Year: 1866

The Late Civil War and IL Lesssns.
Civil wAR! Oh how dreadful! What
. meaning the word war has. But 1t IL
much worse II 1t be Civil War. Many
years ago the American people realized
the sufierings and miseries Of long and
bloody war with foreign nation. Yes,
they fought the mother country. And
although the contest was a.long and Sc
we're one, yet we gained our independ-
snce-we secured our liberty. But it
was not . father ,waging war against his
son; 1t was not brother fighting brother.
It was hirelings fighting freemen; =
contest between Freedom and Despot-
ist. And at the close Of that eventful
contest the American people never
thought that bssDse hundred yeazS
should pass, the cloud Of Civil War, in
al its blackaess, would gather, and
break, and scatter its miseries over their
descendants. But 1t came with the year
1861 and oh, what broad swath 1t cut


what furrow It made. Its victims
can be counted by thousands, and to-day
its effects are seen all over this land. It
was contest between slavery and free
dom-between univesal liberty and op-
preston. It was the father fighting the
son, and the son the father; and brother
raised the weapon of war against broth
er. It was relative fighting relative.
Secession had become ripe; and slavery
raised itself in all its power against the
government that had nursed and pro-
tected it for over . half century. The
shareholders had their plans matured,
and all that remained to be done, was to
execute them. And although the un-
dertaking was a stupendous one, they
commenced it. But did they succeed? :?
No; they signally failed. Why? Sim
ply from the fact that their cause was
unjust and wicked. No wonder that
they failed when they fought for the
purpose of breaking up this Union, and
of keeping in bondage four million of
people. They fought for that which has
always been a terrible curse and draw
back to the nations where it has existed
human slavery.


But the contest was bloody and severe.
The very foundations Of the Republic
were shaken, and the dark cloud Of war
was hanging over, entirely obscuring
the future from view. Disaster followed
disaster; victory perched upon the enc
my's banner; our hearts almost sank
within us when we beheld the apparent
success of the rebellion. But the tide of
fortune began to turn, and at length the
future began to beam with bright hopes
of promise. The rebellion begins to
totter; it fell; and with it perished
American slavery. And to-day they
lie side by side in their native hell.


But what were some Of the lessons 1t
taught us, as individuals and as nation?
One of them was the perpetuity Of the
American Union; the stability of our
Republic. Although It's very founda-
tions were shaken from center to cir
cumfcrence, yet it did not fall. No; its
foundations are secure. And since it is
founded upon Liberty and Justice, it
will stand rs long as time shall last.
But we did not rely solely upon our own
strength; We relied upon God. He
heard our prayers, and 1t was by His
power that we are still nation. Yes,
we as nation maintained our dignity
among the nations Of the world and to-
day we stand as landmark and guide
to other nations. What . great lesson it
taught other powers, especially England.
They only begin to see the stability of
this government; it showed them our
strength and our resources; how we
could carry on q great war and not ask
any nation for men or money. We
raised our own armies, and used our
own money. Compare our navy to-day
with that Of 1881. What difference!
Then we had but very few ships and
gunboats; now they can be counted by
hundreds. To-day our naval strength is
superior to that Of any other nation in
the world.


It also taught US that, we as nation
grew rich while we were carrying ON .
war which, In point Of numbers engag-
ed and issues involved, had never had
parallel In the history Of the world.
And although the department Of agri-
culture was somewhat impeded by the
filling up Of the army, We had plenty,
and some to spare to poor Europe.


Another lesson which this war has
taught was, the patriotism of the people
of the loyal north. We we'll remember
when Sumter was attacked and taken
how the men rushed forward to battle.
We remember how rapidly every call
was answered. And although there wee
traitors both in front and rear, yet the
patriotism of the people did not fail.