The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-05-28

felt that there would be a conflict soon. but
when or where one could foretell II was a
day of suspense.
Lincoln, at the time had not served tbroe
months as president. Between the time of his
election and his Inauguration seven of the soutb
ern states had seeded. Soon after his naugura.
ton virginia had seeded, and before this thir.
tieth OF May Arkansas and North Carolina had
followed the example Of Virginia Immediately
after the fall of Fort Sumter Lincoln had issued
his call for $4,000 troops Most of the northern
states in loyal obedience to this call had sent
troops TO Washngton but many of the states
near the border line between the North and the
South had dehed the call Some of the questions
asked by the people Of the North on this day
must have been: "Will these states, too, secede?"
Can President Lincoln hold them in the UnionP"
But question, more momentous than these
which must have been asked by these people
was: Can our troops at Washington defend the
city, For it must be remembered that ii was
only II days before this thirtieth of May when
northern troops had been fired upon by a mob
while they were passing through Baltimore on
their way to Washington
Many people. at the time, interpreted this act
20 mean that Maryland, too, was about to secede
True, the Union soldiers at Washington seemed
at this time to be successfully defending the
city; a band of troops six days before this thir-
tieth of May had crossed the Potomac and had
taken possession of Alexandria. This had made
means confident. for, at this time, they had just
received news from abroad about the expressions
Of JOY which had just been made by certain Eu-
ropeans who were predicting the immediate
downfall Of the American republic Then, too,
many of the items about events of the
war which were appearing i'm the daily news
papers indicated that there might be foun.
dation for the prediction of the people in Europe.
Here the news items that the people
of the North were reading in their home papers.
The Boston Journal for this thrtieth of May con-
tanned the following telegraphic dispatches:
THE report of the surrender of the United
States troops in Texas, under command of Lieu
tenant Colonel Reeve. 4 the Confederate force.
under command of Colonel Van Dorm, is fully
confirmed"
General Mcdowell has been informed that
General Lee, with $4,000 rebels is advancing
Alexandria
The New York Tribune for the date was
TO its northern readers somewhat more hopeful
Here are some of it's headlines
Frank Blair Ordered to Fortress Monroe"
"Harpers Ferry Threatened. The Rebels Like
ly TO BE Surrounded."
10000 Troops to Rendezvous at Cairo"
These news items, taken from northern news
papers reflect the general mood and spirit of the
people in the North who were at the time read
ing the papers. Among them there spirit
of uncertainty and doubt They were uncertain
as to the strength and purpose of the South.
They doubted the ability Of Lincoln. who had re-
Gently been elected by new and untried po
ltical party They were uncertain as TO whether
he would yield TO the demands of political bosses.
Lincoln was not a trained soldier They were
uncertain as to whether he could succeed in the
management of his army.
But the people OF the South. this thirtieth
of May, we're hopeful and confident Loyalty
from their point of view meant allegiance TO
their states. They held that the general govern
ment had right to interfere with their forma
tion OF a new government. Their loyalty 20
their cause almost amounted TO enthusiasm. They