The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-05-28

II
firing on Sumpter came as an electric
shock, destroying party lines, for the
time, energized the patriotism of the
north, and the yeomanry of the land
came to the country's defense. There
Was another meaning to the conflict.
| The civilization of the North wa:
the outgrowth OF long and patient in
dustry, resources gathered by rigid
economy, civilization of schools,
churches and werkshops-the develop
ment of that germ planted en- Plym-
outh Rock.
From this came a President and
cabinet worthy of the cause they held
IN charge-Lincoln, Chase, Seward,
Stanton. From this came also gener-
ais fresh from the people, ready to
serve their country as well as the ar
mics which embraced .he different
professions, farmers and laborers.
In the language OF the historic
"these soldiers could make books,
print newspapers, build bridges, con-
struct canals, build nayies for the sea
and railroads for the land. In this,
and not in greater valor consisted the
Union army's superiority over the ar
my OF the rebellion" Thus, the very
| law of free labor came to the Nations
defense and the destruction of slavery.
Some historians have given the
South great praise for its ability in
holding out so we'll against the gov
eminent, the strength, endurance and
great sacrifice.
The problem was a great one to
solve. Eighteen millions of people
schooled only in the arts of peace un-
dertook to subdue ten millions of peo-
pie in their homes and mountain fast
nesses and in a territory of great ex-
tent.
This population solidifed in the in
terests OF rebellion, excepting in east
ern Tennessee, where fredom's fires
still burned.
In magnitude and extent the work
finds no parallel The Veterans liv-
ing today, after a lapse of thirty-two
years call to mind the operations for
the final struggle under the leadership
of him who now sleeps at Riverside,
existing in May, 1864 As it seems to
the schoolboy when studying the CAM
paign of that year he sees 1.200, 900
men under arms on land. As they
face the south, the right of the Union
line rested at Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Stretching eastward with its center as
Vicksburg, from thence east .hrou gh
Chattanooga and Knoxville, joining
the army in front OF Washington
ending at Fortress Monroe, where the
duties of the Union sailor began, 60
ing southwark, around stormy Halter
as, down along the coast of the. Caro-
linas and Florida, along the, shores OF
the Gulf, ending at the Mexican from
tier, a tireless and sleepless line of I'm
ion blockade almost two thousand
miles long.
This mighty line moves forward to
certain victory, established the author
ity of the government, leaving the
fruits of their victory to the states
manship of the nation, melted away
into civil life to appear no more in
army array, and no nobler tribute or
sublime sentiments can be uttered in
praise of the defenders of this country
than that of Lincoln at Gettysburg
when he said: "But In a larger sense
we cannot dedicate, we cannot conse-
crate, we cannot hallow this ground.
The brave men, living and dead, who
struggled here, have consecrated it far
| above our power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long re-
member, what we say here; but it can
never forget what they did here. !"
But what is possible for posterity to
do is, as he says, "rather be dedicated
to the unfinished work which they
who fought here have thus far, so
nobly advanced. 1t is rather for us to
be dedicated here to the great task re-
naming before US, that from these
honored dead we take increased devo-
ton to that cause for which they gave
the last full measure of devotion, that
we here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died In vain that this
nation under God, shall have a new
birth of freedom, and that the govern
ment of the people, by the people, and
for the people shall not perish from
the earth. Since then peace has pro-
duced grand results, the people have
been engaged in preserving the prin-
ciples for which they fought, settling
forever the questions of States rights
and secession, eliminating slavery
from the continent, enthroned free
dom in power, broadening and making |
the aall men" of the Declaration of |