The National tribune., 1882-06-24

ocntluneutS anu dnlDltlOnS identical III uuSo
be fragmentary aggregation there must
be differences for nation to be prosperous.
As in individuals, so in nations-where
everybody agreed upon every point, sentl-
ment was neither healthy nor lasting Cen
tralized ideas were indispensable to the pros
perity of society, but perfect unaDimity and
accord was fatal The American idea was to
subordinate individuals to the Nation; It's
dominant spirit was the organization of the
masses under one general principle, whose
power and efficacy consisted only of the
unanimity with which they were received.
In order to guard against disintegratiOn some
general principle was needed, and this, and
this alone, gave rise to the pronuncamento
that the price of liberty was eternal vigi-
lance. What, asked Mr.. Lowering, was this
controlling, this Omnipotent principle which
dominated the other principles, ideas and
practices of government? 1t was the be-
lief In the sovereignty of GOd-the univer-
sal reliance upon His potency. The sense Of
alliance with God had been the source of
national strength since it bound the people
together. The love of God was inseparable
from the love of country those who be-
lieyed in him felt that in God was their
power, the perpetual source Of their inspira-
ton. Atheism overthrew nations, not be-
cause, as some would say the people did not
believe in God as the Ruler of the Universe,
but because there was no bond of union, no
directing head to whom all could look to re-
ceive the strength which is the inseparable
attribute of faith. Faith in anything was as
efficacious; faith in their gods armed and
nerved the heathens for greater deeds of valor
and of courage; faith in what might easily
have been an equally imaginary God fired the
blood of the crusader. The principle of reli-
ance was apparent in all the great battles that
had ever been fought even those of Napoleon
l., who, though it was said be was not be-
lever in Christianity, had as his god
princely ambition. 1t was his faith in that;
and so faith was indispensable tire world
over. Atheism permitted of faith in moth
ing; it's synonym was sacrilege, and the
inherent elements in sacrilege were indiffer-
ence and reliance on self Self was not
unanimous, and the epitaphs upon the
tombstones of atheistical peoples were the
boasts of God, whom, or his equivalent, they
held they could do without. How many
evidences of the existence of faith in God as
the groundwork of unity were there?
The occasion which called forth the MEM
orable expression in New York, when 50,-
600 men rose as unit on the assassination
of President Lincoln, God reigns and the
Government ut Washington still lives"
demonstrated in a remarkable way its eff
cacy. The turbulence of the mob was
stilled, the vengeance which they wished to
visit upon the assassin of martyred presi-
dent was left to higher and more impair
tial Judge and from state of utter help
lessness the people were recalled to the ex-
istence of One who was greater and more
omnipitent than they. National unity was
then indispensable, and if this preservation
citizen, unless he were careless of his coun-
try's good, to endeavor to preserve it, Plato
said that the country was holier than father,
mother or other ancestor, and this statement
covered conviction of the speakers. Pa
triotism in the fullest sense OF the term Was
the means by which nations could be pre-
served
For the duty of patriotism there must be
magnanimity; magnanimity which in
time of peace had no cringing or unmanlY
concessions, no compromise of principles, no
bending to political chicanery. MI Lever
ing told of how upon the banks of TIE Rap
pahannock just before battle. two armies
were camped. They were the Northern and
the Southern armies upon opposite shores
It was night and the strife of battle has
given place to the quiet of darkness. Th5
soldiers were all lying down upon the
ground, many of them dreaming OF ha,ne
and its blessed circle of friends and family
when suddenly the band of the Northern
army struck up the national air. The band
of the Southern army replied with "Way
down South in Dixie" and for fully half AZ
hour the air was alive with musical ssrf,-
Finally the soft, sad strains of Home. Swea!
Home" were waited down the Rappahan-
mock from the Northern lines. In an instant
the soldiers of the two armies were as still
as death. There was great yearning in
their hearts, an indescribable reaching out,
which attained to a climax when the con-
Guiding notes of the sad and beautiful air
had ceased. Then arose from the Northern
men a terrible wall, as if their very heart
strings were being torn assunder, and the
cry was replied to by an echoing yell from
the confederate lines. Then all was again
still; the music had ceased and the camp
fires were out. There was terrible pathos
in that occurrence. Both sides thought
they were fighting for the right. Both
were protecting their countries-for in
the hearts of the Southerners there existed
a land separate and distinct from the Union,
if there were no geographical lines to distin-
guish it from the Northern States-and in
battles they bore out Plato's belief, that their
country was holier than father, or mother,
VI ofttA ChlskSnCC vi tlIlS Was bESIS
in the fact that brother WAS arrayed against
brother, and cousin against cousin. / cannot
help but think of that remarkable scene on
the Rappahannock, said Mr.. Lowering in
conclusion, when | see the preparations
being made for your encampment. The
yearning desire-which for an instant bursts
the bounds of cold reserve and hostility
OF the soldiers to cease the war and return
to their homes from which q cruel conflict as
useless, it would seem now, as it was deter
mined, had exiled them, refused to be stifled.
1t was one of those peculiar passages in
lifetime when nature and all the feelings OF
man refused to be huShed any longer-they
must have utterance. The wild, heartrerd-
ing wall of the two armies found echo in the
valleys. What it implied was desire for
cessation of war-peace and rest. The prom
Use which that desire gave has been fulfilled.
The war is over; those bitter days of cruel
strife are gone Out of them the Nation has
been revived and rectifed. No doubt you
believe you were right and 50 do / no doubt
the eonfederates thought they were right
too We referred the case to the afbitrement
of war. and the sword has decided IN our
favor. But whatever we think or whatever
we believe, one thing remains, and that is,
that national unity is essential to national
life.
REUNION OF EX-PRISONERS.