Gilpin observer., 1912-06-06

Jefferson was that enslavement of the
African was in violation Of the lava
OF Nature-that 1t was wrong in prin.
ciple-socially, morally and political
ly. Our new government is founded on
tons are laid, Its cornerstone rests
upon the great truth that the negro Is
not equal to the white man; that slav-
sry-subordination to the superior
race-is his natural and normal condi.
tion."
In the North, during the great de-
bates between Stephen A. Douglas.
the Little Giant" and Abraham Lin
colin, "the rail-splitter," Mr.. Douglas
propounded a series Of questions to
Mr.. Lincoln, among which was this:
do you believe that the black man
Is the equal Of the white mani"
And Mr.. Lincoln's reply was sue
cinct and characteristic. 1t not only
completely answered the question, but
1t answered Mr.. Stephens contention
1T expressed in few words the whole
Northern or abolitionist view of the
matter. Mr.. Lincoln answered.:
III lhS IlSut W edl tuc UTedu lHdt
he has earned with the labor of his
own hands and by the sweat of his
brow. the black man is the equal Of
Judge Douglas, or any other man."
How clear and convincing are those
words to us today. Yet it cost ou"
country thousands and thousands Of
lives, sacrificed upon the altar of Lib
erty the bravest and the best; millions
and millions of treasure, and untold
agony and neutrality-suspicious. and or
phans and the homes made desolate,
to establish the fact that no man can
ensiave another and himself be free;
to make apparent that while the slave
is ironed and fettered the master is
just as securely bound to the other
end of the chain. The boys in blue
breathed into the Declaration OF In
| dependence the breath Of life. With
| the point of the sword they wrote in
blood. SO that all men and all nations
may read and understand ALL MEN
ARE CREATED EQUAL,"-not equal
Intellectually, not equal socially. not
equal morally, but equality under the
law.
Il
| American people declared that they
would not only forbid slavery In
America. but that they would not al
low Spain to starve and murder de-
fenseless women and children at our
doors. In that short conflict General
Joe Wheeler, In blue uniform,
fought side by side with General Law
ton; Fitzhugh Lee was on the staff OF
General Fred Grant; George Dewey.
Yank from Vermont, victor in Manila
bay; Winfield Scott Schley of Mary
land, at Santiago. flying from the
masthead of the Brooklyn There is
glory enough for ALL" We have in
very truth one country, one flag, one
Union, now and forever, one and iu-
separable.
| The Civil war was won by the vol
unteers. 1t was the most remarkable
army since the days Of Peter the Her
init; recruited, drilled and seasoned.
they were soldiers in war; In peace.
they we're again the mechanic and the
artisan; the teacher and the preacher.
lie us profit by their example and say
with the poet:
Lives of great men all remind US
We can make our lives sublime
And departing. leave behind us
Footsteps on the sands of time.
| Footprints that perhaps another
| Sailing DER life's stormy main
| Some forlorn and footsore brother
| Seeing, may take heart again."
Soldiers. you are about to start up
on long journey-a march toward
the setting sun. The trail is we'll.
beaten; the landmarks are easily dis
cernible; the goal is certain, the re-
suit inevitable. For you, who climbed
the flameswept hill at Lookout. the
order to charge has been given for
the last time; you who marched with
Sherman to the sea, have shouldered
arms forever; you. who rode with
Sheridan in the Valley of the Shenan.
doah. will ride alone through the Val
ley Of the Shadow Of Death, but you
will be unafraid; you. who stood with
Pap Thomas, the Rock of Chicka-
mauga; who served the guns with Lit
tie Mac at Antietam; who stormed
with Burnside the stone wall at
Fredericksburg; you. who held on that
gray April Sunday the broken line at
Shiloh; who planted on the Fourth
of July Old Glory upon the ramparts
OF Vicksburg; you. who hurled back
Pickett's charge up the slope and
held with Hancock the bloody angle at
Gettysburg-you, to whose ears was
music the voices Of the captains and
the shouting-you are going to fight
the last fight. but no cannon will
roar. and for once you are going to
lose the battle; you. who never sur
rendered must at last strike your col.
ors. You will be defeated-but you
will not leave the field. My friends. I
know you will meet this enemy brave
iy-this enemy In the West-just as
you met another foe under Southern