The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-06-01

and usurpations of Great Britain's
king, rather than abolish the forms
of government to which we were ac-
customed. Then came the parting Of
the ways, when we must either submit
to absolute Tyranny, or establish a
new nation on the earth. And pledg-
ing to each other their lives, their for
tunes, and their sacred honor, our
forefathers chose the latter course.
Rightfully do we revere those
fathers and the choice they made. The
occasion was most momentous. The
destiny of nations and of peoples yet
unknown, hung on their choice. They
were nobly called and most nobly did
they respond.
But great as was their declaration,
it but framed the issue. It must be
tried out in the courts of war. And
through the wars that followed, we
can easily trace our dependence on
the soldier. Declarations, and arti-
Giles of confederation, and constitu-
tions are but naught without him.
Such declarations are ever weighed
and measured by the power back of
them; and this power is the gun and
the man behind the gun.
We are peaceful people, but not a
spiritless. Others have learned to
their sorrow that our good nature is
not to be imposed upon. We have
made great strides, but our every step
has been in the face of opposition. We
have had to fight our way to the front
rank of nations. All through our
marvellous development we have been
compelled to look to our soldiers for
protection, and never have we looked
in vain. z=.
Our history but illustrates the. fact,
however much we may regret the fact
that nations achieve greatness through
the struggle, hardship and strife of
war.
No feud is so fierce as a family feud !:
no warfare is so bitter as internal war.
And this nation must pass through the
fiery furnace of such a war; four long
years it took her to tread the passage.
and she emerged, at last, not as the
patriarchs of old, unscathed, but with
the marks of the battle fire upon her.
Tremendous was the issue of that
war. AS stated by Lincoln in his sub
lime address at Gettysburg, which we
have heard read today, it was to test
whether nation conceived in liberty,
and dedicated to the equality of men,
could long endure. Although fam
lily quarrel, the welfare Of the world
was the stake.
For such a test of such an issue
enormous sacrifice was necessary.
Our little standing army was sufficient
but for a nucleus; fast came the calls
for troops; ,00O-15O, 600 sWe're
coming Father Abraham 100000
MORE" until around that nucleus were
gathered the vast armies of the Union.
Oh, We veterans, it is not for me to
recount to such as you, the history of
that war; you are a part and portion
of that history; you endured the toll
and suffering of the strife; you we're
among those who offered their lives
that the Nation might live.
Nor did you toll and suffer in vain:
nor did you offer your lives in vain:
nor did your comrades die in vain.
Forty years ago, this nation took on
her new birth of freedom,'' and
arose, phoenix like, from the ashes of
that war: and government of the
people, by the people, for the people"
did not 'perish from the earth.''
Although the war was brought to a
successful close, we were but plunged
from one great crisis into another.
The issues of the war were slowly
framed: their trial and determination
was the work of years; the bitter pas
oAOAo oho 1ldCISu 0uS0IluoE6Q were
deep-rooted, and the dark days of the
reconstruction period were upon us.
1t was freely predicted by foreign
powers that our government would
fall into the hands of military des-
potism: that our great military lead
ers would not willingly lay down their
power: that our soldiers. debauched
with lust of battle, would not again
submit themselves to the restraints of
civil life. The man on horseback and
the man behind the gun, having been
our preservers, were to become our
masters.
What should be the attitude of the
victors toward the vanquished?
Should vengeance or Cancellation rule?
Then. if ever, was needed Lincoln s
firm but temperate leadership and con-
troll In his second inaugural he had
voiced his nO1icv in thoco ;npor;eho