The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-28
COMMUNICATIONS.
Our TImes-what we Strive for and What
we Need.

Our Times-What we Strive for and What
we Need.
Closing Extract from an Address on " Washing
ton and Our Times" delivered in Park
Street church, Sunday evening, Feb. %, by
Rev. Jos. +. LOWERING, pastor.
Our times! Let us be persuaded, these are
indeed our times. 1t has been our boast to re-
call other days. We have eulogized those who
In the past rose above the temptations OF ease
and sloth spurned peace to be purchased by
no more costly payment--if we cannot by dol
lars and cents-than three pence pound on
tea ;and because of a principle which they
dared not for conscience, sake ignore, with
stood the proud and scornfnl tyranny Of a ma
tion the foremost on earth.
Think of this, ye who know the valor which
good old Massachusetts, manifested In those
days. In 1774 General Thomas Gage declared
himself so sure of conquering the rebels, as he
termed them, that he engaged with five regi-
ments to keep Boston quiet Boston which
owns Faneuil Hall-the cradle of Liberty
Boston the birthplace of Frankln-fhe resi-
dence Of John Hancock. Gen. Thomas Gage
was to conquer that city with FIVE regiments; !;
for, said he to King George III: "The Amer
leans viii be lions only as long a. the English
are lambs.r
This was in l774, remember, one short year
before the skirmish at Lexington, when the
British troops, "who in the morning had
marched through Roxbury to the tune of
Yankee Doodle might have been seen at
sunset handed along the old Cambridge road
to Charleston neck by mere armed yeomanou-
rye
What shame and disgrace Gage must have
felt, since only short time previously one of
his officers had written to England concerning
the Americans, 1he that can run the fastest,
will think himself well off," Soon followed
fha haffla nf pupt nd than tha laa
shadowy foundation for conceit was dspelled
by his recall home. "Poor Cage" writes
Horace Walpole, "is to be the scapegoat for
what was reason against employing him-in-
capacity"
We of Portland, Maine-then Falmouth,
Mass. have special reason TO remember those
days. For by direct command of Gen. Gage
TO Admiral Graves, Lieut. Mowat In command
OF several vessels came to anchor off this city,
on the llth OF October, IT'S, and dispatch
ed letter demanding the immediate and COM
plete surrender Of the town. Two hours were
given ito remove" In the language Of the
der, ''the human species out of the town." The
terms were not complied with, and as before
agreed the red pennant was run up at mast
head; l39 dwelling houses and 22s stores were
burnt, and besides, all vessels in the harbor
were either carried away or destroyed.t
These, and how many other remarkable facts
recorded in history, are the boast of our coun-
try's memory. But not 10 memory alone have
we to look. Our times, ours by the purchase
OF sturdy resolve, brave sacrifice, lavish ex-
penditure of means, wonderful uprising of an
enthusiastic patriotism which counts blood and
agony of little worth-these times are great
and glorious. Sometimes 1t has seemed as
though the heroes of the past must look down,
from the heavenly heights they have won, in
painful anxiety; but the course of our affairs
thus far must have given them, as it has given
us cheerful augury from the character of
those who toll and strive in our country's be-
half To enumerate details, to specify partic-
ular instances, to seek by wilful means to stir
your zeal and quicken your will, would de-
grade the sincerity In which we all live. What
we strive for, and what we need, are the two
great matters Of immediate and all-absorbing
interest.
What are we striving for? Some will an
swer, the utter and entire subjugation Of those
In arms against us. Or, to express it more pre-
cisely, the subjugation Of the South.
Others declare 1t to be the universal eman-
cipatlon Of those who from ancient habit have
been and still are under the ban of that ma
uonal disgrace we term slavery.
Both these answers, however, while will
ingiy grant the high privilege of Others to
decide differently II reject.
We do not war against the South as the South,
only against that spirit existing there or here
"niSu IL uestructlNe Oh our governmental es-
adjustments. We seek not TO emancipate be-
cause Of femancipation-only 10 must not stand
IN the lcdy Of our success.
In lI74 Patrick Henry secuted the idea Of
sectional distinctions. " All America" said
ne, Is thrown into one mass; where are your
land marks your boundaries Of colonies !?
Iney are all thrown down. 1 am not a Vir-
ginsdn, but an Americdn."
we urge on this war, not against the South
as tne south, but against that which ofiends
the great and fundamental principles under
Tying our national life. We do not war for
emancipation. If emancipation be necessary
to secure the grand purpose for which'we con-
tend then let It be proclaimed not only by the
Chiei Magistrate, but endorsed by the individ-
ual people.
IL subjugation be necessary. let IL be made
III by soothing poultices and mild medica-
ments cancer on mans limb can be erad-
Gated, let poultices and salves be used II
these Will not do, take the knife. If the knife
cannot reach the roots, take fire and burn it
out. Amy way the life of the patient must be
saved. If thy hand offend thee. cut it off, II
thy eye offend thee, pluck it out; it is better
for thee to enter into life manned or blind,
rather than having two hands OF two eyes to
be cast into hell-fre.
What we contend for mainly and determin-
edly is NATIONAL EXISTENCE Shall we live