The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-25
PORTLAND, ME-, WEDNESDAY MORNING,

rebuke which Washington gives. The South
are to some extent. sufficient to modify their
responsibility single degree and ours many
degrees, what we have made them, by our
want of open, frank and decisive dealing with
them: by our failure to hold the government
to the principles of Washington. II we had
done our duty, and insisted with firmness, Y od-
GRAFTON, and good WILL that the Constitution
should be interpreted, and the governmentlad-
ministered in the spirit of the great Immortal
instead OF this fire and blood, and fearful por-
tents in the heavens, the waves would clap
their hands, the mountains would sing for joy
the rivers would leap in music to the sea, and
the acclaim of gladness would go up from all
creatures, that in all this fair domain, on which
rests all the climates under the sun, from the
vineyards of California to the ice-treasures of
Maine, from the rocky submits where gush the
head waters of the Mississippi to the banks OF
the Rio Grande, not a foot of land was titled
by a slave. The scverest rebuke that WASH
ington administers to us to-day, is when his
spirit asks us why it is not so.
But Washington was accustomed to stand
in the midst OF difficulties which his own wis.,
dom might have prevented and which his wis
dom alone could overcome. While he admon-
ishes us concerning what might have been
through our faithfulness, he also imparts to US
profound wisdom concerning what is, and for
our conduct in the present.
He teaches us quiet patience and persever
ance Who can look upon that subdue1 coun-
tenance which immortal art has preserved to
us, without feeling that the deep resignation
ofthat face, comes of the trials through which
great souls are made perfect. What we need
is that serene, patient. trusting, hoping habit
of mind We are in the midst OF events which
to human eyes have no order or law. We are
passing through those experiences which God
gives to all nations when he leads them out
into place of habitation. We do not need
full direction, we do not need any scheme of
events or of final results in our own minds, so
much as we need the heroism of pstient hop
ing and waiting and working. Especially do
we need to he set free from the petty ankle
ties Of mean minds who desire only to have
their own way, and to have their own opinions
and predictions fulfilled. Flee these things. O
noble patriot! In world governed by AL
mighty Goodness nothing good can ever be
lost. From the little girl that hens a kerchief
to wipe the uncomplaining tears of wounded
hoy in military hospital, to the more re-
nowned sacrifices Of life and property from the
willing and the good; from the smallest act of
unobserved virtue, to the mighty order of
events which move in solemn tread to the op-
timism Of history God overrules all, aud in
cludes and saves all within his everlasting king
dom.
1t is glory to live on earth to-dayl HUI
man existence seems to take new power
of Immortality Old men, ye who love the
country as only the aged can love it, | can
almost imagine you in your closets praying
that God would take you late to heaven, that
you might see more of the going of his will on
earth. Lift up your hearts, and possess your
souls In the name of the iiving God. Confirm
the young men, speak comfortably to the weak
and desponding, and proclaim from the high
places the deliverance this people in the name
Of the God Of hosts. For the warfare of Jeru-
salem shall be accomplished! The strong man
shall be as tow, and the maker of Ii as a spark,
and they shall both burn together and none
shall quench them!