The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-28

MY lCllOW-ClElL6uS. We COuHbcu nOb LAO OoSN
when the war commenced We only knew
that the union was threatened with disrup-
ton: we only knew that the nation of our
fathers was endangered by the hand of trea-
SON. And that alone made hberty-loving peo-
pie Indifferent to the cost and consequences,
caring for nothing but to smite the hand tnat
would seize their priceless Inheritance, scorn-
ing all other considerations, that they might
preserve mankind the best government in the
world. 1t was then that the genius OF self
government asserted itself, and the whole
north was turned into camp for muster ana
military instruction. The citizens voluntarily
came together to create an army. bound in
noble cause, but for a single great purpose
the preservation OF this union II was an
awful experience for the American man or boy
who knew nothing OF war, save as he had read
of it in the pages and with all the glamor of
history. and who, perhaps, had never SO much
as seen company OF armed men
Unused to hardshipS, unaccustomed TO toll,
undrilled in the tactics of war, with q mothers
blessing and q fathers affectionate farewell.
the son went forth with firm resolve to give up
all. even the last drop Of his life's blood, that
this nation should be saved. We thought at
the beginning and long after the commence
ment OF the war that the union to be saved was
the union as it was That was our understand
ing when we enlisted-that it was the constitu-
tion and the union, the constitution as it was,
and the union as it was-little needing the
teachings of history, that wars and revolutions
cannot tx in advance the boundaries OF their
influence or determine the scope of their power.
History enforces no lesson more clearly. Our
own revolution Of 1776 produced results I'M
looked for by its foremost leaders. Separation
was no part Of the original purpose. Political
alienation was no part of the first plan. Re
Cancellation with the mother country. recon-
Citation on terms alike just and honorable
both to England and the colonies, and humil-
iating to neither was the animating and con-
trolling purpose OF that first great congress.
Why, in 1775. on the 5th day of July, in Phila-
delphia when the Continental congress was in
session, declaring its attitude toward Great
Britain, what did il say? After declaring that
it would raise armies. it closed that resolution
with this significant language:
Lest this declaration should disluiet the
minds OF our friends and fellow subjects in
other parts of the British empire. we assure
them that we do not mean to dissolve the
union which has so long and happily subSisted
between us "
Our fathers said in that same declaration:
I'VE have not raised armies with ambitious
design to separate from Great Britain and es-
tabliSh an independent state"
Those were the views OF the fathers; those
were the hopes fondly entertained by both the
soldiers and statesmen Of the revolution. Why.
even the declaration of independence. which
sounded the voice Of liberty to all mankind
was n shock to some OF the cOiolists. The
cautious and conservative. while firmly be-
lieving in its eternal truths, doubted its wis
dom and expediency 1t was in advance of the
thought of the great body OF the people; yet it
stirred the latent feelings for independence
and the aspirations for self-government re-
sulting inevitably in the founding OF the great
republic that has now lived more than CEN
tury-and is stronger and mightier to-day than
ever before. Out OF it all came the republic,
which stands for humanity, equality and ad-
yancement, which to-day represents more truly
than any other government the best hopes OF a
glorious future for a human race.
So, too, did our civil war produce results en-
tirely Unexpected by either side The south
engaged in it to destroy the union. that 1t might
perpetuate its peculiar institution of slavery.
1t happily accomplished neither the one nor the
other. What was the purpose OF the north? 1
will state its exact purpose, as it was then off,
cially declared. On July -, 1861, congress
adopted a resolution declaring the determine
tion and purpose Of the American people re-
garding the war, then but recently begun.
What was it? Iquote its exact language:
ITO defend the constitution of the United
States and preserve the union
How 1 again quote:
with all the rights-slavery and all-of the
slave states unimpaired
That resolution passed the national house of
representatives with but two dissenting votes.
1t passed the senate unanimously. 1t was rat
flied by the press, by legislatures, conventions
boards OF trade. and even the churches, as the
unanimous voice and wish OF the people in
every northern state and territory. The pres
ident promptly signed it. The cabinet cordial
" Endorsed it, and the officers and soldiers in
the field heartily approved of it Certainly, he
was a bold man who then looked for different
or nobler result of the conflict
Man Proposes But God DispOses.
You know that Lincoln was in the habit OF
saying he would save the union with slavery"
or he would save it without slavery" or he
would save it part slave and part free
There you have the resolution of congress, and
you have the fixed and sole purpose of the
president Us stated by himself Such were the
official manifestOs; such were the Legislative
intent and executive will: and as soon as these
objects were accomplished the war must cease.
That was the boundary of human vision. the
chalk line Of human purpose. the official de-
termination. But it could not be so. God
reigns and men must obey Him. The results
overleaped the resolution: they outran the
early statements and purposes of the presi-
dent they brought emancipation to 100000
people and placed in the constitution OF the
United States. where it had never been before,
and where. under God, it shall stand forever,
the civil and political equality to every citizen
everywhere within the jurisdiction of the
United States. This was not the consumma-
tion devoutly hoped for in the beginning; this
was not the expectation of the early volun-
teers: this was not the purpose OF congress.
nor the hope Of the president and his cabinet.
Mans purposes were overruled, but not from
man came the issue. From Him who is the
sovereign Of soul and limb came our ordeal of
battle; that He might be God and that man
might be free"
Sad Story of the Pension List.
There is another record. q sad and touching
record, that must awaken the sympathy OF
every patriotic heart. Let me briefly allude
to it. The pension list OF the government tells
well the story of the sufierings Of our great
army. On June 30. 1898, pensions were paid to
725.742 invalid soldiers and to 1s5,457 widows.
In the navy pensions were paid TO 1891 invalid
sailors and to 6.O97 widows. making a grand
total in all of 93i,sl7 union pensioners. In
other words. our pension roll on June 30, 1893
contained nearly as many pensioners as the
entire muster rolls of the United States in the
war OF the revolution, in the war OF 1872 and in
the Mexican war combined. Within 5000 as
many names are now borne on our pension
rolls as we're contained in all the enlistment
rolls Of all our armies in all our other wars,
from the revolution to the rebellion. Think OF
it! Ponder well the significance of such a
testimonial to the patriotic services of our
volunteer army.
Fel,ow-citizens and comrades. this long and
highly honorable list is being steadily dimin-
ished by death, and will now rapidly decrease
as the years roll by The pension roll has now
probably reached its maximum: hereafter it
is likely TO recede. Death will stalk through
that patriotic list with increased rapidity as
age overtakes it, as it Is hourly overtaking
every soldier of the great army Of 1s5l-65 The
older veterans cannot last 4 great while longer.
Exposure has fastened to their doors the
steps of the pale messenger. God grant, while
they are still with US. that they Sd ell ever en-
JOY. without stint or grudge, tn bounteous
benefactions OF the country they served. and
the tender care and generous respe ct of their
neighbors and fellow-citizens. Displaced
from the pension roll by death is common