The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-06-01


for us to glance at its characters
tics. 1t holds unique place in his
tory, not because of any one quality
but because of combination of fac
tors.
1t was war for the preservation
of a distinct nationality. Our re
public is not a fortuitous concours,
OF atoms cast together by circum
stances, but personality instinct will
vitality and unified by a thousand
| facts. The assault of the Soutf
would have dismembered, yea, mur.
dered a personality more sacred than
a human life.
1t was war for an idea. This
was not the intent of either party
but man proposes and God disposes.
The contest that was inaugurated
for the maintenance of that foul
relic of barbarism ended in the Pro-
vidence of God, in its destruction.
The conflict becomes memorable to
future ages for this very reason.
ut was the final act in the drama
of irrepressible conflict between two
distinct systems of civilization; the
one oriental, barbaric, the other, occi-
dental, progressive with it's face to-
ward God as well as the future. In
the death grapple the former was
hurled into the dust and the latter
arose refreshed for victories yet to be
won.
1t was long and bitter because
between foes more equally matched
than often, we think. OF much the
same stock, behind each cleaned the
same glorious past, with equal assur-
ance Of the righteousness of their
cause each brought themselves, all
they had and were, to the battle.
In the South were these favorable
viz; Their territory was
compact: the war like spirit had
been the more preserved;
the authority of certain families had
always been recognized; they were
better prepared by way of arms;
slavery owing to the faithfulness of
the blacks, was vast help; the SYM
pathy and council of Europe were
ZONES; no cause was ever served by
, more devoted people or a braver
,oldiery. The north was longer In |
territory but less compact, less homo
,enious in population because OF
arge foreign admixtures; less unani-
nous in its purpose because neither
few nor far between were rebel SYM
pathizers; trained were our people In
he commercial not the warlike spirit;
lily prepared for the outburst that
came; not quickly aroused; compelled
to invade a fair and beautiful land.
However, when aroused no thought
of yielding came, its people were as
devoted, it's soldiery as loyal and he
roic as the world ever knew.
The War of the Rebellion STANDS
out prominent in the worlds history
for the granduer of its results.
These were the unification OF the
nation rendered well nigh abortive
by the system of slavery, the restor-
alton of q shattered nationality.
What hopes for the future hung upon
these? How many problems in civil
government may now find their So
luton amid the favorable surround
ings of our national life.
On What other war depends so
much that was important for man.
his progress and happiness? ask
but pause not for reply, for none can
be named. Such an epoch deserves
memorials and commemorative SER
vices. Have them it will.
But its soldiers-what shall we say
of them? Of those who made success
possible, who contributed to this cris-
is all they had and were. To speak in
briefest terms these facts may be
recalled. The age of chivalry is not
vet gone nor it's spirit dead in human
breasts. The courage of the Union
soldier we'll deserves undying re-
membrance. He was not trained in
arms. his surroundings made, orr
dinarily, no appeal to any spirit Of
war in him, and yet with what cheer
fulness and alacrity he took up
the weapons of war! How much he
sacrificed cannot be told, because
human words are not adequate to
express it. What he suffered for
others he cannot himself tell, but
the recollection of 1t, even to this
hour, turns his heart chill and
blanches his face. He did his pa
triotic duty though its path led direct
to the grave.
He returned, Oh how gladly tc
the arts of home and peace when this
question was settled. War as wal
had no attractions for him, even al