noblest forms and the
most precious blessings of liberty, under a splendid, powerful, and
growing nationality, they are too conscious of the dignity and glory of
the American character ever to be willing to fall from that high estate
without a struggle which shall fully demonstrate their lofty patriotism
and their intelligent appreciation of the priceless political and social
structure they seek to preserve for the benefit of the whole country and
of the world. The history of Europe, and indeed the experience of the
entire human race, have taught them the immense value of a mighty
continental organization, such as our Union has hitherto established.
Solemnly impressed with this great lesson of human history, they will
never consent to see their country broken up into discordant fragments.
As they plainly foresee the tremendous and ever-increasing evils of such
a national disintegration, they have deliberately come to consider the
worst calamities of this war as mere dust in the balance when weighed
against them. It is this awful picture of bloody conflicts, perpetuated
through coming generations, wasting the substance and paralyzing the
fruitful energies of this mighty nation, perhaps for centuries to
come--it is this vista of inevitable calamities and horrors, which
reconciles the loyal people of North America to the dreadful war in
which they have been so earnestly engaged for the last two years and
more. They feel the inspiration of a sacred cause, the mighty impulse of
an idea as grand as their cherished hopes for their country, and as
immense as the interests of all humanity. They hear the mute appeals of
a swarming posterity, gathered from all nations in pursuit of freedom,
progress, and happiness, and they know that these countless millions
will justly hold them responsible for the deeds of the present momentous
hour. Is it strange that, penetrated and nerved with the high motives to
be derived from these solemn considerations, the American people are
prepared to accept the responsibilities of the great occasion, and even
to wade through blood for the realization of the grandeur of those human
hopes which are now intrusted to their keeping? One nation--one
government--one universal freedom within those imperial boundaries which
have heretofore been the theatre of our glorious achievements as a
people! This is the grand thought of the Union men of America. This is
the principle of their organization, and this it is