Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-28
DECORATION DAY
Decoration Day Speaks of an Event
That will not be Forgotten-Deco-
ration Day Commentaries Dis
tinet Period in Our National Life
The Theory of Government that
Caused The War-The Lessons
Which we Should Learn Therefrom.
w. T. williams

Decoration Day is with us again,
and as it comes year after year, we
cannot but think soberly of the his
tory that gave it birth. 1t speaks
of an event that will never be for
gotten, and as we look upon it, our
children will be glad that the atmos-
phere was cleared when it was. A
question of vital Importance to the
whole world was settled. and as long
as the human family remains desir-
Gus to learn of the paths in which it
has lived, it will be kept as sacred re-
membrance. In the main, we are
fond of the past, whether it is against
US or in our favor. We like to know
from whence we have come and how
we have Jared from age to age. We
delight in following the steps of those
who were here before US. We are
fascinated by what has been said and |
done, and of all peoples, we do not
know of any one that has greater rea-
sons to be charmed by it's past re-
cords than the American people. For
every quality of the nature of man,
thus far known to US, has been tested
and proven more than once. What
field of development these United
States of America has beenl What
characters have been produced round
about usl They are so near to us
that we are justified in saying that
they are of our set. They have
come forth from our neighborhood.
We have seen them, talked and play
ed with them.
| Decoration Day commentaries a
distinct period in our national life.
1t reminds us of a debate which had
grown intense among us by long years
of discussion. In fact, it started
just as soon as the government was
formed. New enterprises bring with
them their own peculiar issues. we
have been told. and it was no differ
ent with the formation of our demo-
cracy. 1t was conflict between two
theories pertaining to the Union.
The nature of our government was
at that time hard to understand.
There were no precedents that might
be counted reliable. To all intents
and purposes it was new, and the
great men of the nation arrayed them
| selves against one another. The
question they had to settle was this:
Which was the greater, the parts or
the whole? 1t was held on the one
side that the parts were the greater,
and on the other that the whole was
the greater. The theory of the
!, parts was personifed by Thomas JEFF
: ferson, and the theory of the whole
by Alexander Hamilton. They were
great men very great men, and their
convictions about the nature of gov
errment were deep and unyielding
It is said that Jefferson was more re-
sponsive to new ideas, and that Ham,
Y ilton had a keener appreciation of
: what had stood the strain of time
: The conflict hinged on the center and
: the circumference. Jefferson be-
: lievd that the States were their owr
e supreme tribunal, and Hamilton helc
!, bot the Union was the center OF
= authority.
II "The opposing theories made two
battle-lines along which political lead
ers arrayed their followers. There
we're bitter conflicts in Congress; there
fs were nationwide struggles in Presi
d Dental campaigns. and there were un
y ending battles in the press and on thu
l. public platform. Calhoun was pit
/ tod against Jackson, Hayne agains
d Webster; Clay was torn asunder by /;
a Northern following and a Southern
le habitation; and Douglas split tn,
'r Democratic marty wide open in vail
attempt to land the Southern leader