The National tribune., 1898-04-07

TlCULAE ONE-GolNG DOWN IoNN j.
HEAR THE NEWS.
"What is to follow the things which
are happening in the South? You say
We are certain TO have civil war; Tell
me more about this" said Walter.
Recalled to this mournful theme,
Bronson's face lost instantly the pride
which had kindled it as he began to
speak of the exploits of the American
Navy and assumed an expression of
deep sadness.
"Yes," said he, eve are to have war.
and the worst Of all strife-civil war; |
have seen it coming and dreaded it ever
since I've been old enough to rightly
understand what | read of history and
the papers of the day. Because | believed
that the Abolitionists by their agitations
were fastening the development of the
crisis, | have been their bitterest enemy,
though | have to admit in my heart that
their doctrines are right.
Fool that was, thought that peace
could be secured by sitting the voices of
the men who were crying cut against the
great National iniquity. As if the pain
that racks mems bones can be eased by
choking down their groans; as if a gag
in a man mouth will cool the wasting
fever that burns up his vitais; as if the
blows that fall on the slaves back can be
mitigated by beating the man who Wit
nesses the wrong done and protests
against it.
Thomas jefferson once said that he
trembled for this country when he
looked upon the negro and remembered
that God is just. Now we are s-eing
the dawn of His Judgment day-a day
like that which dawned upon Pharaoh,
the STAKEHOLDER of old-a judgment like
that which fell upon the Egyptians, and
slew their first born before the wailing
parents eyes.
We viii not escape more easily.
Before this visitation shall pass from US
Death will sit in the cold ashes of every
hearth-stone in the land. No eating of
unleavened bread, with girded loins and
sandled feet no sprinkling of Intel and
door post with the blood of newly slain
lambs will turn aside the Dark Angel
from his mission Of exacting expiation." :"
"Bropsonl Bronson Do Stopi" ex-
claimed Walter, in real alarm. " You
are becoming wild. The excitement of
to-day has unstrung you"
Would that | were half crazed, as
you think me, Walter Would that |
could not see with such vividness all the
vista which spreads itself out before my
eyes as the guns around Fort Sumter
rend the curtain which has concealed it.
But have head much OF the horrors of
evil war in all lands. | know there is
no sword so merciless as that welded by
fraternal hands; know there is no torch
60 unsparing as that kindled by the
t,.zleful fires OF the hatred of kindred; |
know what the French Revolution was;
| have read the terrible story of the in
surrecfion of La Vendee.
knowing all this, and knowing also
how much the Anglo-Saxon people sur
pass the French in desperate earnestness,
1t terrifies me TO think what the struggle
which begins to-day must become Do
not delude yourself with the idea that
there Is to be no war worth mentioning,
and that this storm will soon blow over
by the North backing down from the
South. Whoever says so is fool. He
does not know the bitterness of the pas
sions aroused. This quarrel has festered
for 30 years, and the time has come for
hard blows TO settle if, and determine
who shall be master 1t will he con-
hict that will shake the world"
Walter could not help being carried
away by the earnestness Of his companion.
And do YOU intend to take part in the
struggle he asked, to induce Bronson
to continue.
" must" the other replied. "And
so must you ard everyone else who has
youth and strength. For my part, |
come OF stock that has always borne its
part IN lighting the battles Of the country.
Every generation Of our ancestors has
stood in ranks upon the battlefield, to
confront the couniry's enemies. Nv
great-grandfather left an arm at Louis
burg, lost in the wild rush he, as one Of
the Eorlorn Hope, made against the
French ramparts. Ny grandfather, a
member Of the New York Light Regi-
ment, survived Hessian saber-stroke at
Trenton and bullet-wound at York.
town, to marry and have son, who was
Captain Of the gun on board the Con
stitution that cut down the 'Guerriere's'
mizzen-mast.
lie lived TO serve bis country again
as member Of Col Hardin's regiment.
IN which L was drummer-boy. In the
last desperate struggle, at the crest of
tie plateau on the afternoon of the
second day of Buena Vista, where our
three little regiments drove back Perez's
column of 10000 Mexicans, he fell about
the same time that Coils. Clay and
hardin did, with copper bullet in his