The Portland daily press., 1865-07-06


earnestness of their patriotism. And when, in
the high hour of triumph and rejoicing, our
great and good President, he who was so wise,
so honored, and so loved-whom all men knew,
and trusted and believed in = the father
of his people = was smitten by the same
power that had failed to destroy the Republic,
in the shock, the passion and the grief Occasion
ed by this tragedy, the affairs OF government
moved on undisturbed, and as if nothing out
of the usual course had happened the people
forgot not for single hour the manly discharge
OF every duty, so that in the great marts of
money and trade, an event which would have
shaken any other nation in the world to its
centre, had scarcely perceptible influence on
the most sensitive nerves of the national life.
3. Andhere Imay, perhaps notinappropriate-
ly, call your attention to one of the c0mpensa-
tions OF the war in which vast material bene-
fit as well as strong political security has been
attained. am no convert to the doctrine that
anational debt in itself is national blessing
believe that the wiser rule is that with nations
as with individuals it is better to be out of debt
than in debt Yet can perceive that from the
thorn OF our nations debt proceeds the flower
Of themost perfect currency that has ever been
devised for the use of man. This currency is
limited in extent, and founded upon the prop
erty and credit of the entire country. 1t there
fore must be safe, and viii be current in every
section of the Union. The system upon
which it depends avoids all the objec-
tiOns that were taken to the old banks of the
United States, in that it is worked by
institutions which are separate from each
other, and over which the Government has no
arbitrary power. They are divided in interest,
and influence as the State banks, and as strong
as the United States themselves. elodI
"a And since this debt is held mainly in the
country, is in innumerable hands, and the in
terest is received and invested at home, and,
since besides, it is the basis of the credit of ev-
cry dollarof currency (not metallic) that will
be circulated in the country, every section and
every individual is under bonds to keep the
peace and sustain the government. vd
4. But even better gain than have mem
TONED, is found in the divine lesson Of selEsac-
ritice whichhas been so readily accepted and
faithfully practised in this season of depriva-
ton, suffering and responsibility. To know
ones duty and to be prepared to perform it at
whatever sacrifice, is the noblest work of life,
asit is its highest achievement. .eoNf sisQ'
~ os s9isliiAiA sfIn Gods great uni verse, ieis
Eought lives for self-Al, all-from crown to foot
The Lamb, before the worlds foundation slain hay
The angels, ministers to Gods elect-n-E Eallf
The sun, who only shines to light world
The Clouds whose glory is to die in showers si9y
The Heeting streams, who in their ocean-graves
Flee the decay Of stagnant self-eontent - ~ 1''~
The oak, ennobled by the shipwright's axe ,
The soil, which yields It's marrow to the flower
The flower, whioh feeds athousand velvet worms
Born only to be prey for every bird ffrr ,-.,
All spsn6 themselves for others: and shah man ''
Earths rosy blossom-image Of his Cod 0L I RIVE
Whose twoiold being is the mystic knot
Which couples earth and heaven-doubly bound
As being both worm and angel, to that service .fe
By which both worms and angels hold their life,
Shall he whose every breath is debt on debt,ll 1t
to show himself the creatures iord- af-'.
4 By lreewill gift Of that self lf-saeriice 78eoo2
Which they perforce by natures law must suffer p
How many people since the war began, have
been raised from Indifference, selfishness cs,s
practical death, to usefulness liss-asy anu sa-
crifice-have first hqsr-sn 60 iive-to DC real men
and worrs and not mere shapes and figures
xzs,ts. who Thought you were poor and starving,
who could do nothin for Others, who have new
er felt the glow of generosity and the Joy, OF
giving, who really thought you had nothing,
and were nobodies,-how have you discovered
that you are really forces and powers in the
world, that you have money and means Of which
youhadn0 real conception, and that they have
not shrunken in the using Think how many
men have been born into the world in these
four years. Consider the labor, the toll the
watching, the giving and the sacrificing, which
have been going on under almost every loyal
roof in our country in this time-the constant
streams of charity, making verdant and beau
fabulous millions raised bv voIy,ntarv ofar;,,s ss
for Sanitary & and Christian Commissions.
Soldiers Homes and Rests, and Carnps
and Hospitals for freedmen for our
friends that served and saved us-aye, and for
our enemies, even, whose hands had ut
raised to destroy us-and remember too, that
WINE tiiese Wonueriu bnlngS nave been done
for those whom the war has brought to our
care grants and henefactione r., obr,,obos' ool
legeS, institutions OF art and general charities,