall summon the very last soldier and
his widow to their long and fnal rest.
Let this Memorial day stand as
monument of living memory as endear-
ing as the anniversary of our National
Independence. For while the one com
memorates the nations crucial birth,
the other commentaries the death OF
it's redeemers.
The former was the day upon which
the unborn babe of liberty, began th-
hazardous ordeal Of patriotism, In It's
perilous struggle for birth and life.
But the living infant grew, and be
came apparently strong and healthy
man.
1t was proud of the day ofits birth
and upon the Fourth Of July, the boom
ing Of cannon and the exultant shouts
Of millions Of freemen, proclaimed that
that was nations jubilee.
But from its birth 1t bore the taint OF
disease for the cancerous gangrene of
human slavery had fastened upon the
the lower parts of Its body polite.
The soothing poultices Of various sorts
of "compromise" had only increased it,
power and strengthened its hold, until
| it demanded the right of sustenance OF
Of existence upon every part Of the
body.
Failing In that demand 1t then as
serted the right, and forcib' y undertook
the hazardous experiment of dismem-
berment by amputating itself from it.
upper and northern half
The scalpel sword had been drawn,
and determined blow had fallen, wheb
/ Va OuA h0thOtto bCcs
advisers was had, and the unanimou.
conclusion was, that national dismem
berment could only end In the nation's
death.
Then began the mighty struggle t.
prevent the amputation, and to save
the nation's life.
One million, five hundred thousand
brave and patriotic men were called
from their homes during that long and
perilous struggle, while two hundred
thousand of them sacrificed their lives
to save the body of the republic, and the
life of liberty.
Eight hundred millions of the ma.
tiOns revenue was expended, and an ap.
palling legacy Of two thousand, eight
hundred and forty five millions Of In
debtedness, was bequeathed to the sur
vivOrs and their heirs, a. the stupen
dous cost of preserving this nation anG
this temple of liberty.
Besides the regular expenses of thu
government, enormous sums were
raised and spent by states, cities, townt
and individuals, in Quitting and send
ing volunteers; and by the sanitary
commissions and other societies for the
comfort Of the sick and wounded
soldiers, and for the whole, army In
general. But fortunately aud happily
the corroding cancer of human slavery
had disappeared from the entire body
polite forever.
j The enormous expenditures and
losses Of the country north and south
are beyond all record, and beyond al
computation and can never be estima
ted or known. 1t left the Lation al
most decimated and the country upon
the very verge of bankruptcy.
At what vast expenditure of the
titanic energies of the people, and al
what stupenduous price, do we to.
day enjoy degree of liberty and pros
perity, unparalleled in the history OF
| man.
The immortal Linc0ln's definition OF
this republic, that II is "a government
Of the people, by the people and for the
people," must forever remain as the
unchallenged aud eternal principles of
all our legislation.
-