Year: 1869

was a rising young politician in
Ohio, Sickles and Logan and Nc
Clernand were Democratic members
of Congress, Burnside was running
mandatory in Rhode Island, and
Palmer and Oglesby were unknown
lawyers in Illinois.


But greater and more wonderful
than his transformation of leaders,
which has in ten years introduced a
new generation into our public life,
is the tral sformation of ideas and
the revolution Of events. In this
short period not only the admins
tration has changed hands, but the
very principles upon which the admin
istration was conducted have been
reversed. Lincoln was made Presi-
dent, the south rebelled, in the sub
jugation of the rebellion the slaves
were emancipated, and in the recon
struction of tue rebellious states
these slaves have been made citi-
zens and voters. A social revolu-
ton has followed in the wake Of
this political one. The colored
man is recognized as an element of
our society, and not a mere Pariah,
a newer Of wood and a drawer of
water. Even now an amendment
to the amendment to the constitu


ton is pending before the legisla-
lures of the several states, and ,1s
ready certain of adoption, which
abolishes the last remnant of caste
in our political system, and lifts the
negro into the full right Of citizen
ship in every square mile Of our ma
tlonal domain.


To only one epoch-that of the
revolution of findependence-can this
last decade be compared, and it
surpasses even that period in the
magnitude Of it's events and the
mightiness of its transformations


And it is curious to note that just
as the Boston massacre Of ITO and
the battle of Lexington in 1775
preluded the great revolution, so the
Kansas struggles Of 1856 and the
John Brown insurrection Of 1859
foreshadowed the great war of the
rebellion, in which slavery was
crushed out In this niche of time
stood John Brown, the unwise but
devoted adherent of liberty, who
struck a blow against established
law, and with utterly inadequate ar


rangements for success; but whose
love for liberty, whose unfalterine
and uncalculating devotion, whose
stern courage and whose resolute
martyrdom makes him the Arnold
Winkilreed of American history
| The popular heart recognizes its
hero. The destruction of the sys


tenn of slavery is an Offering upon
the grave of it's foe and its martyr
And as our armies marched to vic
tory to the tune of "John Brown s
body lies mouldering in the grave y
the people have learned in the
events of the last decade to respect
the stern and righteous wrath against
a great iniquity which moved John
Brown to his attack upon it.


1t is interesting upon this ami
versary to recall the manner in which
it was kept ten years ago. John
Browns raid burst upon the people
of the United States on the 10th of
October, 1859. Its history is too
familiar for repetition. The mag
nifcent audacity of the attack, the
craven cowardice of the people near,
the sudden fear which shook the
whole South, the final over-power-
ing of the gallant band, the fero- city
Of southern chivalry,'' the sudden
and hurried trial, the stern bearing
of the old hero, the final death scene,
are familiar to the common memory
of all of US. 1t is interesting, how
ever, to recall at the present the
way in which this day, ten years
ago, was celebrated at the North.
All over the country meetings were
held. We read in the files of our
newspapers Of the time that in this
city the day was kept as a day of
mourning. A black banner, stretch


ed across the street from the Forest
City House to the building oppo-
site, bore these words, a quotation
from John Brown: II do not think
I can serve better the cause I love
than to die for it." Other signs of
mourning were manifest. In front
of Professor Kirtland's residence the
national flag was displayed at half
mast. The Melodeon, now Brain
ards Hall, was draped in black
and hung with appropriate notices.
In the evening thousands assembled
there. Hon. A. G.. Riddle was
made chairman, prayer was offered