Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-15
PLEA OF THE PULPIT.
DR.. FAwCETT, or CHICAGO, on THE
LIBBY PRIs0E REMOvAL.
BE Protests Against II and Dreams Of
Seeing 1t Put to the
Torch.
The following is from Mondays Chi
cago Times, which reached the city yes

The following is from Mondays Chi
cago Times, which reached the city yes
terday:
Rev. DR.. William Fawcett addressed his peo-
pie at the PsrS-Avenue Methodist Epiecopal
church concerning Paurs experience before tue
Philippian church and applying II 10 modern
conditions His text was from Philippians
lii, 10:
Forgetting those things which nre behind
and resching forth unto those things which are
before
In speaking Of those things which are behind
DIR. Fawcett made tho following reference 70 ma
tional affairs: "As with the individual, so
blessed Is that nation that can forget and leave
tho things which are behind-esDeciaily ltr eNh
things-and press on 10 things higher and better
RED-HiNDED WAR.
No nsiion, more than an individual. can ind
other profit or pleas Ircs In seeking 10 revive OF
continue the smoldering. dying fires Of enmliy
or hate that In the past have famed in fury 70
the destruction Of It's peace and property aud
lifo Especially Ia this tcue OF national difficult
ties, struggles. aud conflicts that arc Of the ma
ture OF family dlsrords. All angry str,ies are 10
be deprecated, Dut mona more thah where pro
ther goes 10 war with brother. Born undor the
ssme roof. rocked In the Same cradle, nuf-
tured by tho eame doar mothers heart and
hard, when fratr'iGsl strife begins mere
Is no strife 80 destructive. no wounds 20
hard 20 heal; and under these circum stances
blessed are tho brothers who can unito1ly fusy
their past, forget the things which are beAind'
and reach fOrth 10 better things which are be-
fore: aud cursed In person ana In puohc though.
would be that man who either Tor pcfsonal
profit or personal power would seek 10 eng"nder
or 70 perpctuate this strife. Born under the
eau national flag. rockies In the same cradle OF
constitutional liberty interiors Of the sane
glorious uatiOuGl history, educated IN the
same school OF thought aud partners IN
tho renOwn Of statesmen, generals. phloso-
piers, poets, and ministers. When jealousy
ov,iff T. d nu0pln fhu4 horn md o0uCufffl.
and VIII y red handed war leads national brothers
to face each other IN deadly carnage. OF all war,
destructive 20 life. destructive 70 property. de-
sfructIve to morals, md destructive 10 national
existence. there IL wnr ike this and no battle
scars more difficult 90 heal or hide. blca~cl -
the nation that in such case can bury and Tor
got those things whlcn are bohiud. and cursed IL
the party or the man that, for the sake OF power,
would open the grave or quicken the memory OF
the scenes buried and forgotten.
THE WUsECN SCHEME.
] have read That proposition hGs boon mnfe
ty an enterprsing company n purchase and
transfer from ne city Of Richmond 10 the city OF
Chca-O old Libby Prison, and 20 transform ~
into o museum, reyiving heor;rondiug memo
rios Of s'cnos enacted and suffered within 10
historic walls during our latest, greatest and
most destructive war. We may not call In qles-
ton tho patriotism OF tho men who have enter
tanned this proposition. butwe may consider what
its natural effect would BE- upon ali who might ysit
ana hear described .hc suffering Of I MON sol-
iiers during those fraircidal days'
BURS IT.
What shall We do With LIBBY Prison? Ahl I
have a waking dream; a dream perhaps all 100
Utopian. hut dream f0r tho fulhlmeni of which
every lover Of peace might Tell pray. IL Is the
day most honorable, II not most EOnorcd IN the
history Of Columbia, the anniversary OF that
supreme act in tho administration Of the im-
mortal Lincoln, the emancipation " all slaves Tor
all time under the American nac. | am IN the
Ia Nfa Inn.
ten thousand reather-heaten, battle-scsrred
veterans OF tho war Of lSGl--6j gathering from the
East and from the Wet from the North aud
from the south, each bringing with him some
trophy Of victories gained. From Bull hun and
Pittsburgh landing they come from Hamp-
ton hOsds ond Mobile bay they come;
from Fredericksburg aud MurfrccsbOrJ' thcy
come: from ChancellCraYllle and gettysburg
they come; from Chicamauga and AppOmAttox
they come. Here Is kirby Smith and General
Candy: here ~ Joe Johnston and General Sher-
man. here IL L. :. Grant ana General Lee:
some in person, some In spirit: ell VINO wore Tie
blue ana all who wore the gray are gathered in
this la-i-captured city ~ tho south on this
anniversary day. Thoy bring ali cannon and
rites and muskets ana t"ofds captured on !
all hattle-6elds Of the war; and pack
them In old Libby Prison. They bring
all Tags. all decorations, an1 all offensive
relies captured on all ba'tle-heiGs OF the
war. aud they pach them in the OLD bestie.
They bring all tho memcnt)es Of AndrrsOnyillo
and Belle Isle, OF Point Lookout and Johnson's
islaud. and place them WITH the other relics OF
the Wa7. Aud now see these veterans Join
hnnds-uiack hands in white hands, foreign
born hands in native born hands-and form
circle around this Old memory OF horrors. ana
while the spirits otstatasChsn-a1d gonetalshOFrr
over the assembled thousands | see President
CIeyelani, the representative Of all the people,
torch IN hand. march out and lire this accumula-
ton Of misery. and the flames spread and
tongues Of fire l.ck mp prison md flags and relics
and the last fragments OF the great rebellion arc
passing away in the smoke. and being oriyen
before swift winds never to return.
hear q song a. TIE song 81 ono man rising
from these united thousands with united hearts
and united hands saving the eternal God Is one
God our country. East. West. North, and South,
is ono country; the Interest Of one is the lnte-
rest Of all. We are brothers. one flag shall cover
lis and one Gag shall Do our ensign forever.
And heard the spirit of Washington say amen,
aud heard the spirit Of Lincoln say amen. aud
beard the spirit OF Grant say amen, and heard
all patriotism and all righteousness In all tho
earth say amen. and | heard all the heavenly
hosts say amen. and Columbia, washed and
purt9ed sWeDt On ID greater things DeYOul.