Brotherhood and Heroic Virtues

ADDRESS AT VETERANS’ REUNION, BURLINGTON, VERMONT, SEPTEMBER 5, 1901

SPEECH AT THE VETERANS’ REUNION, BURLINGTON, VERMONT, SEPTEMBER 5, 1901

I speak to you to-night less as men of Vermont than as members of the Grand Army which saved the Union. But at the outset I must pay a special tribute to your State. Vermont was not a rich State, compared with many States, and she had sent out so many tens of thousands of her sons to the West that it is not improbable that as many men of Vermont birth served in the regiments of other States as in those of her own State. Yet, notwithstanding this drain, your gallant State was surpassed by no other State of the North, either in the number of men according to her population which she sent into the army, or in the relative extent of her financial support of the war. Too much can not be said of the high quality of the Vermont soldiers; and one contributing factor in securing this high quality was the good sense which continually sent recruits into the already existing regiments instead of forming new ones.

Tonight I speak to you less as men of Vermont than as members of the Grand Army that saved the Union. But first, I must pay special tribute to your state. Vermont was not rich compared with many other states. It had also sent many tens of thousands of its sons to the West. Quite possibly, as many Vermont-born men served in other states’ regiments as in Vermont’s own. Yet despite this loss of men, your gallant state was surpassed by no other Northern state in its contribution to the war. No state sent more men into the army in proportion to its population or gave more financial support in proportion to its resources. One cannot say too much about the high quality of Vermont’s soldiers. One reason for their high quality was the good sense of continually sending recruits to existing regiments rather than forming new ones.

It is difficult to express the full measure of obligation under which this country is to the men who from ’61 to ’65 took up the most terrible and vitally necessary task which has ever fallen to the lot of any generation of men in the Western Hemisphere. Other men have rendered great service to the country, but the service you rendered was not merely great—it was incalculable. Other men by their lives or their deaths have kept unstained our honor, have wrought marvels for our interest, have led us forward to triumph, or warded off disaster from us; other men have marshaled our ranks upward across the stony slopes of greatness. But you did more, for you saved us from annihilation. We can feel proud of what others did only because of what you did. It was given to you, when the mighty days came, to do the mighty deeds for which the days called, and if your deeds had been left undone, all that had been already accomplished would have turned into apples of Sodom under our teeth. The glory of Washington and the majesty of Marshall would have crumbled into meaningless dust if you and your comrades had not buttressed their work with your strength of steel, your courage of fire. The Declaration of Independence would now sound like a windy platitude, the Constitution of the United States would ring as false as if drawn by the Abbé Sieyès in the days of the French Terror, if your stern valor had not proved the truth of the one and made good the promise of the other. In our history there have been other victorious struggles for right, on the field of battle and in civic strife. To have failed in these other struggles would have meant bitter shame and grievous loss. But you fought in the one struggle where failure meant death and destruction to our people; meant that our whole past history would be crossed out of the records of successful endeavor with the red and black lines of failure; meant that not one man in all this wide country would now be holding his head upright as a free citizen of a mighty and glorious Republic.

It is hard to express how much this country owes the men who fought from 1861 to 1865. You took on the most terrible and vitally necessary task ever faced by any generation in the Western Hemisphere. Other men have served the country greatly, but your service was beyond measure. Through their lives or deaths, other men have kept our honor unstained and worked wonders for our interests. They have led us to victory or protected us from disaster. Other men have led us upward over the rocky slopes toward greatness. But you did more. You saved us from annihilation. We can be proud of what others did only because of what you did. When those momentous days came, you were called upon to perform great deeds, and you did. If you had not, everything already achieved would have turned to ashes in our mouths. The glory of Washington and the majesty of Marshall would have crumbled into meaningless dust. You and your comrades saved their work with your strength of steel and courage of fire. Without your steadfast courage, the Declaration of Independence would now sound like an empty truism. The Constitution of the United States would ring as false as if Abbé Sieyès had drafted it during the French Terror. Your courage proved the truth of the Declaration and fulfilled the promise of the Constitution. Our history includes other victorious struggles for what is right, both on the battlefield and in civic life. Failure in those struggles would have meant bitter shame and terrible loss. But you fought in the one struggle where failure meant death and destruction for our people. Failure would have crossed out our entire history from the record of successful endeavors, in red and black lines. Not one man in this vast country would now hold his head high as a free citizen of a mighty and glorious Republic.

