Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-08-12

sepulchre of their fathers, In the city of
Modin, and all the people OF Israel be-
walled him with great lamentation, and
they mourned for him many days, u
said, how is the mighty fallen. D "a
saved the people Of Israel" MALACHI. IL
1921.
swell might the Children Of Israel be-
wall their great captain who led them 80
often to battle and to victory, and well
may this nation grieve for the loss OF the
mighty chieftain whose mortal remains
now lie before us. In every city and town
and village Of the country, from the AT
lantic to the Pacific, his name Is uttered
with sorrow and his great deeds recorded
with admiration. There is one consolIng
feature that distinguishes the o~bsequies OF
COR illustrious hero, from these OF the
great Hebrew leader. His burial was In
the midst of war amid clashing Of arms
and surrounded by armed hosts OF the
enemy. Our Captain, thank God, is
buried amid profound peace, while we are
epjoying the blessings of domestic tran
guilty and are in friendship with all the
world. The death of General Sheridan
will be lamented not only by the North,
nut by the South. / know the Southern
people. l know their chivalry. l know
their magnamity, their warm and affec-
tomato nature, and l am sure that the
sons of the South and especially those
who fought in the late war, will join in
II NATIONAL LAMENTATIoN,
and will lay 8 garland of mourning on the
bier of the great Gem al. They recog-
nized the fact that the nations General is
dead, and that mis- death is the nations
loss, and this universal sympathy coming
from all sections Of the country, prospect
i've Of party lines, is easily accounted for,
when we consider that under an Oyerruling
providence, the war in which General
Sheridan took such conspicuous part, has
resulted in increased blessings to every
State In our oHn common country.
'There is q Divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough haw them how we will and this
ia true OF nations AZ well rs of individuals.
What constitutes the great difference be-
tween the wars of antiquity and our re-
cent war? The wal of the olden time wal
followed by subjugatiOn and bondage.
In the train Of n great struggle came
reconciliation and freedom. Alexander
the Great waded through the blood OF his
fellow man. By the sword he conquered
and by the sword he kept the v~anquished
in bondage. Scarcely was he cold in death
when his vassals shook off the yoke and
his Empire was dismembered into frag-
ments.
A STRENGTHENED NATION.
The effect of hat war has been to weld
- L. --4.-~ AM -,a-o al,aalu tntN
one cohesive body. 1t has removed once
and for all, slavery, the great apple OF dis
cord. 1t has broken down the wall OF
separation which divided section from sec
ton and exhibits us more strikiDgly as
one nation, one family, with the same
aims and the same aspirations. The hu-
marity exhibited in our late struggle con-
trasted with the cruelties exercised toward
the vanquished of former times, is an elo-
quent tribute to the blessings of Christian
civilization.
TN surveying the life of General Sheri-
dan, it seems to me that these were his
prominent features, aud the salient points
in his character: ~undsuntedss heroism, COM
bined with gsntleness Of disposition;
strong az o lion in war, gentle as a child
in peace, bold, daring, fearless, ~undaunted,
Undertaking. His courage with the dan
ger, ever fertile in resources, ever prompt
ia execution, his rapid movements never
impelled by e blind impulse, but ever
prompted by q calculating mind.
HIS sOLDIERLY QUALITIES.
at have neither the time or the ability
to dwell uDon his military career from the
time he left West Point till the close OF
the war. Let me select one incident
which reveals To us his quickness
Of conception and readiness Of
execution. l refer to his famous
ride in the valley of Virginia. As he was
advancing along the road be saw his routed
army, rushing pell nell towards him.
Quick as thought by the glance of his eye,
by the power Of his word, by the strength
of his will, he hurls back that living
stream, on the enemy and snatches victory
from the jaws of defeat. How bold in
war! How gentle in peace!
On some few occasions in Washington l
hsd the pleasure of meeting General Sheri-
dan 10 private circles. l was foIcibly
struck by his gentle disposition, his ami
able mauners, mis- ~uDsssuming department,
with good Dsture and his voice scarcely
raised above u whisper. / said to myself
is this bashful mar and retiring
citizen the great General Of the
American army. is this the hero Of
50 many battles? It is true Gen. Sheri-
dan has been charged with being some
tunes unnecessarily severe towards the
enemy. My conversations with him strong
ly impressed me with the groundlessness
of q charge which could in no wise he rec
opciled with the abhorrence which he ex-
pressed for the atrocioties of war, with his
| natural aversion to blo0dshed and with the
hope he uttered that he would never again
be obliged to draw his sword against an
enemy.
What is life without
HOPE CT IMMORTALITY?
| What is life that is bounded by the horizon
OF the tomb? Surely it is not worth living.
| What is the life even the autedeluvian
pstriarchs, but like the mist which is dis
PEELED by the morning SUM-. What would
1t profit this illustrious hero to 60 down to
his hOnored grave covered with earthly
glory if he had no hope in the
eternal glory to come. 1t is the hope of
eternal life that constitutes at once our
divine and our moral responsibility.
Wonder not at that" Gays our Savior,
'ifor tho hour cometh when all that are in
their graves shall hear the voice of the Son
of Man, and they Who bsYe done we'll
shall come forth to the resurrection of
life, and they who have done ill to the
resurrection of the Judgment" And the
| Apostle writes these comforting words to
the The~ssalOuisps: 81 would not have you
ignorant brethren, concerning those that
areIasleep, that ye DO not sorrowful like
these, who have no hopes, for if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so
those who have died in Jesus, God will
raise unto Himself. Therefore comfort
Yourselves with these words"
Comrades and companions Of the illus
trious dead take hence your great leader.
Bear him to his last resting place. Garry
him gently, lovingly, and though you may
not hope to attain his exalted rank, you
will strive ut least to emulate him by the
integrity of your private life, by your de-
votion to your country and by upholding
the honor Of your military profession"