The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-03

/ obONS the WrdQSllnS OF tue petty
/ spoilsmen of the north and the vindic
tive mutterings of the proud southern
er, conquered but unsubdued to verify
in the most glorious reconciliation
OF all time that prophecy of old
Good tidings shall bind up the brok-
| en-hearted, and to them that mourn
give beauty for ashes, the oil of JOY fol-
mourning, and the garment of praise
] for the spirit of heaviness.
Lincoln the compromised 1t is in
| this role that his true grandeur and
beauty of character shine forth. In
the north, impatient friends urged him
| TO issue at once the emancipation
proclamation. Wendell Phillips de-
nounced him as a. slave hound.
! From the south all manner of obloquy
was hurled against him. In the midst
of the storm stood Lincoln: with
malice toward none, with charity for
ALL he calmly waited the decree from
higher source than human lips. He
must needs use a hand of iron, but it
was gloved in the velvet of pity. In
the death of Abraham Lincoln the
south lost her truest friend. the north
and the union its noblest defender.
a nation is prone to glorify its sue
cessful general above him who in leg
islative halls quietly guards his coun-
try's liberties. Is it true that all the
elements of courage and virtue belong
TO martial success? 1t is indeed a
thrilling scene-the conqueror resplen-
dent in crimson robe and victor S
crown, cheered by shouts of victory
and songs of triumph. But in the
light of a Christian age that picture
changes. The notes of triumph can
not drown the despairing wall of de-
conqueror is turned to harsh
and hideous discord by the dying
groans of the conquered. The robe is
crimson-aye, with the blood of faith
ersi The gems that sparkle in that
crown, are they aught but the frozen
tears of widowed motherhood? The
enemy Of war, the champion of peace.
will yet be crowned the hero of mod
ern civilization
There is no more suspicious sign of
the worlds progress today than the
increasing tendency toward universal
arbitration. The world is coming to
recognize that the Pan-American Con-
gress was based upon a principle of
greater Importance and wider signiti-
canoe than the mere selfish compact
for national ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The
ruddy glow of Mars begins to pale be-
fore the silvery light of Bethlehem's
star. fixed in the heavens amidst the
chanting of angel chOirs-'Peace on
earth, good will toward men," The
groans of peasantry ground down by
taxation for standing armies shall yet
be answered. The nations of the earth
will yet learn that bonds of love bind
more securely than bands of iron.
Shall it be the American people who
will teach the world this blessed les
SON? Ample is their opportunity. War
struck from the slave his shacIles Of
iron, but it did rot free his mind from
the darkness of ignorance and super
stition. No sabre stroke or cannon
shot can cut down the gloomy wall Of
race prejudice in the south. Only con-
cessionS and forbearance can avert
the impending horrors of race war.
Riots and strikes almost daily pro-
claim social disorders. The gulf be-
tween wealth and poverty widens. In
the very centres of our civilization are
want and suffering enough to sicken
him who does not blind his eyes or
steel his heart. Among working class
es there is a general feeling of dissat-
isfaction and bitterness. The spirit of
the age is one of unrest. of breaking
away from the old lines of thought
and action.
A sign of progress this may be. but
1t is in such times as these that the
false ideas of heroism mislead the
masses. Strong, interruptions Vnen,
of blind popular desires or
fierce partisan passion, may precipi-
tate a nation into all the horrors of a
revolution. The lurid flame of anar-
chy, the smoke of the soldiers rifle.
which have recently disgraced and
startled more than one American city,
teach a twofold lesson. They who de-
~ Justice must bear her frown; they
who would seek her affairs must re-
spect the sovereignty of her law! The
time has come when our nations safe
ty lies not in the skillful use of the
sword, but in the right use of mind
and heart. May society be deaf to the
appeals of a rash agitator and ignorant
1emagogue! May men learn to heed
the voice of him whose soul is large
enough to feel that all have rights; a
man with mind and judgment keen
grievance. with strength and courage
to relieve it by just and fair compro- |
nisei
The evolution of the worlds hero has
been the index of mans moral pro-
yress. The despised Of yesterday be- |
comes the honored of today. Humani- /
" to the Roman soldier meant dis /
grace; today it is ''the meek who shall |
inherit the earth" Brute force must |
yield before the higher power of moral /
The COMPROMISED, willing to /
'enounce the glory of partisan pOpu |
arity, daring, in his love for all, to |
meet the enmity of all, may hear him
self denounced by party hate as
'weakling," coward" traitor" but /
when the clouds of human pride and 4
prejudice shall roll away, men will /
mite with Heaven in proclaiming him /
L hero, a hero in the largest and tru-
st sense, inspired by unselfish devo-
ion to a high and worthy purpose,
purpose to serve, not self, not party,
lot men-but Man.
The VictOrs Since "a
1t must not be assumed that the ora
ions which win the prizes are greatly
superior, as pieces of literary produce
ion, to those which are not so fortu-
late. The sparities-whether in the
lome contests, the state competitions,
II the final interstate meeting-be-
ween the winners and their disap-
pointed competitors are usually not so
vide as to discredit in any way the
young orators. The fol-
owing list is interesting as showing
he men and the colleges which have
,een successful in securing first and
econd places in, the interstate con-
ests for twenty-five successive years:
1S74First, T. Edward Egbert, Chi