Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-06-09


a strange mingling of sadness and iov,
Notwithstanding all this glory, there
came a time when the people of the
tairest section of this country, said te
those of the other sections: 1--WE will
destroy this government. Three CEN
turtles have we lived together; now, our
destiny shall no longer be your des-
tiny, nor your destiny be our destiny,
but we will separate and establish q
new government. We will not be
bound by your constitution ard laws.
We will leave you. We will declare
to the world that our experience at
free government has been a failure"
you were then in those days OF
darkness and strife, and are now the
citizen soldiers. Let me remind YOU
OF the circumstances that demanded
the citizen soldier. Thirty-four years
ago there began to form upon our
Southern horizon the dark cloud OF
wars portending storm. We saw the
faint ~glimmering of what we mistook
for sheet-lightning OF superheated pas
sion. We heard the low mutterings
Of its laundering, but thought them
the grumblings of impotent rage. We
slept on, fondly dreaming that the
rising sun of a new administration, or
the shifting of the political breeze,
would dissipate the storm. We saw
State after State passing ordinances OF
secession and adding their forces to
fla nnt1nrtnn cfAr,t D,,f x.a -sA1
our fears with the deluded hope that
the pacific spirit ofour new administra-
ton would evoke the better Judgment
of the South and bring a peaceful
solution of our difficulties. 1t was not
until the I2th day OF April. 1861 when
that storm cloud shot from its bosom
a thunderbolt which smote the flag
staff of Fort Sumpter, that we awoke
from our delusive dreams. Even then
we were temporarily paralyzed by the
suddenness OF the shock. When fully
aroused, we found ourselves lily pre-
pared to meet the storm. Our insight
hcant navy IA scattered to the four
quarters of the globe. Our treasury
was depleted. Our handful of regular
soldiers, poorly armed, were scattered
over our vast frontier. Many of IL
best officers had left the army and
joined the enemy. Others could not be
trusted, by reason of their sympathy
with secession. The hand OF the
enemy had been in our affairs, prepar-
ing us an easy prey to rebellion. But
we had resources upon which the
enemy had not reckoned. There was
an inexhaustible wealth of patriotism
upon which the government could
draw at any time. That flag staff at
Fort Sumpter seemed a living tree
whose tibrous roots, outreaching found
n~ourishment in every breast. When
that flag staff a struck every loyal
heart felt the wound. When its flag
trailed in the dust, every patriot felt
the insult and was ready to avenge ii.
On the 18th of April, 1861, the first
check was drawn on this bank of re-
sources. 1t called for $4,000 citizen
soldiers. The response was as prompt
and generous as the call was thrilling.
From the pine forests of Maine, from
the factories of New England, from the
busy marts of the Empire State, from
the shops and mines of Pennsylvania,
from the fields of Ohio, from the
prairies of Iowa, and all the West, from
the wales and mountains of our own
little State, came the thousands of
brave and loyal men, ready to bare
their breasts to the deadly storm. This
then, was the occasion that called into
being the citizen soldiers. 1t was an
organized attempt to sever a union of
States ordained of God, when he cast
up the mountain ranges and furrowed
the rivers Of our land. A union which
had been cemented by the blood of
our fathers, shed in the common cause
OF liberty. A union whose perpetuity
was and is demanded by the best in
terests of both sections. II meant
even more than this. 1t was the initial
step in the elimination of a secret
conspiracy-planned by men under
oath to support the constitution oftlie
United States. A conspiracy planned
in the beginning of the presidential
campaign Of 1860"
1t was a great danger that threaten
ed us. But that danger was not to us
alone, but through us to the cause Of
liberty throughout the world. The
success of our popular government
had given great hope to the oppressed
peoples of the earth. The thrones OF
monarchs were beginning to feel the
uprising of the spirito OF liberty among
the people. Our failure would have
caused the shadow on the dial plate of
human progress to turn far back toward
tie midnight of absolute despotism.
The question was not merely whether
a few States should be allowed to with
draw from the union and set up a gov
eminent Of their own. but whether or
not''government by the people, Of the
people, and for the people" should
perish from the earth.
There are various motives that in
spire men to take up arms and imper-
il life. The savage braves death in
attacking a foe, urged on by a thirst
for blood and revenge. The Goths and
Vandals overran Southern Europe led
by a lust for plumber. The arm of the
Roman soldier was nerved by the ex-
pectant glory of conquest and univer-
sal dominion. The crusaders were
emboldened and made reckless by re-
ligious fanaticism. The legions of Ma
poleon rushed to conquest or death
through the admiration Of their gen
al. The courage of England's army is
kept up largely by memory of and
pride in its historic achievements.
But none Of these motives are worthy
to be compared with those that inspir-
ed our citizen soldiery to do and dare
and die. They sought not riches, hon
or, and glory. They staked not their
lives for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of any
leader. Their hearts were fired with
an intense love of country. and a high
appreciation ofcivil institutions. They
saw the It's of popular government
assailed and few to its rescue. They
looked upon our flag and saw these
sytnbolized-religious liberty, politi-
cal equality, personal freedom-all
that is d sirable in human government
and praiseworthy in civilization. And
when they saw the red hand of seces-
sion reach forth and pluck from the
field of blue, one by one, its shining
stars, then all that was manly and pa
triotic was stirred within them, and
they cried aloud: This shall never
be. The Union must and shall be
preserved, though we die" From