The Republican journal., 1898-06-02

prlety for that unexampled moderation dis
played towardsthem since the rebellion was
suppressed We recall the political differ.
ences at the north that succeeded il. While
many excellent and honorable men favored
severe measures of retributiop, different
policy prevailed. True, We had the power
to enforce whatever we chose, and history
furnished abundant examples of severity
from the days of ancient Chaldea and Baby
ION down TO the present time. The De tai
ioNjs' and enslavement OF an entire people
| might te the only efficient means in ba-har-
Gus warfare. But the teachings of CHRISTIAN
lty anu modern ethics have incucated an
other doCtrine-a nobler, grander and higher
! one-to wlt-punishment for offenders in
arms and amnesty for misguided and tit feat
ed people, especially brethren The excel
lence OF the golden rule is being more and
more recognized by civilization throusho
the entire globe, Nations as we'll as iudiyid-
uas can be maguanimous
| When victorious loyalty was in doubt As 10
the polcy Of treatment Of former rebelhous
elements how fortunate it was We Lad 4 bra
nam Lincoln IN the presidential chair Be.
tore his sad martyrdom he had toreshadowed
his proposed course in dealing with this per-
picking question. His great noble and gen
erous heart had outlined his fidelity to love
charity and forgiveness. and he chose to treat
the seeding states Vet in the union: that
| the loyal sentiment bad been overpowtred
but that when rebellion had been overcome
=
tue entirety Of the union thus maintained.
| President Johnson eSsayed to carry out this
| policy. President Grant, our great and I'M
mortal general, began his administration
| with those glorious words, Let us have
peace. We had triumphed over an able
and determined adversary. They acknowl-
edged their defeat They We're foenen
worthy of our steel" otherwise our noble
union forces would have sooner ended this
terrible rebe illon, yes, might say that had
wa NOT had Fl
| toe, the nlted States would be dis Ii ted
States, and the confederacy would have been
a success
All, gentlemen. here was the turning point
in our history. 1t was crisis in America
1t was crisis in the world. Foreign nations
| looked upon us even in some cases with A
hopeful eye-hopeful | say? hopeful of what.
| of our success
So far from that, the Great Powers were
only too ready TO grant belligerent rights,
and afford recognition of independence TO
| the Confederates. At this crucial uncture
nothing stood between us and disunlou save
| the prowess of these noble veterans Here
we have them with US to-day. The records
of history fail 10 furnish lis parallel
The life of nation Was in peril. A mil
lion volunteers came to its defense when
| menaced by almost an equal number. q
| how terrible the issue The scales of ius-
| tice We're nearly evenly balanced and hone
and confidence We're almost overwhelmed by
doubt and fear. But the result has caused
| our hearts to rejoice 1t was the fidelity of
the veterans; it was the patriotism of the
veterans it was the courage and skill of the
veterans: it was the nobleness OF character
| of these brave and faithful men.
| Can we honor them too much?
Can We appreciate them too much
| Can we give them too much"
| The heart Of great nation tlrobs i'm re-
sponsve gratitude and says no, we cannot;
no, no, a thousand noes, we cannot The
voice OF Bunker Hull responded Al Antetam
and Gettysburg The echoes Of Yorktown
resounded at Appomattox. The heroes of
Washington have all gone, the heroes of
/ Grant-maiy yet 1--we. Bless them all,
nothing is tln oud tor them
And, my friends, what a glorious spectacle
for the world; 800 600 men, Injured To hard
ships and scenes Of bood and sutterng dis
| banded and set loose a fun generation ago
and at once became the most peaceful and
| law abiding citizens. | venture to say there
| has been less outrage, violence and felony
committed by veterans, north and south,
| than by any other class of people. In fact
| we scarcely ever learn of an outrage eomult-
\ ted by an American born veteran. They
We're the defenders Of our country IN war
they have been tile protectors of our laws iii
! peace. Hence no tribute can he too great:
no encomium too generous.
No one can he unmiudlul of the lust credit
due the Relief Corps. Wherever man goes.
and sOlaCe him. We find Mrs. Baker with
Sir Samuel at the head waters Of the Nile
| carrying civilization to the savAges of Cen
| tral Africa We tiud woman III Asiatlt
| Turkey carrying tine glad tidngs of the
| gospel and relief to the suffering .Armenians.
We find her a missionary 10 the heart Of
| China; we find her among the EsQuimauN of
| Greenland, and the gold fields of the klou-
dixie, and Clara Barton carrying aid to the
| starving reconeentrados OF Cuba bearing food
to the famished red cross ami relief to the suf-
fering, and the gospel to the heather. And
here, a home relief corps, she has been
| equally servicahle and humane God bless
these moth rs, these wives, these sisters
| And the SONS of veterans-huw- willing
| have they shown themselves to step into the
| hiatus OF our country's danger in our pres
ent with Spain! They are ''illustrious
sons of worthy sires, - and to such do we look
| in our present national struggle. They form
the bone and muscle of our body polite i'll
time of peace; and valiant protectors and an
aggressive phalanX in time of war. Their
principles are the principles of loyalty, brav
cry, fidelity and patriotism. They shrink
from no duty They flee to no foreign flag
to elude the trials of war under their own.
They spurn every other thought but that of
emulatlng the noble examples of their faith
ers. They already have the benediction of
the country.
When our grand old flag shall have Tapped
to the breeze for the last time: when the
final page Of history shall have been penned
by the future historian; when possibly the
face of geology shall have become changed,
and waters cover land, and new land emerge
from the oceans bed, no record shall be
worJher for transmission beyond the omega
of mans mundane destiny than the record of
patriotism inscribed upon our national
cutcheon by the noble veterans of 81 and 65.
Every year should We consecrate the 30th of
May with increasing devotion of gratitude
for our nations life.
Much as we revere the deeds of our ances-
tors of prior century, this 30th day of May
might well take precedence in patriotism,
even of that greatest national holiday, July
the 4th. Both are prmordial epochs Of our
national genesis.
The baptismal blood of 1861 has cemented
our country with bands stronger than triple
bars of brass and steel. Like the gentle dews
of heaven, it las blessed HIM who gives and
him who receives.
From Maine to California from Florida to
Alaska, we are one, one in heart, one in
speech, one in interest, one in purpose and
one in destiny.
Republican County Committee.