20 ORATION. I take an illustration of this virtue, as soldiers understand it, from the well-known story of that Ohio Colonel, who, on the second day of Murfreesboro’, just as he was leading his regiment to the charge, saw his son fall mortally wounded at his side. He longed to kneel by the side of his dying boy. He longed to hear the words of farewell which that boy might speak for the mother who should no more see her child returning to his home. But there was duty to be done, — there was Rebel- liofi to be crushed, — there was a country to be served ; and he only said to one that could be spared, “ Look out for Johnny,” and led his regiment right onward to battle and to victory. Just so straightforward, so unwavering, so unconditional, should be the loyalty with which we “ march under the flag, and keep step to the music” of an imperilled Union. Does it seem hard to reconcile freedom of thought and speech with devoted support of a Government whose warlike policy you do not wholly approve ? Learn a lesson, then, from the course of Daniel Webster, during the war of 1812. He did not approve the war ; he thought it might have been avoided ; he knew it might be better managed; but it was his country’s war and it was just ; and he who claimed the right of free discussion for himself and his children, — he whq would maintain it, liv-
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