Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-19

men distinguished by endow-
ments and achievement, renowned
kings, illustrlous statesmen, famed
warriors, legislators and sages. 1t
is true that they are few, and if we
begin TO count them our labor is
quickly finished-so quickly that
the early history of our race-for I
do not know how many centuries
is contained in the first few chapters
of the book of Genesis. But these
men make history. for history is
but the story of their deeds, and
their acts tell upon the world for
ever. In religion we call them
saints )" in secular history, i" he
roes," and Jefferson Davis was one
of these men. He may have been
a mistaken man, but he was great
man. See him as he wins victory
from defeat and plants the stars
and stripes upon the ramparts Of
Buena Vista, and saves his country
from defeat.
Firm as the flrGest when duty led
He hurried without falter:
Bold as the boidest he fought and bled
And the day was won but the field was red,
And the blood of the brave soldier was shed
On his eounfry's hailowed altar
Hear him as he thrills the
Senate with his eloquence
and wins the praise of Adams;
see him as, Sunday after Sum
day, Friday after Friday, meekly
kneeling and, like the publican
in the gospel, asking mercy from
the Father of all. "Lord have
mercy upon US and incline our
hearts to keep thy law" See him
victorious in defeat; he raved not
nor rallied, nor ragged, but quietly
submitted. He sacrificed himself
for his country, whereas if he was
a mere revolutionist he would have
sacrificed his country for self.
During the long time that has
elapsed since Lee surrendered has
there one word escaped his lips
that showed that he grieved that
the God of battles had decided diff
ferently, though that decision left
him, who had been wealthy, a
pauper-left him, who had been
chief, without country-yet his
motto was:
Which God sends. Twas HIS will :: it is mine.
You should have heard him re-
peat the hymn
Let but my fainting heart be blest
With thy sweet spirit for its guest,
My God to Thee leave the rest.
Thy will be done
and you would have known the
man.
Fellow citizens, that man alone
is great who believes that he is an
instrument IN the hands of Goa
aud God works all things for good.
|"I love the Union" said Mr..
DAVIS, when Mr.. Lincoln was elect
| ed; 'my father bled for it; but
our people see that the contract is
broken" He loved his home and
his neighbors, and he loved his
State. He believed that he had
duties towards them which over
ruled all others, and this is the
very essence of patriotism-the
defense of our homes and fresides.
He believed that he was an instru-
ment in the hands of a higher
power, and therefore he went and
did as he did.
Now, friends, man may achieve
great wonders in science, philoso-
lphy. war; craftsmanship. He may
be an orator, may be well read in
the schools of history and theology
and after all be little and small, for
he alone is great who can clasp the
hands of his foe and say "brother
mine" He alone is great who in
defeat can say to his Father and
God-fat uoluntas Taa IN terra
thy will be done on earth, and
Jefferson Davis was great in this
respect. Then as victorious SOL
dier he was brave for he was gen.
erous to the conquered. As a
statesman he was brave and great
for he admired his rival, President
Lincoln, and as a Christian he was
brave and great. Let me give you
| one instance: In 1873 there died
in Ohio one who did as much to
destroy the confederaey as General
Grant, and that man was the
Bishop of Ohio, DR.. Mellvaine.
He was sent over by Mr.. Lincoln
TO assist in influencing the cabinet
|of England in preventing recog-
lnition of the confederate States.
He influenced the Earl of Shaftes.
bury and Shaitesbury influenced
Lord Palmerston, the then Prime
Minister, as Mr.. Beecher had in.
| fiuenced the masses and Archbishop
Hughes the Roman Catholics ol
ireland. Well, during the session
of the Diocesan Council Of Ten.
|nessee . telegram came announcing
| TIE death Of Bishop McIlvaine and
ifho,, M naria rnse in hia a..s,f as,r