The Cecil Whig., 1886-07-10

blaspheming burglar penitent and
praising son of God. 1t is work full of
moral glory, which shows that Christ has
not vet lett us-that the nation in its best
minds is still true to Him, and is to be SO
in its great coming Influence aud pro-
gress. 1t shows that the moral life which
we have among us, which We brought
from the past. and which is henceforth
to be reinforced, is not to be overborne,
however it may seem to be antagoniZed,
for a time, perhaps, to be manacled and
commercial wealth and our ever pand-
ing manufacturing enterprise. believe
that the old moral life of the nation is
to remain, and to be only more fully and
nobly developed as years go on.
There is ground enough for serious re-
Election; there is ground enough for rea-
for despondeucv or despair There is
ground enough for fresh endeavor on the
part of all of us in this direction. Let
us remember that this moral life can
never be extemporiZed. 1t must be cul-
tivated beforehand, systematically and
largely, that it may be ready in power
is said of some old bachelor, who had at
last become eaSar for a family, tnat he
saw the sign on some city shop, Families
Supplied;' whereupon he went in and
said that if the price was not beyond his
means. he would like to take a wife and
three or tour children. Now, foolish as
we recognize him to have been, yet he
was wise in comparison with any of us,
if we suppose that We as people can
suddenly step forth when the emergency
comes, filled with the fulneSs of a moral
force adequate to it, for which we have
made no previous preparation. But, if
our individual efforts are as they should
be-in word, in action and in character,
then, as the millions of wheat blades
make the harvest, as the millions of wires
twisted together make the cable, as the
millions of drops make summer showers,
We shall together, and others with us,
accomplish the work for which the faith
ers hopefully looked-for which we
struggled through the bloody clash of
the great civil war-in the accomplish
ment of which will come glory to this
Nation more than from all its mines and
railways and ailuent fields. We shall
make the Nation one to answer prayer,
to fulfill hope, and to shed glory on the
future-a Nation having for its own the
precious things brought forth by the sun,
and the precious things put forth by the
moon, the chief things of the ancient
mountains, and the precious things of the
lasting hills; but above all, the good will
of the God who dwells among holy peo.
pie. May our aspirations for our land
to-day voice themselves in the words of
noble poet, Whittier:
We give thy natal day TO hope,
q country of our love and prayer.
The way is down no fatal slope,
But up to treer sun and air.
Tried as by furnace fires, aud yet
BY Gods grace only stronger made,
To meet new tasks before thee set
Thou shalt not lack the old-time aid
The fathers sleep; but men remain
AS wise, rs true and brave as they
Why count the loss, and not the gain?
The best is that We have today.
X
Great without seeking to be great
BY fraud or conquest, rich in gold
But richer in the large estate
OF virtue which thy children hold
With peace that comes of purity,
And strength to simple justice due;
SO runs our loyal dreams of thee;
God of our fathers. make it true