The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-29
FIFTY YEARS AGO

]. @, Stevenson in Waterloo Cour-
Ter. Fifty years ago the party syscem
OF government WIS chaotic. The thor
0ugh- going adllarents Of slavery had
nnminafef and cast s45.Ti3 votes for
u, g. breckenridge; the party OF the
union with slavery, which Included
the majority OF the northern Demo-
Gratis, had nominated aud east f.STI5,-
Isl votes fer Stephen A. Douglas; a.
third section, styling itself constitu-
tianal and vainlg hoping to shut cut
the question of slavery and save the
constitution, had nominated and cast
5Sss5s1 votes for John Bell; new
party calling itself Republican had
nominated and cast f.S6i.S5e votes
for Abraham Lincoln, who was there
by elected President OF the United
States
There could be no mistake about
the Significance OF the election by
northern votes OF a President who
looked forward To seeing slavery
put where the people would be sat
fsfisd that it was IN the course uf
Ultimate extinction, consequently
fifty years ago the nation was rent
IN twain BIZ the organization of coz
federacy which Included eleven south
ern states. The 4th Of March saw
the inauguration OF President Lincoln
and listened To hts inaugural address
which affirmed the Integrity OF the
union. In the confederacy this inaug
ural was construed to mean war, and
on the morning of April Il, 1861. the
first gun was fired IN the lombard
ment OF Fort Sumter, Charleston har-
Dor, South Carolina.
sgregious hIunders. one of which
was taking the aggressive and firing
the first gun. This placed united
north back OF Abraham Lincoln IT'S
effect was magical This outrage On
the flag Of the natiou was met by a
burst OF patriotic wrath Lfnculn's
call for volunteers was answered
wish enthusiasm and the .'irrepressi-
BILE eouflfet'' was begun.
Another confederate mistake of
fifty years ago was fts conviction
that the mechanics and mud si1ls'
OF the north either would not or
could not or at least were not at al
likely TO fight There was one reason
Why It did so believe and that was
the EusiIanfmoGs administration OF
President Buchanan and the fawnfns
spirit of the congress Of that date
Speaking of that congress Gold win
Smith saFs. Congress. finding that
disuniou, beneath the threat Of
which It long had covered, had rea4-
Iy come, fell on it's knees, and offer
ed the slave owners bouudless coz
eessioHs It was ready to give slav-
cry new guarantees and extension, to
sharpen Still more the fugitive slave
I law, to deprive the negro If the last
shred OF legal protection, to extend
the Missouri compromise to the Pa
cifc, admit New Mexico, incIudin z
Arizona with a slave code, to disquat
Ry al men of negro blood for civil
Office. It even offered TO place sfav-
cry beyond the reach Of constitution
al amendment. and make It, SO far Is
law could make it. eternal
( There was no Justification hovev-
er, OF their idea that the north could
not fghr. When they dared the mud
Sill mechanic 10 smell southern
powder and taste southern steel they
f---TT- -5z-.x.- TI- s.--1t
that he was Of their own race and
could fight equally we'll A parallel
mistake was made by the confederacy
fifty years ago when they based their
hopes Of recognition by and assist.
snce from Great Britain on cotton be
ing king. They forgot that the me
chznics Of Great Britain we're Of one
blood With the mechanics OF the
northern states: they perhaps did not
know that Uncle Toms Cabin Great
ed greater fUrore in old England
than in Nev England: they perhaps
could rot know that these same peo-
pie held the same moral, social and
political views as whole
Fifty years ago, the call for volun-
teers 70 defend the union called
forth the first battaIfons of what was
destined 10 be the Grand army Of the
Republic. The mastering in and de
parture OF the troops was accompani
ed by scenes well described By these
I lines Of Lord Byron:
eAh, then and there was hurrying to
and fro.
Ard gathering tears and trembiings
/ Of distress,
And there we're sudden partings such
as press
The life from out young hearts"