The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-05-24

Col Robert G. Ingersoll at banque
held in Chicago, November ID, 1879
NHYH HEN the savagery OF the
wv lash, the barbarism of the
chain, and the insanity OF
secession confronted the
civilization Of our country, the ques-
ton, "Wil the great republic defend
itself?" trembled on the lips Of ev-
cry lover of mankind. The North
filled with intelligence and wealth
children of liberty-marshaled her
hosts and asked only for leader.
From civil life man, silent, thought
full. poised and calm, stepped forth
and with the lips Of victory voiced
the nations first and last demand;
Unconditional and immediate surren-
der" From that moment the end was
ksown. That utterance was the nrst
real declaration of real war, and. IN
accordance with the dramatic unities
of mighty events, the great soldier
who made il. received the final sword
of the Rebellion.
The soldiers of the Republic were
not seekers after vulgar glory. They |
were not animated by the hope OF
thunder or the love of conquest. They
fought to preserve the homestead OF
liberty and that their children might
have peace. They were the defend
ers of humanity, the destroyers of
prejudice, the breakers of chains, and
in the name of the future they slew
the monsters of their time. Ihey
finished what the soldiers Of the Rev
olution commenced. They re-lighted
the torch that fell from their august
hands and filled the world again with |
light. They blotted from the statute
books laws that had been passed by
hvpocrites at the instigation of rob-
bers, and tore with indignant hands
from the constitution that Infamous
clause that made men the catchers OF
their fellowmen. They made it posi-
bic for judges to be just, for states
men to be humane, and for politicians
to be honest. They broke the shackles
from the limbs of slaves, from the
souls of masters, and from the North
ern brain. They kept our country on
the map of the world, and our flag in
heaven. They rolled the stone from '
the sepulchre of progress, and found !,
therein two angels clad in shining gar
and Liberty. =
The soldiers were the saviors of the
nation; they were the liberators of
men. In writing the Proclamation of
Independence, Lincoln, greatest of our
mighty dead, whose memory is as !,
gentle as the summer air when reap
ers sing amid the gathered sheaves,
copied with the pen what Grant and :,
his brave comrades wrote with the =
sword.
Grander than the Greek, nobler than
he Roman, the soldiers of the Re- =
public, with patriotism as shoreless as
he air, battled for the rights of 9TH
RS, for the nobility of labor; fought
hat mothers might own their babes,
hat arrogant idleness should not scar L
he back Of patient toll, and that our
ountry should not be many-headed B
Monster made Of warning states, but
alton, sovereign, great and free. N
Blood was water, money was leaves,
nd life was only common air until D
ne flag foated over a Republic with
ut master and without slave. vi
And then was asked the question::
Will free people tax themselves to of
ay a nations debit" da
The soldiers went home to their
aiting wives, to their glad children,
nd to the girls they loved-they went
ack TO the fields, the shops and the
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