been so benignly and bountifully bestowed as in these
latter days. For the unexampled material prosperity which has waited
upon our steps,--for blessings in city and field, in basket and store,
in all that we have set our hand unto, it is meet that we should render
thanks to the Good Giver; but for the especial blessings of these last
four years,--for the sudden uprising of manhood,--for the great revival
of justice and truth and love, without which material prosperity is but
a second death,--for the wisdom to do, the courage to dare, the patience
to endure, and the godlike strength to sacrifice all in a righteous
cause, let us give thanks to-day; for in these consists a people's life.

To every nation there comes an hour whereon hang trembling the issues of
its fate. Has it vitality to withstand the shock of conflict and the
turmoil of surprise? Will it slowly gather itself up for victorious
onset? or will it sink unresisting into darkness and the grave?

To this nation, as to all, the question came: Ease or honor, death or
life? Subtle and savage, with a bribe in his hand, and a threat on his
tongue, the tempter stood. Let it be remembered with lasting gratitude
that there was neither pause nor parley when once his purpose was
revealed. The answer came,--the voice of millions like the voice of one.
From city and village, from mountain and prairie, from the granite coast
of the Atlantic to the golden gate of the Pacific, the answer came. It
roared from a thousand cannon, it flashed from a million muskets. The
sudden gleam of uplifted swords revealed it, the quiver of bristling
bayonets wrote it in blood. A knell to the despot, a paean to the slave,
it thundered round the world.

Then the thing which we had greatly feared came upon us, and that
spectre which we had been afraid of came unto us, and, behold, length of
days was in its right hand, and in its left hand riches and honor. What
the lion-hearted warrior of England was to the children of the Saracens,
that had the gaunt mystery of Secession been to the little ones of this
generation, an evening phantom and a morning fear, at the mere mention
of whose name many had been but too ready to fall at the feet of
opposition and cry imploringly, "Take any form but that!" The phantom
approached, put off its shadowy outlines, assumed a definite purpose,
loomed up in horrid proportions,--to come to perpetual end. In its
actual presence all fear vanished. The contest waxed