All this you did, and therefore you are entitled to the homage of all men who have not forgotten in their blindness either the awful nature of the crisis, or the worth of priceless service rendered in the hour of direst need.

You did all this. Therefore, you deserve the respect of all who are not too blind to remember how terrible the crisis was. They must also remember the priceless service you provided in the hour of greatest need.

You met a great need, that vanished because of your success. You have left us many memories, to be prized for evermore. You have taught us many lessons, and none more important than the lesson of brotherhood. The realization of the underlying brotherhood of our people, the feeling that there should be among them an essential unity of purpose and sympathy, must be kept close at heart if we are to do our work well here in our American life. You have taught us both by what you did on the tented fields, and by what you have done since in civic life, how this spirit of brotherhood can be made a living, a vital force.

You met a great need, and that need disappeared because you succeeded. You have left us many memories to treasure forever. You have taught us many lessons, and none is more important than the lesson of brotherhood. We must remember the brotherhood that unites our people. We must also remember that our people should share a basic unity of purpose and sympathy. We must keep these things close to our hearts if we are to do our work well in American life. You have taught us how to make this spirit of brotherhood a living, vital force. You have taught us through what you did in military camps and what you have done since in civic life.

In the first place, you have left us the right of brotherhood with the gallant men who wore the gray in the ranks against which you were pitted. At the opening of this new century, all of us, the children of a reunited country, have a right to glory in the countless deeds of valor done alike by the men of the North and the men of the South. We can retain an ever-growing sense of the all-importance, not merely to our people but to mankind, of the Union victory, while giving the freest and heartiest recognition to the sincerity and self-devotion of those Americans, our fellow-countrymen, who then fought against the stars in their courses. Now there is none left, North or South, who does not take joy and pride in the Union; and when three years ago we once more had to face a foreign enemy, the heart of every true American thrilled with pride to see veterans who had fought in the Confederate uniform once more appear under Uncle Sam’s colors, side by side with their former foes, and leading to victory under the famous old flag the sons both of those who had worn the blue and of those who had worn the gray.

First, you have left us the right to feel brotherhood with the brave men in gray who fought against you. At the start of this new century, we are all children of a reunited country. We have a right to take pride in the countless acts of courage by men of both the North and the South. We can recognize more and more how important the Union victory was, not only to our people but to mankind. At the same time, we can freely and warmly honor the sincerity and self-sacrifice of our fellow Americans who fought against the stars in their courses. Now, everyone, North and South, takes joy and pride in the Union. Three years ago, we once again had to face a foreign enemy. Every true American’s heart thrilled with pride at the sight of veterans who had fought in Confederate uniform. They appeared once more under Uncle Sam’s colors, side by side with their former enemies. Under the famous old flag, they led to victory the sons of both those who had worn the blue and those who had worn the gray.

But there are other ways in which you have taught the lesson of brotherhood. In our highly complex, highly specialized industrial life of to-day there are many tendencies for good and there are also many tendencies for evil. Chief among the latter is the way in which, in great industrial centres, the segregation of interests invites a segregation of sympathies. In our old American life, and in the country districts where to-day the old conditions still largely obtain, there was and is no such sharp and rigid demarcation between different groups of citizens. In most country districts at the present day not only have the people many feelings in common, but, what is quite as important, they are perfectly aware that they have these feelings in common. In the cities the divergence of real interests is nothing like as great as is commonly supposed; but it does exist, and, above all, there is a tendency to forget or ignore the community of interest. There is comparatively little neighborliness, and life is so busy and the population so crowded that it is impossible for the average man to get into touch with any of his fellow-citizens save those in his immediate little group. In consequence there tends to grow up a feeling of estrangement between different groups, of forgetfulness of the great primal needs and primal passions that are common to all of us.

