The record-union., 1897-05-29
HIGH SCHOOL
Frank Miller DiscOurses on the Causes
of the War.

Frank Miller delivered the address at
the High School. He said: Mr.. Pond
and Ladies and Gentlemen: / come be-
fore you with pride and modesty-
pride, because some forty years ago
was a pupil in this school; and modesty,
because l am detailed here for few
moments as an instructor.
In 1857 this school was held in a large
dwelling-house on the north side of NJ
street. between Eighth and Ninth;
later it was moved into one room Of the
top floor of what is now known as Ar
mory Hall, at Sixth and L streets. On
the wall of our schoolroom was painted
the Latin motto: 'iSemper paratus'
always ready; you pronounce it now
was our principal teacher. and under
his excellent management and example
we learned to respect the simpler and
better qualities of manhood SO conspic-
uous in the lives of Washington, Frank
lin. Lincoln and Grant. In 1860 l went
East to Yale and in 1862 1 enlisted in
the Second Wisconsin Volunteer In
fantry.
Most of the soldiers of the last war
We're young men but a few years older
than those in this room; many Of them
We're as young as you and many
schoolboy lies buried in a soldiers
trench: indeed, in every school which
has been worth that name patriotism
has been taught, and teachers ana
scholars have always been we'll repre-
sented in every army which fought for
fatherland. Therefore we veterans do
not come here so much to increase your
patriotism as to remind you that a very
good soldier may have been a very bad
citizen; he may have SO corrupted ana
destroyed a peace as to bring on an
unnecessary and wicked war. We wish
to tell you of the Civil War and to
urge YOU to avoid the mistakes of your
predecessors whose sins of omission
and commission brought on that war;
for rebellions may break out in any
for rebellions may break out at any
time in any country, and if you are
taught the value of principle and pure
politics., then in this land civil wars
are not so liable to occur.
Prior to 1861 dissensions arose be-
tween the North and the South over the
question of slavery. The Southerners
said they would withdraw from the
Union if Abraham Lincoln were elected
President. He was elected and they
did secede The majority then pro-
ceeded to enforce the rule that no State
should secede, and after four years of
terrible fighting the South admitted its
defeat.
The war thus re-established the prin-
ciple that a majority of the voters of
this nation are supreme, and that their
will must be obeyed. This is a self
evident maxim, for a majority of ball
lots is equal to a majority of bullets,
and the latter always win in the end
To illustrate: If the majority should
ever declare that any State could Sc
cede, then that edict would be carried
out and by force if necessary.
The deductions are plain. Our sys-
tenn for ascertaining the will Of the
people must be as perfect as possible.
ignorant voters and corrupt politicians
do assist in destroying that system.
When the ballot-box becomes useless,
then confusion will prevail and men
will drop the pink paper votes and
pick up their guns to ascertain which
side is the stronger.
THE rule of majority by the ballot
is freedom and democracy. and those
rest on mOrallty ana conscience.
The story of the political crimes
which confused the judgment of this
nation prior TO 1861; the story of how
the people became impatient of their
weak rulers and representatives, and
how they finally said, Let us fight,
for there is no other way to settle our
troubles" That story is the history OF
our country for many, many years,
and it is not now pleasant reading for
the men of the North and the South.
The moral of the story remember it
WELD is this: Your uprightness as citi-
zens will either prevent civil war, or
when such war exists will give you the
victory; for an honest citizen will al
ways be a brave soldier.
Recently and within a stones throw
of our beautiful State Capitol, there was
planted a grove of trees, each taken
from one of the principal battlefields. AS
stood and looked at them it seemed to
me as il the angels in heaven must still
continue to weep over those battlefields;