Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-10-15
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS.
C Commemorative Tablet tothe Two
Patriots Unveiled.
Also . soIdIers' Monument. at GaIesburgs
uI.-Addresses by Hon. Robert T.
Lincoln and Hon. Chaun-
eey III Depew.

and Douglas by the unwilling of a
bronze tablet commemorative of the
thirty eight anniversary of the great
Lineoln-DougIas joint debate. Great
preparations have been under way for
. year, and large crowd
was present to witness the ex-
ercises. During the morning a
beautiful soldiers monument in
Hope cemetery was unveiled. Shortly
after ten o'clock parade composed of
the local G. A. R., and visiting posts,
Che Veterans league, several COM
panies of state militia, the police
and fire departments and Woman's
Relief corps of the G. A. r. passed
through the principal streets and
was reviewed in the public square by
the mayor, Chauncey NJ. Depew, Sena-
Tor Palmer and other distinguished
guests. The procession then marched
20 Hope cemetery, where the monu-
ment was unveiled by Hon. Robert L.
Lincoln. AS the monument was IN
yelled it was saluted by. a number of
sounds from two brass field pieces.
Hon. Robert 7. Lincoln then delivered
che following address:
Dir. LIneoIn's Address.
The question debated here in 1855 was one as
to which it now seems almost incredible that
there should be opposing parties, and yet that
question caused the longest and most bitter
war OF modern times. Human slavery had
been protected by the laws Of the United states
IN IS states Of the Union. The republican
party was formed by those who
believed slavery to be heinous
wrong 20 the enslaved and economically
Injurious to the community In which it existed;
but the party was formed, not to attack slavery
Ia the states where IL was hen lawful, but to
prevent its extension into other states The
candidate Of that party was elected president
In 1870. and as chief magistrate he was at once
confronted by the attempted secession from
the Union OF. at first seven, but
soon eleven states with a population
OF five and half millions OF whites and
three and half millions Of slaves, occupying
. territory nearly four times as large as France
and having a sea coast of more than three
E1OcsaEd miles. In spite of the most solemn
and the most authoritative assurances to the
contrary, the people of the seeding states
claimed Iiat their rights and property were
s1Senaced by the new administration; they
formed q separate government as nation, Gre
sted armies. seized all national property
within their limits: dehed the constitution
@E1d the laws OF the Union. The gloom ct those
threatening days can never be forgotten by
those ShO had passed the age of childhood.
Week after week II lasted. but finally it
seemed TO be dissipated as by a flash OF light
1ing- The flag OF the nation had been fred up
disappeared The world saw the uprising Of q
great people. Before the little garrison of Fort
sumter had marched from its ruined walls
proclamation was drawn by the president call
Ing for 800 soldiers 10 suppress the insurrec-
E1Oa, but ere there was time to issue it, there
came TO him. to pledge the earnest support of
ais great ability and widespread infience in
re-establishing the authority OF the national
government. the great democratic leader
who had been his lifelong political an
<agouist, Stephen A Douglas. In the
peril Of the republic, the contentious
Of democracy and republieanism were by him
and Lhe president put aside. and for the first
eazne In their lives they clasped hands as allies
In the public cause. In the election then Just
past, more than q million devoted followers in
1he north had cast their ballots for Mr. Doug
las. and to them and to ell others whom his
voice could reach, lie did not cease 20 cry until
ais unttmely death: Every man must be for
the United States or against it: there can be
ssO neut-als in this war-only patriots and
8raitors-"
Upon the appalling events which crowd the
history Of the next four years there is here no
Edne 20 dwell We enjoy the blessings of the
liberties and Of the great nationality which
the Valor OF our defenders has made enduring,
gratefully honor the names of all of them.
whether living or dead. And for this we come
'a0-day to the graves OF these dead soldiers,
ghO we're OF the men willing TO give their lives
ShAt their country might live.
One great lesson 20 be learned from the lives
u SneSe men anu Lnelr cOmraQeS Is that no
danger To the republic is so great that IL may
not be overcome by the union OF patriots. The
republic may have banded enemies who are
mt armed hosts In the mind OF lover OF his
eountry there is no difference between an
attack upon its territory and an attack upon its
hOnor. When either is lost all is lost that
gives the pride of citizenship OF a great
country. In the defense OF one, as in the de-
zfeRse OF the other. there must be sacrifice OF
All private interests-a sinking OF all mere
pf ri
she sOphistries addressed to his base selfish.
cess. but to the voice of his conscience. This
Is what was done by the patriots OF 1861, and
: sAis is what will be done by the
union then was invincible, and their
. unIon viii always be invincible. And now let
us dedicate this monument to the memory Of
these patriots OF Galesburg and to patriotism.
n il not monument Of pride. put up by the
-SfctOrs IN the flush Of their conquest Since
tzlle close OF the great struggle which it COM
KDemoEates victorS and vanquished have by
thousands and tens Of thousands fallen into
tbe sleep Of death under the peaceful shelter
N their homes. With few exceptions
the names of those who were in high places of
sla;e on either side who led armies or
corps or divisions in battle, or commanded
-szaadrons on the sea, are in the great cata-
AD%le og tae dead To those who survive the
-Ezemories brought up by an occasion like
4f4s have long ceased to recall the exu tation
Of victory on one side, or the grief OF de-
IA IRE than thirty years have turned the once
bitterly warning streams Of sentiment into one
oEoad river. on whose current is borne in
safety and in glory the ship OF state, and no
saDe lives under the protection OF its flag who
-aCcS not at heart rejoice that the rock of dis
Eas1io1 was exploded from its path and the
ezanIcer OF human slavery torn from its frame
work
Addresses were also delivered by
w @. Cochran, department COM
zu-ander of Illinois @. A. r and Mrs.
Marie E. MeGauley, department presi-
. dent Illinois w. r C.
Shortly after o'clock an address of
welcome was delivered by Col Clark
Z, Carr. This was followed by an
address by C. E Nash, president of
ellie Lombard university. The ami
versary Grafton was then delivered by
Hon. Chauncey NJ Depew.
In opening his address Mr.. Depew
Eeczeated the conditions under which
Lincoln and Douglas contended 50
years ago. The apparent contest, he
said. was the statehood of Kansas. but
both the orators and the people knew
that the tremendous issue was between
freedom and slavery. the isolation of
Che Union. or its perpetuity. He con-
= &inued:
The compromise Of Iss0. by declaring all OF
Ethe new territory north Of parallel $3.50 free
sRn6 all south slave, and admitting Missouri,
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