Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-03

ofnceFto headquarters to get authority 10 stop
trains In order to get out supplies. No soldiers
were better cared for than ours, and In no army
| had the per centagc OF loss been smaller. This |
was owing to the providence of the Govern. |
mcnt and the uprising of the beneGcencc of
the country. He related most touching story |
of the captain OF the Goth Maine, who had been |
cared for and his remains secured to his wife |
by the Commission. All bullets were not efrec |
tive, yet we didn't cease manufacturing them;
and If every publication did not tell many did.
Mr.. Marvin closed by saying that no govern
mcnt on earth had done so much for its SOL
diers as ours, and there was not one single
man, black or white, but must be cared for as
child of the people. So it was that be COM
mended the United States Christian Commis-
sion.
Rev. Geo. j. Mlngins, native of Scotland,
though an adopted and patriotic citizen OF this
country, next followed. He had at first, being
foreigner, INDUCED in little vain philoso-
ply. ne thought, on seeing the first volun-
teers, they want to fight, and don't, or, per-
haps, they want glory and am Indifferent TO
1t, and 50 let them fight. He wrapped himself
| in this robe Of Pharlsceism. He explain n
how he got startled from his dream of indifler.
ence by witnessing the departure Of company
In Easton, and the agony Of little girl and
parting interview OF q mother with her son.
Conscience wanted to know what he was doing
for his country. "I don't belong here" was
the answer. We'll, then, get ont of It," was
the reloinder.
Some people hoped that the Christian Com
mission, when started, would stick to Its legitl-
mate business, and by that they meant dis
trbuting hooks, tracts, preaching, praying
&c. Bat he had gone down in May, 1861, to
the army, to ascertain what was to be done and
how to do It, He found that he had only to
follow Chrsrs example, whose hands were as
busy as his sympsthies were unbounded. He
had no respect for the Christianity that simply
preached in q well-buttoned coat to n suffering
neighbor in rags.
An agent once asked a soldier 10 take a tract,
but was told, "So, I'll take a cracker" 81
didn't know you were hungry, my good fcl-
low" and taking one from his haversack, he
offered to procure more, when the soldier apol-
oglzed and asked for the tract, promising to
read 1t. Practical bencvolcnce was what was
wanting. His definition of patriotism was a
willingness 10 make sacrifices for the country.
Those people who were Ctcrnaly complaining
of Encouragement had not the genuine article,
though they complained If 1t was questioned.
He gave a most interesting narration OF his
intercourse with an IrlShman, an cx.soldier of
England, who would not at first accept shirt,
| 4 4 - e
a man who took Ills pay in the consciousness
of doing good. Soldiers were far more aCces-
sihlc in camp to good influences than was sup.
posed. There Nas less wickedncss among
those in the army than among those here.
They thronged divine worship in the chapels
of the Commission, and were less likely to be
converted at home than in the army, where they
were followed 10y nations prayers.
The next speaker introduced was the Hon.
Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the House. Mr..
= c. snld he would speak but briefly at so late an
hour. He knew that any remarks falling from
e his lips after the eloquent and touching ad,
. dresses to which they had listened could give
, the audience no pleasure. He said when he
2 stood in the presence Of those who organized
such societies as these, and built Oh their foun
daton stones such magnificent edlGce of be
n ncnccncc and Christian humanity, he felt like
S barring his head with reverence and respect
. Mohammed, in one OF his oriental allcgorics
o which he read in his boyhood days, declared
l. that mans true wealth was the good that ii
o did in this world to his fellow men, aud thai
r though when lie died. the people would wonder
4 what property he had left behind him, thu
n angels, as they bent over his grave, would in
Qure what good deeds has thou sent before
4 thee" When this war should end, many names
G would be written high on the roll Of fame.
8 There would be our great military and naya
a heroes, with glory reelected on them by til,
valor of the men they led. There would Shin
o the name of our honorcd President, [applause,
|. TO whose daring to take the responsibility w
h owe 1t that our country has a capital and
e home. And brilliant amongst the rest would
d bc found the name Of an eminent merchant 0
n Philadelphia, who turned his back on his bust
}. ness, and had devoted his days and nights will
/. affect onate and sleepless zeal TO the chairman
ship Of this Commission George II. Stuart
,e who now Sits before you. Applause.
d For the first time in the history of wars gu
ID armies go forth to battle with angels Of mere
i on either side-the Christian and the Santar,
e Commissions. How much misery they hav
= assuaged, and suffering soothcd, and distrcs
d alleviated, none but the recording angel coulC
6 tell. The organization Of this commission wa
Il a conception that patriotism hallows, that maj
g rcjoices over, and that God will bless. 1t is al
l. electric chain that binds the hearts of soldier
and people together, running with Its mlllIol
ID links from million grateful heNrthstoncs a
a home to a million gallant soldiers in the field
n- Applause.
How happily, too, does ii diminish the raya
d. ges Of war. In the Pcninsuar War, the annua
c loss of the british army was 1GE tn ovcry ,O0l
ly In the Crimean war, in July, August, and Sci
c, tcmbcr, the loss of the British army was at III
Of annual rate Of 29@ per 1000. The next tire
he months, the whole army almost was a hospital
and the loss was at the fearful annual rate q
in 0l2 per 900, which would have swcpt OF III
he whole army in fourteen months.
al They had M ClTisli,u or rn,ll,r,, ,l.,.....,.