The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-05-14


underlying slave ownership.
In the history of the world the Will of
man seems to prevail, and that men
have their own way. Yet. in ultimate
results, we must preserve the Almighty's
power in handling thuman affairs and
using men and facts for the advancement
of the human race.
He-Etraced the intervention of God in
the life of George Washington when he
decided not to enter the English navy,
but to remain OF home with his mother,
and thus took the road to immortality
as the father OF his country.
As another instance of the same Di-
vine Providence, he traced the begin
ming of William Lloyd Gariison's anti
slavery work, and asked Robert lnger-
soil or any other agnostic to account for
the fact that, while Garrison was MAX
ing his first address to an audience OF
Free Thinkers In Boston, (the only peo-
pie who would listen,) an uneducated
fat boatman and sail-splitter was sail
ing down the Mississippi on his way to
that slave market when he felt the
choking of righteous wrath in his
throat, and said to his companion: IF
ever / get chance to hit this institu-
ton of slavery, I'll hit it hard by the
eternal God" How does Ingersoll recon-
cile this fact. and Abraham Lincoln
signing his name to that proclamation
that freed 4,000, 600 of slaves?
"And so this history of our nation to-
day read with SO profound reverence
as the Bible that reveals God to u.s." y
He spoke of the Rebellion as one--ot
the Divine chastlsements that have
made great nations. He described with
much eloquence and vtvidness the
struggle around Little Round Top, as
he witnessed it. Gen. Warren stood by
him there and saw the nesd of the hour
and called to aid that battalion, COM
manded by your own heroic Cham ner-
laln," and that other battalion from
Minnesota, and before the sun went
down the holding Of Little Round Top
was the turning point that decided the
fate of the nation.
when / look upon the history of this
it's free institutions, and the patriotism
and the nobility of the men that have
preserved them, feel that Gods hand
has been more apparent in the guiding
of this people than in that of any other.
Mr.. Coffin emphasized the position
of our nation in making Japan the
Queen of the Orient, so that now the
Chinese millions are prostrate at her
feet.
The American Revolution made
France staple republic and England
a monarchy only in name.
Ii we cannot quite understand why
God out OF the slave trade, brought the
millions of black men. to this nation, yet
it is possible that the future will reveal
Divine object in thus making these
men, civilized by US, the agency that
will civilize the Dark con- ntinent. The
speaker referred to the inventive genius
of this country that is rendering warfare
impossi ple, because of the destruc-
tiveness of war machines. This inven-
tive genius is also making peace in
the advancement of commerce and man.
ufacture.
And as the United States is far ahead
In this inventive progress, whst is TO
be the desting of this country? Only
will it be for righteousness. as we ad-
vance along tae same lines that4 our
fathers laid down. But with those to
guide and direct US, the. United States
is to have such future as never was
dreamed of in the universe.
At the close of Ills address the speak
er received very enthusiastic applause.
He is large man, ssplendidly proper
tiond, with a strong. kind, earnest
face. and gray hair. His eio-
quence thrilled his hearers with some
thing of his intense enthusiasm for his
country and his God, and could we re-
produce that eloquence, few indeed
would be the readers of the PRESS
who would not also be thrilled