But you have taught the lesson of brotherhood in other ways, too. Our industrial life today is highly complex and specialized. It has many tendencies toward good, but also many toward evil. One of the worst is the separation of interests in great industrial centers, which encourages a separation of sympathies. In earlier American life, there were no such sharp, rigid divisions between groups of citizens. Nor are there such divisions in rural areas today, where the old conditions still largely remain. In most rural areas today, people not only share many feelings. They are also fully aware that they share them, and that is just as important. In cities, people’s real interests differ far less than is commonly supposed. But those differences do exist. Above all, people tend to forget or ignore the interests they share. There is relatively little neighborliness. Life is so busy and the population so crowded that the average person cannot connect with fellow citizens outside their own small group. As a result, different groups tend to become estranged from one another. They tend to forget the fundamental needs and passions we all share.

It is therefore of the utmost benefit to have men thrown together under circumstances which force them to realize their community of interest, especially where the community of interest arises from community of devotion to a lofty ideal. The great Civil War rendered precisely this service. It drew into the field a very large proportion of the adult male population, and it lasted so long that its lessons were thoroughly driven home. In our other wars the same lessons, or nearly the same lessons, have been taught, but upon so much smaller a scale that the effect is in no shape or way comparable. In the Civil War, merchant and clerk, manufacturer and mechanic, farmer and hired man, capitalist and wage-worker, city man and country man, Easterner and Westerner, went into the army together, faced toil and risk and hardship side by side, died with the same fortitude, and felt the same disinterested thrill of triumph when the victory came. In our modern life there are only a few occupations where risk has to be feared, and there are many occupations where no exhausting labor has to be faced; and so there are plenty of us who can be benefited by a little actual experience with the rough side of things. It was a good thing, a very good thing, to have a great mass of our people learn what it was to face death and endure toil together, and all on an exact level. You whom I am now addressing remember well, do you not, the weary, foot-sore marches under the burning sun, when the blankets seemed too heavy to carry, and then the shivering sleep in the trenches, when the mud froze after dark and the blankets seemed altogether too light instead of too heavy? You remember the scanty fare, and you remember, above all, how you got to estimate each of your fellows by what there was in him and not by anything adventitious in his surroundings. It was of vital importance to you that the men of your left and your right should do their duty; that they should come forward when the order was to advance; that they should keep the lines with ceaseless vigilance and fortitude if on the defensive. You neither knew nor cared what had been their occupations, or whether they were in worldly ways well off or the reverse. What you desired to know about them was to be sure that they would “stay put” when the crisis came. Was not this so? You know it was.

It is therefore extremely valuable to bring men together under conditions that make them recognize their shared interests. This is especially true when their shared interests come from a shared devotion to a lofty ideal. The great Civil War did exactly that. It brought a very large proportion of the adult male population into the field. It lasted so long that its lessons sank in deeply. Our other wars have taught the same lessons, or nearly the same lessons. But they did so on a much smaller scale, and their effects are not comparable in any way. In the Civil War, merchant and clerk, manufacturer and mechanic, farmer and hired man, capitalist and wage-worker, city man and country man, Easterner and Westerner all joined the army together. They faced hard work, danger, and hardship side by side. They died with the same courage and felt the same unselfish thrill of triumph when victory came. In modern life, only a few occupations involve danger, and many require no exhausting labor. So many of us can benefit from some firsthand experience of life's hardships. It was a good thing, a very good thing, for so many of our people to learn what it meant to face death and endure hard work together, as complete equals. Those of you I am addressing remember the weary marches on sore feet under the burning sun, do you not? Your blankets seemed too heavy to carry. Then you shivered as you slept in the trenches, where the mud froze after dark. The blankets that had seemed too heavy now seemed far too light. You remember the meager food. Above all, you remember learning to judge each of your fellow soldiers by his character, not by his circumstances. It was vitally important to you that the men on your left and right do their duty. They had to move forward when ordered to advance. On the defensive, they had to hold the lines with constant vigilance and courage. You neither knew nor cared what their occupations had been or whether they were rich or poor. What you wanted to know was whether they would “stay put” when the crisis came. Was that not so? You know it was.

