Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-06-01

| u OI DrOIQcrly love anu patflOtlStIl,
hoping that the combination would
make SO tenacious q covering no explO-
sion could affect it. All efforts proved
unavailing and on the 10Th of April,
1861, the dreaded catastrophy occurred.
Liberty and Slavery separated. Liber-
ty followed the old flag. We remem-
ber the electrical effect as with
blanched cheeks men and women
gazed into one another's faces and said,
'It has come, what will the end be?"
However, the reaction soon came, and
all through the northern states there
was an united sentiment expressed in
the words: "The Union must and
shall be preserved" On the anniver-
sary of Lexington, April 10, 1861, the
the streets of Baltimore. Truthfully
the JUSTLY ~ RTSa Ryoud 5i.t old I,
:! =: ! e: :::'
aid and reception at time it was
needed. He caught the lightning from
the skies, and left many trite sayings
of wisdom for mems guidance. Your
Whittier, Holmes, Bryant and great
adopted son, LOngfellow, have sent
words of cheer to all the world. Your
Horace Mann stands unequalled in his
labor for the advancement of the cause
of public education" The words of all
will live and shine through time, and
their influence extend into the great
beyond. But none will live longer Or
shine with brighter glory than the
words of the common soldier, who
when shot turned and saluted the flag
and said, "An hail the stars and
stripes" and fell in death. Comrades,
he was Gods chosen witness to pro-
claim to the world why he, you, and
thousands, aye hundreds of thousands
donned the blue.
The east and the west We'd each other
in trying to see which could do more
for the country in its time Of peril. The
native born American, and those who
had chosen this as the land Oftheir adop-
ton were equally brave. Today we re-
member the charge of Meagher's brave
sons of Erin upon the stone wall at Fred
ericksburg. We remember how cheer
fully and uncomplainingly the boys in
blue fought without fire or tents in
Il
they gave the support to gallant Phil.
Sheridan at MurfreesborO, which en-
abled him to resist Bragg's furious
gave the flower of Lees army on the
crest of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.
l Remember their stability as they
stood by Thomas and made that brave
general the Crock of Chicamauga."
Il ~ o,,f fhn nf hO
among which conspicuOusly stand out
Donaldson and Vicksburg il given
broader field and all is life in the vicin-
Iity of Chattanooga. Thomas, with his
Troops in parade uniforms, makes q
dash and seizes Orchard Knob. The
next morning we know how Hooker
charged the Notifications of Lookout
Mountain. Forgetting orders to
stop on the crest they swept on,
driving the enemy before them and for
once the artillery of the clouds, although
| in Gods cause, isfurnished and operated
by loyal men to hurl the enemies of
| liberty and union from the mountain
Businesses of east Tennessee. The next
morning the six cannon shots sound
out at intervals of two seconds and
charge is made which for picturesque
brilliancy has never been surpassed.
Men in their enthusiasm forget the
orders to halt at the foot Of the ridge,
but with ardOr carry the works at
the base. With lines broken and brave
color bearers far ahead surrounded by
the most active they press on to the
crest of Missionary Ridge, capture the
guns and turn them upon the retreat
ing foe. Bragg's heart is broken and
| the key to all parts of the cOnfederacy
is obtained. Gen. Grant soon after
reached the highest round in the ladder
of fame and with stubborn fighting
forces the enemy into Richmond and
Petersburg. Sherman cuts his way to
| the sen. Sheridan devastes the Shen.
andOah Valley. Thomas destroys
Hoods army. April I'd, 1865, Lees
position at Richmond and Petersburg
has become untenable and he seeks
some avenue Of escape. Grant thun-
ders after with a victorious army.
Sherman with his usual dash and brav-
cry hangs on the TANKS of the retreating
army and finally throws himself square,
ly across their front. Lee sounds the
charge, his gallant though hungry
troops rally to respond but as they
form in battle line the union cavalry
move aside and solid phalanxes of in
family are revealed. TO charge would
be to be annihilated, and Lee accepts
the terms offered by Gen. Grant. At
AppOmattoX Court House April 9th
the war practically ended. What are
its results? The lst of jan, 1868 that
greatest American, shall l stop today,
comrades, when l say greatest Ameri-
can or rather say greatest of men?
Great in integrity, great in kindness OF
heart, great in his appreciation of duty
nobly done, was given privilege
through the aid of the boys in blue
to rise to greatness that but few men
in all history ever approached. His
wisdom enabled him to see the oppor-
tunity he wisely embraced when he
cast the shackles of slavery from four
millions of people, and We believe to-
day that as the years go by and the
national history of past generations Is
read the only glory that will shine
forth with iuster equal that Of Wash
ington who gave the world its un-
equalled republic will he that Of him
who purified it by his proclamation;
and the names Of Abraham Lincoln
and George Washington will dazzle
II n y n