The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-09
In MEMORY OF
JOHN a. LOGAN.



! born leader has discovered the errors of
| opinion Of himself and his neighbors and
attempts to remain their leader by con-
verting them to his newborn ideas
There was no more unpromising section
Of the United States in which to rear a
Union man and a Federal soldier than
/ the ancient Egypt of Illinois. 1t had
sseep settled by Shareholders, and tie
sons of Shareholders and its people, from
blood relationship sympathy and assoei-
alton, were in thorough accord with the
slave holding states from which they
lad come. Young Logan became their
idol. and he was their representative IN
congress. The nearly unanimous vote
by which he was sent to Washington IL
Illustrated the closeness and confidence
between himself and this constituency
| He was a tower of strength for the reac-
tionary views and purposes Of the slav-
cry leaders in congress, but underneath
the sentiment ard principles of the party
20 which he was devoted there brightly
burned a spirit Of liberty.
slavery was 1ntolerant OF opposition
and discussion Lovejoy, of Illinois, Lo-
gan's fellow member, was one of the
trayest and ablest OF the anti-slavery
I champions.
when he rose to speak in the house Of
representatives there crowded about hin
an enlarged mob of members which not
only prevented his being heard, but
threatened his life. It was this incident
/ which opened the eyes of Logan to thu
great truth, subsequently, expressed by
Lincoln, that the Union could never en-
dure half free and half slave. He In
stantly stepped upon the side Of liberty,
and 50 imperiously demanded a recogni-
ton of the rights of his colleague upon
the floor of the house that his turbulent
associates went back to their seats. and
free speech was indicated
when hostilities began, a weaker
man than Logan would have sided with
mis- constituents in their sympathy with
the south. Had he been with them, an
insurrection in southern Illinois, barring
the way of the Union army to Ken
lucky and Tennessee, would have been
frightful blow to the success of the
rational cause. It was a. conflict i'll
which on the one side he would appar
emily lose his home and his political fu~
tdre to enlist in a cause which. IN that
hour and atmosphere, seemed we'll nigh
hopeless; while on the other. in addition
to the hardships and perils Of war,
would be ceaSeless dangers from enemies
both in front and rear.
THE stirring news came to the house
while in session that the battle of Bull
Run was in progress The soldier Of the
Mexican war again heard the music of
the national anthem, and flew to the de-
Tense OF the national flag. The dramatic
scene was witnessed upon the battle
field of a civilian in frOck coat and top
silk hat who had seized muslxet from
wounded soldier, and by action and
words and reckless daring was doing his
the army back to meet the enemy. In
that hour Logan's vision clearly saw the
the path of duty.
He FASTENED home to his constituents
to bring them around to the union cause
and to have them enlist in the union
army. He met sullen and threatening
moods everywhere. But nothing could
resiSt the fervor of his eloquence. Fol
low me to the field for the old flag and
the union 1t is no longer the right and
wrong of slavery: 1t is no longer the
disputed question of the extension of
THAI institution into the territories but
1t is whether you will be with me for
the preservation Of the union and Of this
last refuge and security of liberty and
humanity Character. courage and patri-
OtiSn triumphed. He led his whole pco-
pie out of the darkness of Egypt into
the light of the promised land. Within
a few weeks he was in the field with his
regiment, and other regiments followed
\ as often as the government called for
volunteers.
Logan is the finest example Of the
volunteer soldier. Around the nucleus
of a little army Of 25,000 regulars gather
ed million OF volunteers who formed in
an Incredibly brief space of time the
most magnificent and resistless body Of
s0ldiery of modern or ancient times.
They demonstrated in the quickness
with which the army was modified and
disciplined, in the steadinesS and endur-
ance which it exhibited as if trained vet
Grams, and in its peaceful disarmament
ter the close of the war, that the
strength and reliance Of our country rest
upon it's citizen soldiery.
This experiment also demonstrated
that while the citizen soldiers are en-
gagged in gainful pursuits and increas-
ing the wealth of the country, an ade-
quate army composed of those who Sc
lect a soldiers career, can protect the
public property, suppress instruction,
meet immediate and exigent require
ments at home or abroad, and that we
need have no apprehension of militarism
or of Caesarism. The regular army is
but the pickets and the slzirmishers of
that vast host who, from the noun
tains and valleys, from plains and cities,
from hamlets and towns, are ready to
respond to the call to arms for the pro-
lection of their liberties from within OF
the defense of their country from abroad.
s'Logan's brilliant career emphasizes the
necessity for a military education. In
arms, as in art in the professions and the
best education are the requisites for sue
cess IN our day Of terrific competition. We
far in his enthusiasm, Of the distinction
the merits and the success of our general,
If his genius had been trained, broadened
field, he would have stood in the front
rank Of the commanders Of great armies
Of modern times.
The magnanimity and generosity OF
as his courage When Grant became i'm
patient because General Thomas fingered
enemy, he sent Logan to supersede him
When Logan arrived at Cincinnati he
learned that Thomas had started. He
knew that he could reach Thomas army
before battle and that he had before
him that greatest temptation and OppOr-
tunity for a soldier magnificent and de-
cisiVe victory But he knew Thomas, the
Rock of Chickamauga- He knew that
Thomas had made the preparation with
such care that failure was Impossible. He
knew that the hOnors were due to the
gantzer of the prospective triumph and
he delayed plucking the Iaurels that were
VI T1fr "a
the brow of Thomas. So again in the
bloody battle of Atlanta Mcpherson fell
at the beginning of the fight He was the
idol Of the army and one of the most bril-
liant accomplished and promising officers
of the war on either side The Command
devolved from the West Pointer to the
volunteer. 1t was the testimony OF Grant
Sherman Howard and of Ill Of his