Moreover, all these qualities of fine heroism and stubborn endurance were displayed in a spirit of devotion to a lofty ideal, and not for material gain. The average man who fought in our armies during the Civil War could have gained much more money if he had stayed in civil life. When the end came his sole reward was to feel that the Union had been saved, and the flag which had been rent in sunder once more made whole. Nothing was more noteworthy than the marvelous way in which, once the war was ended, the great armies which had fought it to a triumphant conclusion disbanded, and were instantly lost in the current of our civil life. The soldier turned at once to the task of earning his own livelihood. But he carried within him memories of inestimable benefit to himself, and he bequeathed to us who come after him the priceless heritage of his example. From the major-general to the private in the ranks each came back to civil life with the proud consciousness of duty well done, and all with a feeling of community of interest which they could have gained in no other way. Each knew what work was, what danger was. Each came back with his own power for labor and endurance strengthened, and yet with his sympathy for others quickened. From that day to this the men who fought in the great war have inevitably had in them a spirit to which appeal for any lofty cause could be made with the confident knowledge that there would be immediate and eager response. In the breasts of the men who saw Appomattox there was no room for the growth of the jealous, greedy, sullen envy which makes anarchy, which has bred the red Commune. They had gone down to the root of things, and knew how to judge and value, each man his neighbor, whether that neighbor was rich or poor, neither envying him because of his wealth nor despising him because of his poverty.

Moreover, all this fine heroism and stubborn endurance came from devotion to a lofty ideal, not from a desire for material gain. The average man who fought in our armies during the Civil War could have earned much more by remaining a civilian. When the war ended, his only reward was knowing that the Union had been saved and the torn flag made whole again. Nothing was more remarkable than how the great armies disbanded after bringing the war to a triumphant end. The soldiers immediately disappeared into the stream of civilian life. Each soldier turned at once to earning his own living. But he carried memories that were of priceless benefit to him. He also left those of us who followed the priceless legacy of his example. From the major general to the private in the ranks, each returned to civilian life proud of having done his duty well. All shared a sense of common interest that they could have gained in no other way. Each knew what work and danger were. Each returned with a greater capacity for work and endurance, but also with a deeper sympathy for others. From that day to this, the men who fought in the great war have inevitably had a certain spirit. One could appeal to them for any lofty cause, confident that they would respond immediately and eagerly. There was no room in the hearts of the men who saw Appomattox for the jealous, greedy, sullen envy that produces anarchy and bred the red Commune. They had gone to the root of things. Each knew how to judge and value his neighbor, whether rich or poor. He neither envied his neighbor's wealth nor despised his poverty.

The lesson taught by the great war could only be imperfectly taught by any lesser war. Nevertheless, not a little good has been done even by such struggles as that which ended in ensuring independence to Cuba, and in giving to the Philippines a freedom to which they could never have attained had we permitted them to fall into anarchy or under tyranny. It was a pleasant thing to see the way in which men came forward from every walk of life, from every section of the country, as soon as the call to arms occurred. The need was small and easily met, and not one in a hundred of the ardent young fellows who pressed forward to enter the army had a chance to see any service whatever. But it was good to see that the spirit of ’61 had not been lost. Perhaps the best feature of the whole movement was the eagerness with which men went into the ranks, anxious only to serve their country and to do their share of the work without regard to anything in the way of reward or position; for, gentlemen, it is upon the efficiency of the enlisted man, upon the way he does his duty, that the efficiency of the whole army really depends, and the prime work of the officer is, after all, only to develop, foster, and direct the good qualities of the men under him.

