The Manchester Journal

The Day of Trial.

While in the midst of unexampled commercial prosperity—while rapidly increasing in all that makes a nation great and powerful—while enjoying the rich blessings of undisturbed peace—defeated political ambition suddenly plunged us into the depth of national grief and misery. Although in the important particulars that demonstrate our ability and strength of endurance, the war has progressed lightly upon us, nevertheless it has been to us a dark, cloudy day of trial and of sorrow. War, however distant and however plentiful the means of its support, must always be productive of great distress to the generation upon which it is cast.

During over two years of fierce and bloody war, we have struggled on, suffering much and bearing much. Private grief and public disappointment have borne heavily upon us. We have ofttimes experienced defeat when we had hoped for glorious victory. And however determined we were that victory should come sooner or later, we could not help being pained at hope deferred! The public disappointment and even the public joy has been accompanied by private sorrow that has pervaded every village and hamlet in the land. Friends and relations sleep in unknown, though not unhonored graves. Every circle has been called upon to mourn the loss of an acquaintance, until one loud, long wail of anguish has gone up from a stricken people.

But for this we have our consolations. Certain generations are called upon to fight for the future. It has fallen to our lot to contend on the field of battle for blessings that coming generations shall enjoy. Long after scars that war has fastened upon our country shall have been obliterated—long after the actors in the mighty conflict shall have passed away—the fruits of our labor will be felt in prosperity and happiness. Future generations will enjoy what we have been called upon to purchase with blood and sorrow. Ours are the toil, the danger and the anguish. Theirs will be the blessing and the happiness. But while we have the toil, we have the honor. Danger is inseparably connected with glory. To do one's duty is noble, and if that duty be joined with peril and hardships, so much the greater is the praise that follows. They who bear the burden, have the reward. If this generation performs the task that is given it to do, it will be looked back upon hereafter with something of that veneration which we feel, when we think of the toils and privations of our Revolutionary Fathers.