he camps of the South which
gathered to assail the Union, and the armies of the North that rose to
defend it."

The watchword of the impending conflict was sounded by Stephen A.
Douglas, one of the most powerful and energetic of public leaders, a
recent candidate for the presidency, and the life-long political
antagonist of Abraham Lincoln. On Sunday, the 14th of April, while the
ink was scarcely yet dry upon the written parchment of the proclamation,
Mr. Douglas called at the White House, and, in a long interview, assured
his old antagonist of his readiness to join him in unrelenting warfare
against Rebellion. Shortly afterwards he departed for his home in
Illinois, where, until his death, which occurred a few weeks later, he
declared, with masterly eloquence, that,--

"Every man must be for the United States or against it; there can
be no neutrals in this war--only patriots and traitors."

"Hurrah! the drums are beating; the fife is calling shrill;
Ten thousand starry banners flame on town, and bay, and hill;
The thunders of the rising wave drown Labor's peaceful hum;
Thank God that we have lived to see the saffron morning come!
The morning of the battle-call, to every soldier dear,--
O joy! the cry is "Forward!" O joy! the foe is near!
For all the crafty men of peace have failed to purge the land;
Hurrah! the ranks of battle close; God takes his cause in hand!"

[Footnote 1: "If, through the madness of Northern abolitionists, that
dire calamity (disruption of the Union) must come, the fighting will not
be along Mason and Dixon's line merely. It will be _within our own
borders, in our own streets_, between the two classes of citizens to
whom I have referred. Those who defy law, and scout constitutional
obligation, will, if we ever reach the arbitrament of arms, find
occupation enough at home."--_Letter to Jefferson Davis, dated
January_ 6, 1860.]

[Footnote 2: The word "must" is italicized in the original letter.
See _Official Records of the Rebellion_, Vol. I., p. 76.]

[Footnote 3: See _Official Records of the Rebellion_, I., p. 77.]

* * * * *

TOMMY TAFT.

A STORY OF BOSTON-TOWN.

By A.L.G.

Tommy Taft, or T.T. as he was wont to call himself, had always regretted
two misfortunes,--first, the indisputable fact of his birth, and second,
the imprisonment of his father, not long afterwards.

The earlier misfortune, Tommy Taft, not bei