The state herald., 1915-05-28

felt that there would be a conflict soor. br,
when or where no one could foretel II was n
day of suspense
Lincoln, at the time, had not served three
months as president. Between the time NJ his
election and his Inauguration seven of th soutb
ern states had seeded Soon after his Inangnra
ton Virginia had seeded. and before this ,bir
teth OF May Arkansas and North Carolina had
followed the example of Virginia ImmediateIv
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 Washington: but many OF the states
near the border line between the North and the
South had defed the call. Some OF the oues,Ioro
asked by The people of the North on this aav
must have BEEN "Will these states too secede >"
Can President Lincoln hold them In the Union >"
But question, more momentous than these
which must have been asked by these neon,o
was: Can our troops at Washington defend The
city,? For II must be remembered that 4, Uns
only ii days before this thirtleth OF Nav who,
northern troops hal been fired upon by n ,roh
while they were passing through Baltimore on
their way to Washington.
Many people, at the time. interpreted this act
TO mean that Maryland. too. WIS about 10 secedo
True the Union soldiers at Washington seemed
at this time to be successfully defending the
city; band OF troops six days before this tbIr
teth OF May had crossed the Potomac and had
taken possession OF Alexandria. This had made
the Union people hopeful. but they were by no
means confident, for. at this time they had inst
received news from abroad about tho expressions
OF Joy which had Just been made by certain Eu.
ropeans who predicting the Immediate
downfall OF the American republic. Then, too
many Of the news Items about events OF the
war which were appearing in the daily news.
papers indicated that there might be some foun.
dalton for the prediction of the people In Europe
Here are some the news items that the people
OF the North were reading In their home papers
The Boston Journal for this thrtloth OF May con.
tained the following telesraphic dispatches:
The report OF the surrender of the United
States troops In Texas. under command OF Lieu
tenant Colonel Reeve. the Confederate force
under command OF Colonel Van Dorm. Ia fully
confirmed"
General Mcdowell mas been Informed that
General Lee. with $4,000 rebels Is advancing on
Alexandria
The New York Tribune for tho same date was
10 It's northern readers somewhat more hopeful
Here are some OF Its headlines;
Frank Blair ordered to Fortress Monroe"
"Harpcrs Ferry Threatened. Tho Rebels Like
iy TO he currounded"
10000 Troops TO Rendezvous at Cairo
These news items. taken from northern news
papers. reflect tho general mood and spirit OF tho
people In the North who were nj the time read
ing the papers. Among them there was n spirit
of uncertainty and doubt. They were uncertain
M to the strength and purpose Of tho South
They doubted the ability OF Lincoln, who had re-
Gently been elected by new and untriod po
iItoai party. They were uncertain aH TO whether
ho would yield TO the demands of political bosses
Lincoln was not trained soldier, They were
uncertain aa to whether he could succeed In the
management OF his army,
Hut the people OF the South on this thiroth
of MAY, we're hopeful and confident Loyalty
from their point OF view meant allegiance TO
their states They held that the general govern
mont had no right 10 interfere with their fofma'
tion Of now government. Their loyalty 20
their cause nlmoa, amounted TO enthusiasm They