The National tribune., 1894-03-29

REPRESENTATIVE KILGoRE.
human probability, sacriie so much for the
Constitution as did the soldiers of the Union
army His was a warfare for the preservation
of what he believed must speedily become the
greatest Nation of the earth.
His flag, the Stars and Stripes, was the
proudest ensign kissed by the breezes of any
land, and its perpetual glory or eternal dis
grace depended upon his valoT. He batted
for great Nation, great principle, great
cause, and his effort in every way worthy
of the great result attained.
CONFEDERATE ARMY.
The Union army was the greatest army of
modern times the greatest army known since
the invention of firearms.
The army it fought, the Confederate army,
was second only to the Union army in modern
history. Mistaken in Judgment as to the cause
for which it fought it was yet an American
army. Called into existence at the bebest of
political leaders who committed the great crime
of rebellipg against their Government without
cause, the rank and file of this army speedily
came to believe they were fighting for their
home and in justifable cause, and, so i'm
pressed, fought with a courage often to despera-
tion worthy of any cause. This great COnfed-
crate army had embodied in it 100000 men,
estimated by some as high as i 100000.
UNION ARMY.
To meet this great army in its own land, to
attack it in its breastworks, along its great
rivers to drive it from its Notifications in the
fastness of its own mountains TO subdue it, TO
conquer it, to compel its surrender, was the
mission of the great Union army. Nobly.
patiently, herocally, thoroughly it performed
this mission. Only Americans could make
such resistance. Only Americans could over
come such resistance. With courage and
bravery seldom equaled and never exceled the
Union army accomplished its herculean task.
Its numbers were the greatest of any army of
modern times. 1t embodied from first to last
2.656,053 1t bore on it's rolls at muster-out
1,000, 5l6 men. while the enemy at the same time
numbered 100000. and at the beginning of the
the campaign tue Summer before half million.
NAVY.
To our gallant navy, that strong arm of the
Union forces, which fought by river and sea
and won laurels for bravery, daring, and in
trepid courage in its many engagements with
the enemy, the highest praise is due.
The services of our valiant and patriotic sail
ors in the cause of the Union is beyond measure.
The glory they achieved will never grow dTim.
The Union soldiery, the army and navy of
the United States, fought with answering de-
votiOn to the right with an uncOnquerable faith
in the justice Of their cause; fought for their
country and their homes. for the flag and the
Constitution of their fathers, and they were
invincible. The American Nation and it's great
]
American Union at whatever cost.
Mr.. Chairman, victory came at last. The
Nation was saved.
Three hundred thousand Union soldiers and
100000 Confederates went down to death during
this great struggle, and third more was after
the war speedily added to this great army of
the dead from the effects Of that service.
ACHIEVEMENTS.
Great, however rs was this Union army in
,kaFc 4 nd for,
was it in achievements and results. This army
ssved-literally, Mr. Chairman, saved-a Ma
| tion the greatest Of all the Nations OF the
| earth.
The salvation of this Nation of 80, 0OO, 900
people at that time by the Union army insured
! the perpetuity of the United States Of America
and made possible its progress to its present
! greatness in wealth and development, and its
| increase in numbers to 20 600 900 souls. From
| that baptism of fire and blood it has achieved
a glory and renown Of which the most sanguine
American before the war had no conception.
The Worlds Columbian Exposition at Chi
cagO, that grand panorama of the progress of
| the worlds civilization, EN- phasized this Nation
as equal among the greatest Governments
! of the earth.
He who compares the census of this country
| Of 1860 with the census of 1890 must pause TO
| admire its wonderful and unparalleled advance
! in education, science, invention. manufactur-
| Ing, WediJu, the Liberal aTLS ana Culture OF It's
people. This is the development of the Nation
whose life for four years hung in a balance and
which was saved by the great Union army.
| FREEDOM OF MEN.
More than this, it came TO the soldiers of the
| Union army as TO no other soldiery as to no
other generation of men. To them was accord
ed the great and imperishable honor of not only
battling for their homes, their country and
| their flag, but Of also battling for the freedom
| IF Eor frad
! there were 100000 slaves in this land :;
| when Lee surrendered at Appomattox these
slaves they and their children, became frecmen
| forever. No greater honor can come to men
than came to the Union soldiery who struck
the shsckles from the enslaved men, women,
and children.
Grand. however, as was the achievement of
the American Nation and Union army in the
conflict, far grander was their glory at its
close.
When the Confederate army surrendered to
the Union forces in 1865, the power of the
latter was beyond estimation. Ii numbered
a great army of veteran and victorious soldiers,
commanded by the greatest Generals of modern
times The will of that army was resistless
its power supreme.
With such history and experience behind
them, what in the light Of the past and its
presidents, Mr. Chairman, shall we expect OF
this great Union army aud the great North,
/ ~
ment of the fallen foe? Their action, sir, was
guided by no example in history; and, as the
American Nation has no likeness in any of the
Nations OF the past, neither does history fur
nish precedent in all its annals of the for
bearance and magnanimity of the North and
its great army toward their defeated brethren
OF the South.
WHAT THE SOUTH EXPECTED.
What, Mr.. Chairman, did the South them
| selves exnect IN defeated N an add rees IN thf
people of the South near the closing days of the
rebellion, which was the unanimous voice o.
the Confederate Senate and the Confederate
House of Representatives. the people were told
by their Congress If they failed in the war thai
1.-THE Southern States would be held as con
quered provinces by the despotic Government
at Washington )" that they would be kept in
subjugation by the stern hand of military
power. as Venecia and Lombardy have beer
held by Austria, as Poland is held by the Rus