The Republican journal., 1897-06-03

| which called for more laOoIeTs III Jne held.
The black man accustomed to the blazing
| heat of the African sun could better endure
the heat of the Southern cotton field than
the white man from a more Northern cline.
| These conditions rendered slave labor ex-
tremely profitable, and in the course of time
the institution of slavery became SO thor
| oughly engrafted in the labor system of the
South that it seemed to them to be indispen-
| sable. 1t was but natural consequence
| that the Southern planter who migrated to a
| Northern State should desire to take his
| slaves to assist him in the pursuits which he
there undertook. Hence arose the question
of the extension of slavery, which met with
| violent opposition in the North.
Whenever new State was to be added to
| the Union, the question OF slavery was the
| paramount issue to be discussed and settled
! and in order that peace might be maintained
| for considerable number OF years, as mat
| Ter of policy whenever free State was admit
| ted to the Union slave State would be admit
| ted almost contemporaneouSly, in order that
neither faction should gain an advantage
over the other by reason OF an increase in
| membership in the National Congress.
1t can easily be seen that such condition
of affairs could not long exist without one
| or the other section becoming dissatisfied
with the results. Affairs steadily drifted on
until war seemed to be the only method of
setting the controversy,
There We're several causes which tended
to aggravate and intensity the jealousy aud
hatred which existed, not among the least of
! which was the publication and circulation
Of sectional books in which the manner of
! treatment of the slave by his master was
| grossly exaggerated and left in the North
ern mind an impression that the Southern
planter was hut little if any above the brute
| creation.
Again, with the great railroads of the coun-
| Try running east and west there was a want OF
| communication between the two sections of
| fnr ant If N mn 1ina inr
| they We're not acquainted with each other
| and allowed petty iealousies to creep in
which ruled and dominated their feelings
winch should have G wen way to friendship
and brotherly love. From the adoption OF
| the constitution there had been difference
OF opinion regarding its meaning. The peo-
pie OF the South had clung tenaciously to
the doctrine of State Sovereignty, which had
been stoutly opposed by the Statesmen of
| the North
The Southern people had always main
| tanned that they owed their first allegiaiier
to the State in which they lived, and that
any State which became dissatisfied with a
law of Congress could nullify that law and
| il it saw fit might secede from the Union at
| will.
This spirit of notification first manifested
| itself in eighteen hundred and thirty-twC
when South Carolina declared the tariff
| laws null and void and resisted the govern
nent officials who attempted to collect the
| revenue.
This was but one of series of events
| which led up to the crisis which came il
sixty-one. Thus we see that from certain
| causes the two sections Of the country be
| came estranged.
Environment aids TO greater or less ex
tent in moulding the opinions of men. II
| the consideration of questions of public
policy, it is but natural that we should ad
| here to that policy which, in our opinion
| Will best promote the interests of the section
| in which we live. Again, those principle:
| which have been instilled into our minds by
| those who care for us from the cradle tC
| manhood become part of our nature
Thus it was that the institution of slavery
was looked upon by the people of the Soutl
10 be just and they resisted every attempt
10 ahridge what they thought to be thei
| rights.
Feelings Of hatred. and jealousy haC
grown to such an extent that during tht
| campaign of 90. the Southern leaders open
/ ly threatened secession provided they di,
not prevail III the natioE4t election. Though
the people of the North could not believe it
| the crash came, South jarolina led off by
passing the ordinance OF secession and other
followed. a government was organized
| from the seeded States and that govern
nent, organized for the purpose of securing
! the blessings of liberty To themselves and t,
their pO5terIty, was divided upon that VERY
! issue.
We pause to mediate upon the situation
We see the people of nation, which fo
their love OF liberty and free institutions
endured the horrors OF protracted wa
with the mother country, and who again
Went forth To battle to assert their rgat
upon the high seas, now about to take III
arms against each other. We see blooming
! fields, which bv the hand of man had beer
made to testify of the earth's abundance
about to be drenched with his blood Tn
certainty and anxiety pervade the hearts o
OH 4.I hI1t
long to wait, for soon is heard the cannonad
| ing at Fort Sumter and We realize the fac
that war IS upon us. Is it to be wondered a
that stout hearts grew faint in contempla
ton of the situation? For the first time ou
soldiers We're to confront their peers upo1
the field of battle. For the first time they
Were TO meet their own countrymen, wht
would not and could not be conquered unit
the last ray of hope for success should have
| vanished
1t is under these circumstances that the
| call is made for volunteers, and how nobly
was that call answered when three hundred
thousand of your countrymen stepped tt
the front TO lay down their lives if need b.
in defense of the land they loved. Gentle
| men, you remember those stirring scenes
| You remember the excitement and anxiety
attending the organization of your com
panies.
Does any man say that the soldier seeks
the field of battle for love of adventure
| Does he offer himself as sacrifice upon tht
| altar of his country with the hope OF reward
Does he bare his breast to the leaden hail o
the enemy for the mere plttance which ht
receives by way of pecuniary compen
sation? see the stalwart young man as b,
stands at the door of his old home. l Sc,
him in the arms of the mother who gave hin
birth | see him as he slowly turns away
after the farewell kiss of a mothers love has
been implanted upon his cheek. l see hin
as he bids fond farewell to the companion
of his bosom, as he kisses the babe upon he
| breast and turns, he knows not but for the
last time, from his pleasant home an(
those he loves. Turn your eyes upon this
picture and tell me, if your lips deign tt
utter if he can be actuated by other motives
than that love of country and devotion tt
duty which are born of patriotism.
The contest began. We follow the varying
events of war through the years which in
tervene from 81 to 90. We witness victory
followed by defeat we realize that as long
as the resources of the South hold out tina
they will never lay down their arms. The
news of Getty sburg is received. Joy per
vales every heart, and from thence onward
il is apparent that the contederacy is wan
ing. Finally comes the news of Appomat
tox, and war is at an end In our hasty
| glance at those days of strife our Thoughts
are turned to those who figured consplcu
ously in guiding the affairs of State, and G
| those who commanded upon the field o
| battle.
We see presiding over the destiny of the
nation one born TO hardship and to toll