EDITOR'S NOTE
With the exception of Professor Terrill's article on "An Economic Aspect of the Spanish-American War," which emphasizes a heretofore unused docu- ment in regard to President McKinley's motivation for war, all the articles in this edition of Ohio History center around the theme of sectionalism and the Civil War. Although Frederick Grimke, as Professor Bloomfield points out, philoso- phized optimistically on American institutions in his early writings, he was compelled in his late years to deal with sectional factors which severely tested those institutions. Two other articles are concerned with party politics of contrasting hues and tints. The one analyzes the trials of the Ohio Free Soilers and the other, an intensive study at the local level, throws light on the always interesting subject of the nature and character of Ohio Democrats during the Civil War. While one will find a familiar routine in nearly all letters written by Civil War soldiers, some of these writings seem to have a distinctiveness that makes them more than a mere recording of daily events. This is true in regard to the unusual letters of Orson Brainard which constitute the final offering. They are well worth reading because they reveal him as an individual of compelling interest and strength of character. It is well from time to time to have our attention called to elemental principles that make life meaningful and worthwhile, particularly when those principles are illustrated in the humble walks of life. Though the cords that linked this young soldier to home were numerous, he had become so resolute and courageous under fire that he "would be perfectly lost" at home, where he would not hear "the crack of muskets." He had such deep convictions regarding the justice of his cause that, on one of those rare occasions when he complained of the hardships of war, he stated that he endured them "patiently" because "it is for my country that I suffer." He expressed no bitterness toward Southerners, but castigated severely Northern Copperheads and even criticized "100-day men." In addition to fortitude and courage, devotion to duty, and love of home and country, Brainard's letters show a sense of humor and, at times, keen observation of the phenomena of Southern life. For instance, he explained the absence of newspapers in one locality of the South in terms of the very small number of whites as potential readers, but he pointed out that in another locality, "We can get all kinds of newspapers but they cost [sic] southern prices for them." The spelling and sentence structure used by this humble private, who had evidently little formal schooling, are given in the original because they are a part of his image. Professor Black has performed a commendable task in clarifying the historical allusions in the letters. |
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DR. HENRY H. SIMMS Guest Editor |