Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/647

Rh domain, but the nationality of Mexico was not to be estinguished,—she had her mission to fulfil,—but a vast extent of her terntory, which, with all its untold wealth and beauty was Iying dormant, must be wrested from her, that its vast resources might be brought into use for the advancement of civilization and benefit of mankind. Homes were needed for the down trodden of the old world, and art, science and commerce needed a new impulse in their alloted labors.

The next step was the struggle over this newly-acquired territory—slavery demanding it, freedom defending it; the result was the Missouri compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska bill, the John Brown raid, the rebellion, the emancipation proclamation, and in that one manifest object of the great design accomplished—the fall of the American slave system—making what was deemed the source of strength and perpetuity the very instrument in its destruction.

Now slavery has nearly accomplished her work; the way is being paved, the freed slave has been led up—shall we say through a Red Sea of blood—on the way to his promised land?

Shall we say that all this demanded the blood of sacrifices? Where shall we place all the host of brave heroes who laid down their lives on the bloody plains of Mexico and bled so freely on the battle-fields of the rebellion?

One thing is evident: the assassination of Lincoln was required to arouse the nation to a full realization of the animus that existed in the hearts of some, and the necessity of guarding well the sacred boon of liberty, lest anarchy and tyranny usurp the government of our country. It required the sacrifice of Garfield, when we were lulled into a feeling of security to rouse the indignation of all sections against such flagrant disregard for human life. No one act has done more to arouse the whole nation and unite them in one common cause—thus paving the way for concert of action for the general good; and now we see men who stood opposed in battle array in that fierce struggle, standing shoulder to shoulder, laboring harmoniously to build up and strengthen our common country.