The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-26

To the Editor Of the Press: ~ gsT
Want OF principle, by which mean moral
principle Or integrity, is the great ca
lamity under which the community is
suffering in every direction, through our
land. This fact was developed, in va
rious quarters, during the late war;
and is continually making sad and shameful
disclosures. There is an evident lack of we'll
instructed conscience, or there is moral
weakness which fails to brook temptation in
its multiform aspects. There are very many
good men and faithful, found amidst this
mass of fmoralcorruption; men that "fear God
and hate covetousnees," yet the premium for
integrity is not established at sufficiently
high rate. We are carefully told of the pre-
MUM offered for gold day by day, yet are not
informed how much principle and character
are worth in the public estimation. Strange
that self-interest does not see to this. In our
public offices, our counting rooms and stores,
enough is not allowed, or offered for sound
principles. The employer can well afford to
bid high for such qualities, and save by it, Ev-
cry days observation affords proof of this
known but too late.
4 l ofer these preliminary suggestions for
the purpose of adding word touching this
Major Generals, who is living to some useful
purpose since his army services ended,
carrying ou t his principles of piety and pat
riotism. Amid abuse and SANDER he has per-
severed in the right, as in the thickest of the
battle, unappaled and brave to the last.
am sure that Gen. Howard has too much
moral courage, to blush to have it said of him
that his hope in battle, and since, has been
placed upon an Almighty arm; that he still
lives and acts under an abiding principle that
He only can effectually save and bless nations
or individuals. l .f... I...... O.. 1.n.,.1a
A little personal incident witnessed in the
summer before the last, has convinced me of
the justice of my opinion respecting him, in
the development Of the grand secret of his
past and present success. l met him at the
last place where you wonld expect to find
returned general officer from the army-at a
prayer meeting! Calling at his brothers
residence, in the edge of theevening, found
them just getting ready to leave for the place
of prayer, and was Unexpectedly favored
with an introduction to the general. A few
moments interview disclosed much of the
n-his'unostentatious, courteous manner.
A man of most unpretending spirit he is, and
yet there is that about him, Tor perhaps 1
should say "missing") that renders his pres
ence eloquent and heart-stirring. My emo
tional nature could not but feel the pressure
of that left hard, and hardly know whether
to write it as fault or commentator, that,
in the flush of the moment it escaped my
lips that considered the honor of an intro
duction to him next in value to one to Gen
eral Grant. His reply was characteristic, but
forget his words.
Some of the Generals domestic life-guards
were with him; and Madame Howard, no
ticed, who looked of sufficient presence and
character to be the worthy mother of such y
son. l
I ask pardon of the General, if, in giving
publicity to these remarks, have disobeyed
his wishes for once. q.,l .....,-r q
We walked together to the house of prayer.
1t was probably known that he would be pres
ent. Some other officer of much less note
and worth than he ON coming to such place
might be expecting parade. The General
was another sort OF mana Christian man
"a soldier of the Cross-and he entered, and
bowing his spirit, sat down before God as a
sinner and a supplicant with the rest of us.
Soon after the opening of the meeting by
the pastor, minister present, a stranger al
so, was called upon to introduce subject for
discussion. Providentially, it seems to me il
was, he brought cut for remark the subject of
prdyer-meetings; not the Importance of
prayer merely, but of the prayer-n,eetiaa. and
remarked how the man of prayer, the stran-
ger abroad, will seek for these Christian mas
lures, and inquire for the "footsteps Of the
hock, ln preference to those places of doubt
tul expediency at best, to which many resort
when away from home.
Gen. Howard arose and spoke ON the same
subject which had just been before the mee'-
ing. His expressions of attachment to prayer
meetings and his sense of their great s''uo'
especially their efficacy over the issues VI ''i
late war were unmistakaby decisive; ana
moreovor he remarked that his only hope tor
satisfactory adjustment of matters pertaining