The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-04-13
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Lieut.. Gen. Sherlnam-A ThrkIttnE
lnclalaMl.

Rev DIR. Bellows in the LiJerm Christian, thus
relates a conversation he recently had with Gen.
Sherman III st. Louis:
Gen. Sherman was in California at the period
when all the sense, worth and patriotism OF San
Francisco were converted into unwilling law
breakers and an organized mob, by the establish
ment of the celebrated Vigilance Committee,
whose objects were most righteous, but whose
methods We're doubtless justiflble only by revo.
lutionary necessity, if at all. They seized the
marked and known ruffains, gamblers and ban
ditti of the city, and without legal Judge or jury
hung them from the windows of the streets, and
with bloody threats drove violently all the rest
out of the place. Gen. Sherman was then ban.
ker, but had been educated a soldier. His mill
tary conception did not allow him to countenance
so complete violation of lawful authority, and
single handed, he stood ont against the whole
moral weight and wealth of that excited commu-
nifty, insisting upon the peril of such unlawful
and high handed proceedings asked him II he
did not require a greater courage to face such an
opposition than to face battery? He said that
it was stern work, but that the greatest demand
ever made on his moral courage was under the
following circumstances: a..
The citizens of San Francisco were celebrating
the Fourth of July in the large American thea
tire, which was packed to its utmost capacity
Gen. Sherman was chief marshal, and occupied
had completed his Grafton, the poet begun his
song, when one of his aids white with fear, made
his way down the middle aisle to the foot-lights,
and becoming the generals ear whisperedto him
that the theatre had settled one foot and a half
in one of its side walls, under the weight Of
the crowd, and might be expected ut any mo-
mcnt to tumble on their heads in ruins. The
General commanded him to sit down where
he was, without turning his panic smitten face
to the audience, and to say not one word. He
then quietly sent an aid out to report the condi-
ton of the wall, and to see If the settling increas
ed, then gave his apparent attention to the poem,
expecting every moment, as he said, to see the
PLIERS reeling and the roof falling in; but never
theless, certain that any general and sudden
movement and alright of the people would has
ten the ruin, while by the ordinary slow method
of dispersion, the danger might possibly be es-
capped. The exercises continued calmly to the
close. The audience left the theatre quietly
without slispecting their peril, and the terrible
destruction was averted by the presence OF mind,
the self control the courage of the brave soul who,
contemplating at one glance all the possibilities
Of the case, decided, in a divine calmness upon
the policy of duty, and awaited without one be-
traying glance, or treacherous change of COM
plexion, the uncertain, tremendous consequent
ces
Can we not understand the march to the sea
better for this story? Can we not all the clearer
and more inspiringly see the priceless worth of
brave, social leaders, of souls that look to God
AID duty for their guidance, and do not reflect
the plans the passions or the nfirmities and fol-
lies of their day and hour? God sends us such
saviors for our American civilization.