The Portland daily press., 1864-08-29
Monday Morning, August 29, 1864.
Foreign Missionaries to our soldiers.

AhlScAOhhA&Co w O0A ASOlu4Clos
The following spirited and patriotic address
from the American Missionaries in Turkey TO
the soldiers who are fighting TO uphold Free
dom and the Union on this continent, is
worthy of careful perusal:
CoNsTASTINoPLE, June 20, 1864
At meeting OF American citizens held in
the hall Of Robert College, in Bebek, on the
Bosphorns, near Constantinople, the following
resolution was passed, and the faculty of the
college were appointed a committee to ac-
company il with letter addressed TO our
wounded and invalid soldiers in the hospitals
of the Potomac army and elsewhere.
Resolved, That American citizens, having the deep
est interest in the honor and welfare OF our country
and Christians .ympathising with the oppressed
and enaved patriots bound by the sacred claims of
duty every sacrifice which country demands
ing cheerfuliy given beloved assocacs
and brothers the dangers and tolls OF this terrible
but holy and death in the hospital and in BATTLE
feel compelled to offer the expression OF cordial
sympathy the brave and suffering soldiers Of the army
and navy hospitals, and them Of
prayer 20 God that he comfort sustain a. restore
them and richly rosard their sacrifices and suerngs,
in land delivered from the sin. the and the dis
grace Of slavery from the domination Of the slave Lords
and restored to truth, justice, mercy, and to God
The undersigned, in communicating this
expression OF the feelings OF American citi-
zens in this dark and distant empire OF Tur-
key, wish to speak, il possible, word OF
cheer and comfort TO the sick and wounded
soldiers.
The gentlemen who passed the above reso-
luton are missionaries OF different denomina-
tions, agents of Bible societies, and profes-
sors in American educational institutions in
Turkey. From oar foreign post OF obserya-
tion. we are able to estimate your suiierings
and trials TO some extent as future history
will estimate them.
The cause in which you have fought and
bled is the cause of freedom, good govern
ment and national existence, and these in
yoye In various ways all the most precious
interests OF cur existence ON earth.
The cause against which yon fight is the
organized despotisln of slavery, the most ac-
cursed despotism that was ever established
on earth. Your enemy, by his malignant and
cruel treatment OF prisoners, his savage bar
barities and brutal massacres, has fully iusti-
fed all that has ever been said or written OF
the moral degradation and corruption which
slavery induces upon the masters themselves.
The Sepoys Of India, in the late British re-
beilion, were a civilized foe compared with
the Southern Chiyalry."
European sentiment has done you foul in
justice and wrong. The most influential or
gaRs of the press have uniformly advocated
the intererts of your savage foe, have con
cealed his defeats, extollcd his victories, been
silent at his revolving barbsrites, ignored
the moral issues of the conflict, detained your
proves and valor, and held yon up to the
world as a bloody, mercenary and cowardly
crew. History will infiet due penalties up
on these base and selfish traitors to freedom.
You have met, too, with disasters, delays,
and diSconragements enough to dishearten
any but "hesrts OF oak"
In the midst of all this, your forhearance,
loyalty, and courage have been unshaken, and
with your brethetrn in arms You have been
steadily achieving the salvation ofyour coun-
try.
Our land was plunged into fearful guilt be-
fore God, and without the shedding Of blood
there could be no remission Of its sin. And it
is patriot blood alone that can purify the land.
1t Is not the blood of rebels slain, but the
blood OF our fathers, brothers, and sons. Of
the best and nobest hearts OF the land, the
shedding of which God will sanetily and bless
to our redemption from the manifold curses
and degrading influences OF Southern slavery.
The corruptions had worked deep into our
land. The South had "fiIled up the measure
of her iniqnities,' had become "yesse of
wrath fitted for destruction and in the ar
rangements OF Divine justice the things which
belonged TO her peace were hid forever from
her eyes. IL Is thus that God teaches nations
10 be Just.
The North also was SO deeply implicated ir.
the guilt and corruption that, TO this day even
she denies to the black man some OF his rights.
aud thus strangely refuses TO hear the Voice Of
God, which sounds like the thunders of Sina
over the world, denouncing wee TO all Unjust
ice.
But We rejoice in the firm belief that God
has not abandoned US. Your own achieve
ments show us that he has not To our dis
tant view, the most glorious result hitherto
attained is the wonderful change in public
sentiment in regard 10 slavery and the rights
of the blacks. We earnestly pray that that
righteousness which exalteth a nation may
guide our future course, aud make our land
the friend and protector Of the oppressed.
A grateful country will then remember
your noble deeds, your calm and heroic endur-
ance, and your loyal service. We pray God
TO grant you firm conviction of this, so that
you may now enjoy yonr coming reward by
faith. Should you return TO the battlefield,
may he protect you, and speedily give you the
final victory. To those OF you who are IN
bear the scars of glorius warfare. we would
say, as you have done nobly. to suffer cheer
fully. II you can do this heartily for tho
sake Of God, and truth, and your istherland
great shall be your reward. The present aye
will not fully comprehend the greatness and
goodness of your cause, but history will do
you justice, and for the present you can afford
TO despise the criticisms that are blinded by
interest and passion, knowing that God and
all good men are with you, and all the
abettors and defenders OF slavery shall be coy
cred with shame and everlasting disgrace.
Ga CYRUS HAMLlN, ha.,i Fqce!ty ofhe
d, A, ScHAUFELER. J Coastdntiaopie.
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