Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-09

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our national calendar.
Gloomy Days of Rebellion.
But the past which is the especial
object OF our thoughts today is a
past sad and mourntul because of the
terrible struggle of brother against
brother. Long ago we have condoned
that evil past but we can never forget
our sorrow. We live again for few
hours in the dark and gloomy days
| of the rebellion and the bloody panor-
anna of the war passes before the eye
OF the mind. We study the whole sad
picture from Sumpter and Beauregard
to Grant and Appomattox. The pic
ture fades away, and only our dead re-
main. Alas! the memory of them is
all that remains and while we think
OF them our hearts are heavy, our eyes
are fringed by tears, and our souls
are wrung with grief.
Many Lie In Unmarked Graves
Some of our dead repose in our
cemeteries and hence we have the sad
consolation of visiting and decorating
| their graves. But what of the others
Alas, their bodies are buried every
where, from Missouri to Virginia, and
from Pennsylvania to the gulf. And
O. how full of anguish were the last
moments of many of them, There was
no soft white hand to sooth the fever
ed brow and no loving arm to support
the dropping head O.! how they must
have longed for one last look on the
faces of their loved ones far away! Ali
how they then thought of father, moth.
er, wife or children, whose waiting for
their return would be vain and forever!
And many of them occupy unmarked or
unknown graves. What matters it
now? Their grandest monuments are
built in the hearts of our people, the
admiration of the world and the object
lessons in patriotism which they pro-
claim to generations yet to be. Alas!
that our brothers of the Confederate
states made necessary these lessons
and sacrifices.
When America Was Discovered.
Taking rapid retrospective
glance over the history of America and
Europe we can easily discover the
workings of divine providence in shap-
ing the destiny of this republic. At the
close of the fifteenth century of our
era European nations were weary and
worn The failure of the crusades
which had developed a spirit OF COM
mercial enterprise left them in a con-
dition of unrest The study of class 6
literature made men better acquaint-
ed with the subtility of the Greek
mind The knowledge of Pagan phil
osophy plunged many into Pagan vices
and Pagan morals. Unrest caused dis
cord and revolt Sweden, Denmark,
Germany, France and England We're
shaken by civil and religious convul-
sions. Men and nations We're asking,
as Pilot asked what is truth and
with the sword were carving an answer
to their own view of it, Some con-
tended for the divine right of kings to
govern the body polite Some claim
ed that revealed religion came from
God through the state and therefore
they insisted on state religion and they
tortured and put to death those who
refused TO violate conscience by. con
forming to state made creed in which
they did not believe. During this civil
and religious confusion and bloody ty-
ranny Columbus discovered a new
world in which the oppressed and per-
secuted of the old world might find an
asylum and in which Gods children,
under a new civilization might dwell
together in peace.
When the Pilgrims Landed.
"The Pilgrims came to the new land
of the setting sun, but alas. religious,
prejudices, bigotry and intolerance
came with them, almost spoiled
this God-given land, and nearly sue
ceeded in turning this new world into
a pandemonium. But the Providence
of God through the pressure of war
forced the colonies to come closer to-
gether, abolish blue laws and test
oaths' and make an intercolonial com
promise by disestablishing ali forms of
religion and allowing individuals, states
and territories freedom of belief. Hence
the fathers of our country declared
that all men were created equal and
are endowed with certain inalienable
rights and that among these rights
are life, liberty and pursuit of happi-
ness.
The Struggle Over Slavery.
"And yet, alas, how inconsistent they
We're. They kept negro slaves in enforc-
ed ignorance and held them as mere
human chattels. The friends of real
freedom pleaded and toiled to bring
liberty to the slaves. AS year succeed
ed year the accusing cry of the abo-
litionists became louder and louder
and at last became a mighty factor in
moulding public opinion Even the
tribune of civil and religious IL
berty in Europe the great Daniel
O'Connell--iu trumpet tones reproved
the slave lords of America. During the
agitation for Catholic emancipation
in Ireland the slave holders OF the
southern states sent contributions of
money to assist O'Connell in his strug-
gle for religious liberty. O'Connell
ordered the money to be refunded and
sent back word that Ireland could not
accept aid from men or states holding
human beings in slave chains. In our
own country the demands for the sup
preston of slavery, became like thun-
der voices and reverberated through
out the land The southern section
listened and became angry, Passion
then began to supplant reason in a
discussion which had already lasted 40.
years. The south resolved that there
should be no more compromises or
compromise bills. They had been beat
en- in the halls of congress by reason
and arugment. They were beaten too
at the hustings for Lincoln was elect