The Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No. V, May, 1863 | Page 4

courageous and patriotic one. He glories in the
great things he has to tell, but it is not 'as the fool boasteth,' but rather
as the apostle, who, when he recounts only plain and manifest truths,
says, 'Bear with me.' And truly, what wonders have been achieved by
the 'men of men'! Since the war began, Illinois, though she has given
one hundred and thirty-five thousand of her able-bodied men to the
field, and though the closing of the Mississippi has produced
incalculable loss, has sent away food enough to supply ten millions of
people, and she has now remaining, of last year's produce, as much as
can be shipped in a year. This enormous productiveness has given rise
to the idea that Illinois is principally a grain-growing State, but she
none the less possesses every requisite for commerce and manufactures.
Not content even in war time with keeping up all her old sources of
wealth, she has added to the list the production of sugar, tobacco, and
even cotton, all of which have been found to flourish in nearly every
portion of the State. The seventh State in point of population in 1850,
she was the fourth in 1860, and in the production of coal she has made
a similar advance. In railroads she is in reality the first, though
nominally only the second; possessing three thousand miles,
intersecting the State in all directions. Ten years ago the cost of all the
railroad property within her bounds was about $1,500,000; in 1860 it
was $104,944,561--an instance of progress unparalleled. But these are
not the greatest things.
Education receives the most enlightened attention, and all that the
ruling powers can accomplish in persuading the people to avail
themselves of the very best opportunities for mental enlargement and
generous cultivation is faithfully done. It is for the people themselves to
decide whether they will be content with the mere rudiments of
education, or accept its highest gifts, gratis, at the hands of the State. If
the pursuit of the material wealth which lies so temptingly around them
should turn aside their thoughts from this far greater boon, or so pervert
their minds as to render them insensible to its value, they will put that
material wealth to shame. It is true that in some cases the disgust felt by

loyal citizens at infamous political interference may have operated to
prevent their sending their children to school; but these evils are
sectional and limited, and the schools themselves will, before long, so
enlighten the dark regions as to render such stupidity impossible. It is
to the infinite credit of the State that since the war began there has been
no diminution, but on the contrary, an increase in schools, both private
and public, in number of pupils, teachers, school houses, and amount of
school funds. Of eight thousand two hundred and twenty-three male
teachers in 1860, three thousand went to the war, showing that it is
among her most intelligent and instructed classes that we are to look for
the patriotism of Illinois. The deficiency thus created operated
legitimately and advantageously in giving employment to a greatly
increased number of female teachers.
As to patriotism, let not the few bring disgrace upon the many. It is true
that scarcely a day passes unmarked by the discovery that some
grovelling wretch has been writing to the army to persuade soldiers to
desert on political grounds; yet as these disgraceful letters, as published
in the papers, give conclusive proof of the utter ignorance of their
writers, we must not judge the spirit of the State by them, any more
than by the louder disloyal utterances of men who have not their excuse.
Governor Yates speaks for the PEOPLE when he says:
'Our State has stood nobly by the Constitution and the Union. She has
not faltered for a moment in her devotion. She has sent her sons in
thousands to defend the Flag and avenge the insults heaped upon it by
the traitor hordes who have dared to trail it in the dust. On every battle
field she has poured out her blood, a willing sacrifice, and she still
stands ready to do or die. She has sent out also the Angel of Mercy side
by side with him who carries the flaming sword of War. On the battle
field, amid the dying and the dead; in the hospital among the sick and
wounded of our State, may be seen her sons and daughters, ministering
consolation and shedding the blessings of a divine charity which knows
no fear, which dreadeth not the pestilence that walketh by night or the
bullet of the foe by day.'
Governor Yates himself, on receiving intelligence of the battle of Fort

Donelson, repaired at once to the scene of suffering, feeling--like