Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-05-07
Last EpistL TO America BY Rev. Hector Maiben.

Nix. Cover: Before leaving the do,
minion of the Stars and Stripes, and oLce
more taking shelter under the Union Jack,
the only political Union by the way fol-
which ever cared, permit me through your
columns to take farewell of all my Ameri-
can friends, especially those in Lancaster
and Hazel Green. Certain communica-
tons from my pen have led some, and
among others yourself Mr.. Editor, to inn
agine that | have taken offence at some Of
them. | assure you this is quite a mis-
take. entertain the most kindly feelings
towards all and anger against nome
Whatever may be my opinions upon pub
lie matters, and these | take no pains to
conceal, | shall remember with the most
pleasurable feelings the kindness have ex-
perienced at the hands Of my American
friends. They have stood by me alike in
prosperity aud adversely, and made the
most liberal allowances for my faults and
failings. | thank them most heartily and
cannot help hoping tbat, however much
they may differ with me on political qnes-
lions, thing which they cannot probably
help doing, they will still continue to enter
tain some sentiments of regard for me
There are stronger and more endearing ties
than national ones, ties which will coLtin-
ue after nations have ceased to exist and
time shall be no longer, and | rejoice tc
think that between me and many of my
American friends these ties have been form
ed and will never be dissolved 1t has
been my happy LOT since | came to this
country to be thrown mainly into the
society of those who fear God, aud they
may rest assured of this that if my impress
sions of America have not as whole been
so favorable as perhaps they were | could
have wisned the fault does not lie with
them. In particular | hereby tender my
best thanks to the gentleman who so kind
ly rubbed my arm when it was suffering
from an attack of rheumatism for all the
favors | have received at his hands. May
he and eli receive in full measure the bles,
sings Of that God Of the stranger.
| rejoice that before ieasipg the United
States | have been privileged to see the
beginning Of the end of slavery. 1t is
pleasant to reflect that that great curse and
and yet greater disgrace has been wiped
away from the National Capital 1t is
melancholy to think that no less potent
q means than cruel war must bring about
this result. One would naturally have inn
agined that a free and enlightened nation
would not have needed such an argument
to convince them that the laws of God can
not be violated with impunity. But SO il
is and | am not quite sure if even yet the
lesson has been Alright. There is no pleas
ure in American character which has made
more unfayorable impression upoL my
mind than the marked unwillingness Of the
American people to do justice to the slave
and the whole colored race. / eanncI au-
CUR good from this nor be brought to be-
lieve that SO long as nation entertains
such feelings it can recaiye the blessing OF
God; and victory is not necessarily bles-
sing. Even should the South be finally
sabdued, which will not happen either to-
morrow or the day after that, its subjuga-
ton would prove curse unless justice be
done to all whether black or white. AS
long as the North refuses to do this so long
It is contendng against God, and nc
amount of hymns sung to the Star Span
gled Banner will avail to save it from the
wrath 10 come.
I have never been able to sympathize
with this war and have ever regarded it as
an evil thing and mark Of the dire dis
pleasure. an opinion which has been
strengthened by the obstinate determine
ton of both sides to wage it to the bitter
end. Should it result however in the en-
tire abolition | shall greatly rejoice, but if
it end leaving the slave in bis fettsrs, not
claiming to be either prophet or q proph-
cts son / will venture to foretell that there
are evil days in store fer the American ma
ton.
After six years study of the American
character think that what is required in
a very peculiar degree in the United States
is a GO nprehensive idea of the meaning of
the scriptural injunction, "Do justly, love
mercy and walk hunbly with thy God. J"
Yours in Christian Sincerity,
HECTOR MAiBEN.