The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-26

It is Of no use to dcspisc our enemy and
say, " be can never conquer 1t Is OF no
use to be afraid and talk despondingly and
say" we can never conquer him." IL must
needs be that ice Be subject, either to the Re-
public which God by our fathers gave us for
ourselves and our posterity, or by forcible
Wrestling Of that birthright from us, subject
to another government the nature Of which
you as well as may guess.
Now what we want very clearly is to cm.
phasize thoso potent words Of the great
Apostle, at must needs be that Toe be subject
TO the po,rers that BE-" 1t must needs be we
answer the call now made upon our purses
and persons to defend this ark Of God that
has been solemnly entrusted to US. I hear
the call Of s,inted fathers, even of those who
baptised the nations freedom in their blood.
hear tho call Of the now risen father whose
hands dropped the baptismal water upon my
brow, and who taught mo by oil the love be
bore me to love and bo true and loyal to my
country-ayc, above oil others, hear you
not the voice of the Great Father Of our
Fathers, and the Father Of us all, "keep that
sacred trust that hath been committed to
you." 90 BE faithful unto death ;" e" BE
not afraid-only believe, and 10 | am with
you always even to the end Of the world"
Friends, Heaven helpus to bo calm-with-
in the bounds that are necdful for brave
decds.-When the Governor Of neighbor-
ing State darcs talk of the "glory Of having
hunJled that flag which was never before 80
humblcd," have no words now for ade-
quate expression of my feelings. But how
shall We ever answer 1t to our consciences
IL by our neglect there shall come harm now
to this Republic Or If harm come, and we
cannot reflect that We did ut this hour, all
that was in our power by word and deed to
avert it
Associated, aye intimately, inseparably
connected with this form Of Government un.
der which we have lived from our birth, are
all that we hold dearest, not only Of civil
rights and social privileges, but Of religious
means and blessings, and our most cherished
Christian hopes for ourselves and our pos
terity. In it is pot merely tho title deed Of
our FREQ citizenship but the freedom Of the
gospel itself. BY this free Govcrnmen. It
was evidently Gods purpose not only that
science and literature should be advanced
and the arts of civilization flourish, and gen.
eral outward prosperity be fostercd, but that
His word to us in His Christ Jesus should
have free course; that the rights Of man as
man should be recognized. the great doctrine
of the divine Fatherhood and human broth
erhood be universally proclaimed, and the
Kingdom of Christian liberty and righteous
ness be established.
Shall il be 50, is tho question for us to-day.
Will we not all answer with the Apostle, So
il must needs be. Shall not that answer come
not as feeble streamlet but rs the mighty
"river of God that is full Of water" The
calm deep movement Of Christian faith and
courage, shall it not come down like an ava
lanche from the mountains shall II not
sweep like resistless torrent through tho
valleys, till all the aagstafls Of trcachery are
laid low, and the mad spirit of rebellion,
though its name were legion, be driven into
the sea Shall wo not rise every one in will
ling, obedient subsection to the voice Of our
country calling us, "Men to your arms, and
women to your God! !"
In conclusion, let me re-echo tho sentiment
I this morning read FROM the discourse Of
noble Christian brother of our faith in
New York, in confirmation Of some Of the
thoughts had already written.
cit is a sad day." my brethren, Z" when
Christian duty makes us militant, and de-
nics us tho blessed privilege Of breathing
peace, but wish to know nothing Of that
kind of religion which will not defend the
sacred interests Of society with oil the power,
physical and moral which God and nature
have supplied. Ny own enemies ! will for
give, and continually turn to them the 9th.
or cheek; but the enemies Of humanity, the
enemies of all order, truth and virtue, the
enemies of my country, will not. upon any
theory Of peace and meckness, INCREASINGLY
suffer to achieve their guilty purposes 50
long rs there is a drop Of blood in my heart,
fibre Of muscle in my arm, or note Of
warning in my voice. Our strife, alas! Isl
with our brethren but when a brother
strikes at mothers heart, filial duty takes
precedence of fraternal obligations. We
have been forbcaring, patient, slow to anger,
most anxious for peace but we are not
men, much less Christians, IL We suffer this
great fabric of our American civilization,
the great inheritance Of our Constitution
and Union to lapse into ruin from intestine
treachery or local passion, without tre-
mendous effort to save Il. God grant US
something Of that mingled goodness and &C.
verify which illustrates His own merciful
yet vigorous government. Save us from
cowardice, irresolution, and division--direct
us to the shortest road to peace, and spare us
the awful necessity Of rc-baptiring our liber.
ties in rivers ofblood, and the more terrible
calamity Of losing them from supineness,
selfshness, and infdelity to truth, humanity,
conscience and God"
THE RIGHT TALK.
The Boston Herald, Democratic paper OF
large circulation. nobly sustains the govern