San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-10
HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY.
From the Address of Reverend }. T.
Hutchinson.

From the Address of Reverend j. T.
Hutchinson.
Since that eventful day when our
southern Washington assumed the
reins of government in northern New
York, another red sea has flowed
through our land, threatening for a
time permanently to divide our peo-
pie; but the nation in its integrity has
been preserved, and has today a
firmer hold than ever on the hearts
and affections of our united people.
The men who followed Grant, and the
men who followed Lee, the men whom
Pickett led, and the men, who, under
Hancock's eye, could "up and at
Them" having fought out their long
standing quarrel, are now friends and
brothers, in one land, under one flag,
with one national destiny before them,
whose only ambition now is to develop
the resources of our common country,
to uphold its honor. and make it for
itself and for all the nations of the
earth the great land which God in
tended it to be. 1 never myself think
of this episode in our national history
without seeing in it the most signal
proof of that overruling Providence in
the affairs of men which SO often
brings good out of evil. The south
and the north were taught on the
battle field a respect for each other,
which perhaps could have been taught
in no other way, a respect which has
since been deepened and strengthen
ed by the manifestation of southern
pluck and energy and northern inter-
est and liberality. We were no doubt
rapidly becoming two different peO-
Piles, and had we of the south succeed
ed, with the survival of our peculiar
ms titution, ours would surely have
been the harder task to maintain ma
tional permanence and independence,
while what is now our common cOun-
try might have been the theatre of
frequent wars like unto those which
have so often desolated other coun-
tries. But from this danger, in the
great mercy of God, we have been
saved, and saved, as we have good
reason to believe, for all time to come.
For who will say that we are two diff.
ferent peoples now? All traces of the
struggle are being gradually effaced,
the passions engendered by it are
passing away, and the day will soon
come, / believe, if it has not already
come, when the great question will be
not whether one is a northern or
southern man, but whether he is an
American! Other nations have had
their red sea; thank God that ours did
lead to the promised land of per-
manent and enduring union and ma
tionality.
But though we are today one of the
greatest, freest, happiest and most
united peoples on the face of the
earth, are there no causes of appre-
hension for the future? We cannot as
patriots, especially as Christian patri-
OTIS, help asking ourselves such ques-
tions at times. No one worthy of the
name of man can say | like this land,
and will endeavOr to gain and enjoy
all that / can in it as long as my own
life lasts, but care not what may be-
come of it after l am gone; for our
children will be here, and our friends |
will be here, and those institutions
which our forefathers secured at so |
great a cost, both of treasure and |
blood, will be here. The sentiment of |
patriotism is one of the noblest of our |
nature, implanted by the Almighty |
for the very purpose of prompting us
to live for the future as well as the |
present welfare of our country. Our
Lord Himself felt this sentiment. 1t |
was as a patriot as well as saviour
he wept those burning tears over i'm
penitent but grand and beautiful
Jerusalem. (Read Luke -; Ala
And if we are imbued with his spirit
we cannot be Indifferent to the future
of our country. And, repeat, are
there no causes of apprehension for
the future? Are there no breakers
ahead, 10 mutterings of a COM
ing storm, no rumbling thun-
ders in the distance? No dan
ger, you say? But III what lies
our security? In our material re-
sources and prosperity? But did her
resources and prosperity
save Rome? Was it not when all ma
tions were at her feet, pouring their
treasures into her lap, that she be-
gan to be, by greed and avarice, by
Injustice and cruelty, by luxury and
sensuality, so nerveless and effemin-
ate as to become in course of time an
easy prey to the sturdy barbarian?
Or will our intelligence save us? But
who so intelligent as the devil him
self? And have we not already seen
enough I'm the history of our country
to remind us that intelligence, I'M
guided by moral and religious princi-
pie, may become terrible engine of
social disorder and ruin? Were not
the anarchists of Chicago intelligent
enough? In this inaugural address
delivered hundred years ago WASH
ngton took special pains to remind
his countrymen that both morality
and religion are necessary safeguards |