ADDRESSES OF MAJOR LACEY 369 



richest citizens have learned that human sympathy is 

 worth more than money. 



On this beautiful campus I want to have you go back 

 with me in your minds and memories to the memorable 

 year of 1862. 



This campus was then a waving and fertile prairie. 

 Most of the people who hear me were then unborn. 



The youth of our state were marshaling to arms and the 

 wives and daughters were holding the plow or driving 

 the mower. 



The Confederate army was in sight of Washington and 

 Mr. Lincoln could hear the thunder of the hostile guns 

 from his bedroom in the White House. It was indeed the 

 darkest hour of the Republic. Congress was in session 

 devising means to preserve the Union under the darkest 

 of adversity. 



They were situated like the Roman Senate when Han- 

 nibal was besieging the Eternal City. 



The proudest commendation ever bestowed upon a 

 Roman consul was "That he never despaired of the Re- 

 public. ' ' 



Hannibal's camp in front of Rome was sold in the 

 forum at auction in the darkest hour of the siege and the 

 purchaser's title was made good by the future victory. 



On May 20, 1862, the Congress of the United States 

 passed the homestead bill opening the public domain to 

 the homeless people of the United States. 



On July 1, 1862, they passed a bill for the construction 

 of the Pacific railway through the unsettled and hostile 

 regions of the Far West. 



Mr. Lincoln was authorized to designate the initial 

 point and he selected the western limit of Iowa in the city 

 of Council Bluffs. 



On the next day the same Congress, July 2, 1862, 

 passed the bill which has brought us together today. 