No lesser war could have taught the lesson of the great war as fully. Nevertheless, even smaller wars have done considerable good. One such war secured independence for Cuba and gave the Philippines a freedom they could never have achieved otherwise. They could not have achieved it if we had allowed them to fall into anarchy or under tyranny. It was heartening to see men from every walk of life and every part of the country come forward when the call to arms came. The need was small and easily met. Fewer than one in a hundred eager young men who volunteered for the army had any chance to serve. But it was good to see that the spirit of ’61 had not been lost. Perhaps the best part of the whole movement was the eagerness with which men enlisted. They wanted only to serve their country and do their share of the work, without regard for reward or position. For, gentlemen, the effectiveness of the whole army really depends on the enlisted man. It depends on how capable he is and how he does his duty. After all, the officer’s main job is to develop, encourage, and direct the good qualities of the men under him.

Well, this rush into the ranks not only had a very good side, but also at times an amusing side. I remember one characteristic incident which occurred on board one of our naval vessels. Several of these vessels were officered and manned chiefly from the naval militia of the different States, the commander and executive officer and a few veterans here and there among the crew being the only ones that came from the regular service. The naval militia contained every type of man, from bankers with a taste for yachting to longshoremen, and they all went in and did their best. But of course it was a little hard for some of them to adjust themselves to their surroundings. One of the vessels in question, toward the end of the war, returned from the Spanish Main and anchored in one of our big ports. Early one morning a hard-looking and seemingly rather dejected member of the crew was engaged in “squeegeeing” the quarter-deck, when the captain came up and, noticing a large and handsome yacht near by (I shall not use the real name of the yacht), remarked to himself: “I wonder what boat that is?” The man with the squeegee touched his cap and said in answer: “The Dawn, sir.” “How do you know that?” quoth the captain, looking at him. “Because I own her, sir,” responded the man with the squeegee, again touching his cap; and the conversation ended.

Well, this rush to join the ranks had a very good side, but at times it had an amusing side too. I remember one typical incident aboard one of our naval vessels. Several of these vessels were staffed mostly by members of the naval militia from different States. Only the commander, the executive officer, and a few veterans scattered among the crew came from the regular service. The naval militia included every type of man, from bankers who enjoyed yachting to longshoremen. They all joined in and did their best. But of course, some found it a little hard to adjust to their surroundings. Toward the end of the war, one of these vessels returned from the Spanish Main and anchored in one of our big ports. Early one morning, a hard-looking and rather dejected-looking crew member was “squeegeeing” the quarter-deck. The captain came up and noticed a large, handsome yacht nearby. I shall not use the yacht’s real name. “I wonder what boat that is?” he remarked to himself. The man with the squeegee touched his cap and answered, “The Dawn, sir.” “How do you know that?” the captain asked, looking at him. “Because I own her, sir,” the man replied, touching his cap again. And that was the end of the conversation.

Now, it was a first-rate thing for that man himself to have served his trick, not merely as the man behind the gun, but as the man with the squeegee; and is was a mighty good thing for the country that he should do it. In our volunteer regiments we had scores of enlisted men of independent means serving under officers many of whom were dependent for their daily bread upon the work of their hands or brain from month to month. It was a good thing for both classes to be brought together on such terms. It showed that we of this generation had not wholly forgotten the lesson taught by you who fought to a finish the great Civil War. And there is no danger to the future of this country just so long as that lesson is remembered in all its bearings, civil and military.

It was a great thing for that man to serve his turn, not only behind the gun but also with the squeegee. It was also a very good thing for the country. In our volunteer regiments, we had scores of enlisted men with independent means. They served under officers, many of whom depended on their own physical or mental work for their monthly living. It was good for both classes to come together on those terms. It showed that our generation had not entirely forgotten the lesson taught by you who fought the great Civil War to the finish. There is no danger to this country’s future as long as that lesson is remembered in all its aspects, civilian and military.

