Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-11
TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL II. 1911.
T0MoRRoW,s FNTIE7H ANNIVERSARY.

1aHE fftieth anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter occurs
tomorrow. That event began the greatest civil war in his
tory, a war that cost about six hundred thousand lives, four
billions of treasure and suffering and anguish beyond description.
The cannon shot from Charleston Harbor on April Il, 1861, was
electrical in its effect upon the North. There had been heated con
troversy and threats between the two sections. Southern Con
gressmen and members of the administration had deserted their
posts. Southern officers of the army and navy were known to be
disahected. But It was not believed In the North that the threats
of secession would be carried out. When Fort Sumter, represent
ing the sovereignty and authority of the American republic, was
fired on. the whole North arose and a wave of patriotism spread
over the land that carried everything with it. Northern cities were
filled with tumult- In every community men were compelled 10
show their colors and the national emblem hoated from every
house. Crowds of men sought enlistment. Everybody felt that
fhe die was cast and that the question OF union IT dsunlon Ia TO
be submitted to the stern arbirament of war. When Lncolns
proclamation for three months volunteers came out, half a million
men sought enlistment. Few believed that the war would outlast
Il year. Few realized the unpreparedness of the government, but
all were resolved that come what may the union must and shall be
preserved. The events IN Newark at that momentous time We're
most creditable TO the patriotism and public spirit of its citizens
Party distinctions were lost sight of. The whole community was
aroused and united, money was pledged in large amounts and
every possible aid was offered to the government. The sum of
$4,000 was donated by the five banks of Newark. The first call
for troops by the President was made April Is and New Jersey
was required to furnish four regiments, Theodore Runyon, a law
yer, then 3S years of age and a militia officer, was commissioned
as encouragement. New Jerseys population at that time was
only 676OOO. Newark had a population of about 10000 and the
whole of Essex County 100000. Men rushed to the recruiting
places and enlisted with ardor. In 1861 Newark was practically
a workshop for the South. Its shoes and carriage and saddlery
and harness and clothing were sold all through the South, and
Newark merchants had hundreds of thousands of dollars of credit
in the South. The war swallowed them up. Consequently the war
had a peculiar meaning for the city of Newark. But patriotism
was superior to selfinterest. Newarks industries had been pros
trated since the previous year. when South Carolina passed the
first ordinance of secession. In January, 1861, the then Demo
cratic Mayor of Newark, Moses Bgelow, addressed a message to
the Common Council that breathed the very spirit of patriotism,
and Mayor Bigelow himself had large business interests in the
South that were imperied. After Fort Sumter fell a resolution
offered in the Common Council by Alderman Henry A. Whitney,
o Democrat, was to the effect that it was the duty of all citizens
TO ignore past political issues and rally under the banner of the
Stars and Stripes for the defense of the Union and the Constitu-
ton Five days later, on motion of Alderman Thomas McGrAth,
an appropriation of S100000 was voted by Council for the support
sf the families of volunteers, and $4,000 for uniforms. AT a great
mass meeting on April % it was declared that united, strong and
unwavering support" would be given to the President of the
United States, and a committee was appointed to do all that was
needful for the equipment of troops and for cooperation with the
authorities. The women Of Newark organized in the patriotic cause.
Iukewarm. That was her answer. And during the long agony of
The war our city sent thousands of recruits for the Union armies
and was unWaveringly steadfast in its support of the government
and of our armies in the field. The suferings of the war were as
acutefy felt in Newark as in all other communities. In nearly all
the great battles of the war Newark homes were bereayed. But
the spirit of April, 1861, did not falter throughout the long and
trying struggle. We can look back fifty years with pride to Il
period when civic patriotism in Newark shone so respendently,
when the community, dsregarding selfinterest and casting aside
all differences of politics or creed, became a solid unit in it's
patriotism in its purpose to lend every aid in support to the cause
Of h TTDion