Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-10-24
sour Duty Towards The South.
ern PeOpIe.o
Lecture by Maj. Gen. o. o. HowardLL. d

Maj. Gen. o. o. Howard, the hero ,
Gettysburg, lecturedlast Wednesday ever
ing at Pittsburgh. The Commercial give
! report, as follows:
His theme was "Our Christian Dut
towards the Southern People He sal
that one evening he met a Christian ger
! tleman from the South, who took him b
the hand and said, "How do you, VIII
profess to be Christian, exercise such
disposition as you do towards the South
ern people, and advocate such measures2'
General Howard replied, 81 endeayo
conscien tiously to do my duty" Thi
conversation suggested the propriety 0
careful inquiry into the matter o
Christian duty toward the South, as lay
man might make it. The danger oferro
III judgement, as to the true condition o
Southern society, based as it must b.
on testimony much of which is warped
necessarily by prejudice, to the one side
or the other, was clearly recognized YET
this testimony, together with facts
derived from personal experience, was al
we had to guide us, so that we could moi
reasonably expect a perfectly unbiased
conclusion. Nevertheless, if we sought
the position of duty, with predetermined
candor; with spirit of prayer and of
charity, which suffereth long and is kind
and is not pufed up with pride, we might
expect to touch chord of love in the
South, and possibly be answered in the
same spirit.
He then classified the South according
to what he said, his own personal obser.
vations had been, and explained the
present relations existing between those
who profess to be loyal and discussed
briefly, the Christian principles that ap-
ply. The inhabitants of the insurrec-
tionary States consisted: First of those
who engaged heartily in the war, but who
now give up the institution of slavery
and its concomitants and are solicitous to
exhibit unqualified allegiance. Second,
a class who at first pretended that they
gave up the points of contention; that
they surrendered State supremacy, secess-
ion and slavery, but are now really ma
king every possible effort to regain the
power necessary to reestablish them or
something equivalent. Third, class who
have always been defiant and now seek
every opportunity to keep on foot some
and disorder, and lastly, class
who have ever been and are still uncon-
Union men; or in other words,
these classes consisted of the truly peni-
tent; the treacherous or hypocritical: the
openly rebellious, and those who remain
true. What relation, he asked, now ex-
isted between US who fought for the pres
ervation of the Union and those above
named. Collectively, it was that of the
and the vanquished. Certain
large hearted Christian leaders wished
the Republic to show Christian magma
nimity unsurpassed in all the annals of
only to extend the olive
branch of peace, but to press it upon the
accompanied with such over
acts of generosity as must in
heir judgement, with the affection and
confidence these erring brethren, and not
'nly would they forgive past offences, but
'pen every castle wall and bid them
,ome in fully clad in armor. Between
nan and man, the injunctions of our
blessed Lord are plain. But the instant
We consider the interests of family, So |
iety, or State, safety against an enc
ny demanded something more, beyond /
and acts of generosity
t demanded q careful reconnaissance of !
he enemey's position, and full prepa-
alton to meet and repel his assaults. 1t /
Ias perfectly plain that no magnanimity,
cts of generosity, or display of charity
Ould dislodge the enemies of our coun-
y during the war, from any of their for
lldable positions, and it would have been
Iicidal in the extreme, to have attempt
d to defend the integrity of our Gov
rnment by any such means; and now,
nless it could be shown clearly and sat-
factorily that the temper and disposi
on of those who were then enemies
ave been completely changed, it would
9 no less suicidal to attempt to secure
nifty and peace and prosperity to the
hole country, by simply pleasing and
elding to their demands Christian
inisteTs who urge complete and imme-
ate restoration without any further con
tion or pledge, were accustomed to IL
en our Government to the church of
lrist, and say ''you would not forbid 1
en- who wish to come in % But among
Christians, except what is called the |
,road church, some conditions of mem e
rship were demanded, beyond mere t
trance into the church edifce; some .
ing more than a mere enrolment or t
e church books. Every minister called z
r repentance and confession of wrong, 8
ID for a man to secure admission into o
e church, evidence of such repentance :
Is generally required. 1t was some {
mes urged that it was scarcely fair for l
to expect an actual repentance and II
nfession of wrong on the part of the
IN who may have been sincere in their a
position to the Government, or who. o
twiLhstanding defeat, shall believe.
cir cause was just. Yet this did not W
cuse them. He admitted the duty of "
ristian charity toward all, and of NAL y
toward none, but if we firmly and o.
nestly believe these men have been 7
minal, it was simply impossible for US Z
receive them into close fellowship, l
CO pt through their repentance and n
1fession of wrong. o
gain, it was claimed that no earthly gov al
lment could administer absolute Jus tt
Q, and, therefore, it was improper for p
to assimilate ours to the Divine Gov Il
lment. and make such difficult exac- oI
ms. The powers that be were ordained W
God, and these powers should be as pl
lilated to the divine government, and N
We the right to demand true allegiance el
IL ONOAy CAbl1CA 6O AOuS dS lucl OcdT
, impress of equal and just laws. We TT
lid meet the truly repentant more h'
N half way, and those who have always d'
IN true would soon be identified with M
,se men in all the leading questions of ell
} day, and they all must present a SOL Ell
front against the treacherous and def La
:. The fruits of our victory were man. p'
ID developed, strengthened and emo pc
d, and liberty enlarged and made uni sh
sal. God had given US these fruits, G'
I he would hold US responsible for m
ir proper use and for their preserva- us
D. He was entirely willing to trust ST
pledges and conditions to the Gov de
ment. He saw no violation of Chris tn
/ principle in the proposed amend tn
Mt to the constitution-no spirit of I
enge in any of its provisions. The re
1rch of Christ, renewed and purified cn
His spirit, was to organized govern nj
ut, what the enlightened conscience is al
he individual man. 1t would discern Il
difference between right and wrong pr
asures, and impel society, by an ire IN
H1o fo,oo - colIo,,- Az l ca