Year: 1874

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timate fruition OF the worst results of the
war. This was the idea of Cesarism-in
other words, the possibility that strong
military government and the necessary
violations of constitutional rights, un-
avoidable in time of war, would lead
to such permanent changes in our
institutions as to make possible III
the future q central government so
strong as to govern the country instead
OF being governed by the country. This was
the idea that came as menace and danger
from the events of the past fifteen years-just
as slavery and secession came as the menace
and the danger of the preceding eras of our
history. We destroyed slavery, not from any
sentiment Of humanity for the slaves, but be-
cause it endangered our political integrity as
. nation. We dreaded C@sarism, not because
we were especially afraid OF Grant, or that we
would be inconsistent with the honor and
prosperity Of the people, but because the
principle, unchallenged, would endanger our
political integrity as Republic. It was only
when slavery became q selfish, aggressive ele-
ment in our own affairs that we warred upon
it. It was only when the military spirit the
violation of constitutional traditions, the laps
ing from time-honored usage, the centraliza-
ton of authority, the growth of the money
and railway power into q monopoly, the use
of the army and navy to establish political
parties over PROSTATE Commonwealths, con-
solidated into the idea of Cmsarsm, and with
all the danger that the Pretorian guards of
civil service would become what the Prsetorian
guards Of another service proved to be in the
base and degenerate days of the lower empire,
the issue and smote Cpsarism with as severe
if not as bloody hand as we smots slavery
and secession.


The cycle, which seems to have run its
course, does not close our history. We are
on the eve Of events as grave as those which
have given renown to the time which has
passed since the execution of Ossawattomie
Brown. Those were shrewd words which
General Sherman is reported as saying few
years since to . group of fair faced young
Harvard students, as he talked cheerily with
them under the trees of Cambridge: There
will be as much opportunity for you boys to
win fame in your generation as we have had
in ours" There is as much fame to be gained
in peace as in war-not so dazzling,
not SO noisy, not SO resplendent, per-
haps not 80 alluring as the glory
that comes with shell and cannon-smoke,
but purer, higher, nobler and more lasting.
History writes the name of her Napo-
Icons, her Caesars, her Hannibals and her
Marlboroughs in lofty scroll. But she
gives higher place to the men who have
blessed the world without wounding it, who
have aided humanity without shedding blood,
who have given ideas to mankind without
bringing misery and sorrow. A fame like
this is open to the men who come into power
with the new generation. Let them assure
the work of peace and reconstruction and
consolidate liberty and republicanism with
the acquired blessings of strong government.
Their glory will be like that of Franklin,
greater tar than that of the stern iberator
who died fifteen years ago, or the brave and
valiant men who have won immortal fame in
the war which then began.