The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-30

sserss patriotism and his eloquericc
postponed the great struggle, It
could not avoid it. The evils Of the
slave trade exaggerated the necessity
for final settlement of the question.
It is idle to speculate about whether
peaceful solution OF the question
would have resulted had there been
Marshall on the supreme bench
when the Dread Scott decision was
rendered, for Marshall as we'll as
Webster had passed from the scenes
OF life. Websters prayer had been an
swered. His eye did not behold a
land drenched with fraternal blood.
He had passed from the joys OF life.
Z to the repose OF death. 1t remained
for YOU to finally and forever settie
the question in favor Of nationality
The same emotions and sentiments
that thrilled the great Webster i'm
PEELED you to take up arms in defense
of the principles he advocated, and
your patriotism was encouraged and
nourished by his eloQuence.
The ouIverins Scales.
1t requires great issues to develop
men. Gradually and from a question
of relatively small Importance and for
seventy years this subject command
ed attention. Men were born and
grew into manhood and then in old
age passed off the stage while it was
being discussed but never solved.
They saw it at first mildly obtrude II
self upon public attention They
watched it develop and wax impor-
tant; saw strong men take their posi-
ton on one side or the other; them
selves following the great leaders Of
thought, They saw young men grow
into seasoned veterans and develop
mighty intellects in defending the
cause of national sovereignty and
liberty. or liberty first and union at.
forwards. The intellectual conflict
ragged The scales trembled in the
balance when they closed their eyes
forever. 1t was inevitable that Car
houn's subtle reasoning, Webster's
fierce invective and Sumner and
Haynes flowery eloquence should
bring on crisis. The scales would
not always remain in balance Under
the lash Of fierce discussion, these
mighty men struggling as each thought
for the perpetuity Of the nation all
unconsciously instructed a nation as
to the powers and duties OF republican
governments. So nearly equal were
they in numbers ana so firmly in
trenched behind their logic that war
was inevitable. It was evident that
war would settle the question. 1t
would either be war Of etxermina-
ton or one side would conquer the
other. National sovereignty had the
best of the argument at Vicksburg. 1t
was consecrated the true philosophy
of popular government at Gettysburg,
reaffirmed at Antietam and Pittsburg
Landing and upon many other victor
ious battle fields. it was finally and
forever settled at Appamatox.
Before war was declared, there
was no doubt but that under our free
institutions men could and would be
produced that were big enough and
strong enough to contend with any
problem, no matter how great. if this
problem had to do with the civil af-
fairs of the nation. But here was
question about which men could not
agree. AS last and only and final
resort. we must engage in warfare.
for it was question that had to be
settled
There was grave doubts in the
minds of many people in the north as
to whether we would be able to pro-
duce soldiers equal to the occasion. It