Your history, rightly studied, will teach us the time-worn truth that in war, as in peace, we need chiefly the every-day, commonplace virtues, and above all, an unflagging sense of duty. Yet in dwelling upon the lessons for our ordinary conduct which we can learn from your experience, we must never forget that it also shows us what should be our model in times that are not ordinary, in the times that try men’s souls. We need to have within us the splendid heroic virtues which alone avail in the mighty crises, the terrible catastrophes whereby a nation is either purified as if by fire, or else consumed forever in the flames. When you of the Civil War sprang forward at Abraham Lincoln’s call to put all that life holds dear, and life itself, in the scale with the nation’s honor, you were able to do what you did because you had in you not only the qualities that make good citizens, but in addition the high and intense traits, the deep passion and enthusiasm, which go to make up those heroes who are fit to deal with iron days. We can never as a nation afford to forget that, back of our reason, our understanding, and our common-sense, there must lie, in full strength, the tremendous fundamental passions, which are not often needed, but which every truly great race must have as a well-spring of motive in time of need.

If studied properly, your history will teach us an old truth. In war, as in peace, we need ordinary, everyday virtues, and above all, a tireless sense of duty. We can learn lessons from your experience for our everyday conduct. But we must never forget that it also gives us a model for extraordinary times, times that test men’s souls. We need the great heroic virtues that alone can carry us through terrible crises and catastrophes. These are the times when a nation is either purified as if by fire or consumed forever in the flames. When you who fought in the Civil War answered Abraham Lincoln’s call, you put everything you held dear at risk. You risked your lives for the nation’s honor. You could do this because you had the qualities that make good citizens. But you also had the noble, intense traits, the deep passion and enthusiasm that make heroes fit to face the hardest days. We as a nation can never afford to forget what must lie behind our reason, understanding, and common sense. We must have tremendous, fundamental passions at full strength. They are not often needed, but every truly great race must have them as a source of motivation in times of need.

I shall end by quoting to you in substance certain words from a minister of the gospel, a most witty man, who was also a philosopher and a man of profound wisdom, Sydney Smith:

I will end by quoting the essence of some words by Sydney Smith, a minister. He was a very witty man, as well as a philosopher and a man of profound wisdom:

“The history of the world shows us that men are not to be counted by their numbers, but by the fire and vigor of their passions; by their deep sense of injury; by their memory of past glory; by their eagerness for fresh fame; by their clear and steady resolution of either ceasing to live, or of achieving a particular object, which, when it is once formed, strikes off a load of manacles and chains, and gives free space to all heavenly and heroic feelings. All great and extraordinary actions come from the heart. There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give. These are the feelings which led the ten thousand over the Carduchian mountains; these are the feelings by which a handful of Greeks broke in pieces the power of Persia; and in the fens of the Dutch and in the mountains of the Swiss these feelings defended happiness and revenged the oppressions of man! God calls all the passions out in their keenness and vigor for the present safety of mankind, anger and revenge and the heroic mind, and a readiness to suffer—all the secret strength, all the invisible array of the feelings—all that nature has reserved for the great scenes of the world. When the usual hopes and the common aids of man are all gone, nothing remains under God but those passions which have often proved the best ministers of His purpose and the surest protectors of the world.”

“World history shows that men should not be judged by their numbers. They should be judged by the fire and vigor of their passions, and by their deep sense of injury. They should be judged by their memory of past glory and their eagerness for fresh fame. And they should be judged by their clear, steady determination to achieve a particular goal or die. Once formed, that determination breaks a load of manacles and chains. It gives free space to all heavenly and heroic feelings. All great and extraordinary actions come from the heart. There are times in human affairs when the qualities suited to ordinary life are weak and useless. At such times, men must trust emotion for the safety that reason can never give them. These feelings led the ten thousand over the Carduchian mountains. These feelings enabled a handful of Greeks to break the power of Persia. And in the fens of the Dutch and the mountains of the Swiss, these feelings defended happiness and avenged human oppression! God calls all the passions out in their sharpness and vigor for mankind's immediate safety. He calls out anger and revenge, the heroic spirit, and a readiness to suffer. He calls out all the secret strength and all the unseen forces of feeling. He calls out all that nature has reserved for the great scenes of the world. When all ordinary hopes and human help are gone, nothing remains under God but those passions. They have often been the best servants of his purpose and the surest protectors of the world.”