The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-01

and the rights of the people must bo set
tied by fair discussion and tho uphOldlng of
too courts Of justice and tho honest use OF
tho BALLOT Violence and crime must be sub
dued by government that can depend
on the strong arm Of citizen soldiers.
Strengthen Freedoms Defense.
The memories of the past call us now,
while "A degree Of peace and quiet pre-
walls, To strengthen the defenses OF free
dom and 10 prevent social or sectional
conflicts which ought never again TO DO
forced upon us. by the sacred traditions
of tho past, by tbe hallowed dust OF those
who laid down their lives for Us and our
children, let Us heed the call 10 good cit
izeDship. 10 manly and faithful adherence
TO the duties which bind us TO our COM
mon country. The flag which tloats from
our schoolhouses, and the training in the
common principles of our government
given to every child ought To secure us
IRON injustice 10 any OF our people ana
from vain and foolish attempts To right
all wrongs by reckless force instead OF
pursuing the methods of peace and
brotherhood. The good soldier is the best
citizen and the good citizen Is tho best
soldier. IL has been SO in the past and
ever will be, II our country Is To live and
flourish.
Hope u Spirit Of Christianity.
Those obligations reach their summit
when they demand of us that we exercise
the hopeful spirit of true Christianity.
our soldiers went forth TO the con-
ilict with deep sense OF c9nso, l,le,.
felt that their Struggle was for God and
humanity. 1t was forced npon them by
no wish OF theirs. AS truly we might say,
more truly than in the war of the Rev
olution, IL was conflict for sacred ana
innlionable rights. There was no retreat
laid upon them, and with that feeling
there was heartfelt appeal 10 the God OF
Justice and of love. Our regiments went
out cheerod by the blessing and followed
by the prayers OF the Christian. Amid
the tears OF loved ones, and which
manly eyes could not wholly repress,
there were feryent supplications TO
Almighty God and confidence in Him for
the result.
This church gives cordial welcome TO
veterans and sons OF veterans today and
has special reason TO do so, as the for
mer pastor Of this church, Alexander Ii.
Clamp, now living in New York at the
advanced age of 1S years, was chaplain of
the Tenth Rhode Island and one whose SER
, vices gained n warm place In the soldiers 5
heart Gladly would have yielded this
pulpit 10 him could he have been present
TO speak 70 you today. In letter written
some time ago he says: serious TO me
Of Scripture reading, prayer and song at
headquarters and the sabbath services
held there. Many a brief address delivered
from the saddle was most respectfully
listened TO by the boys drawn
up in hollow square and headed
by the officer in charge Not one
unpleasant incident not even IA
look of disrespect marred those hours
of worship" He goes on with the men
tion of few among honored names.
Colopels Bliss. Shaw ana Hale, Surgeon
Wilcox, Adjutants Thurston and Iobey
Quartermasters .Armington and deWolf,
Capt Elisha Dyer, ex gov OF our state
and eminent In all social and educa-
tional and religious circles and scarcely
less known in city and state, the entire
list of captains whose companies num-
bered men eminent in professional lite,
many of whom have adorned high posts
ef confidence HaTe-we Het occasion to
lie proud OF themg
Lesson Of Stronger Faith.
Thus the memories of the past bring up
sacred scenes and invite us also to holy
services. AS you stand about the graves
of your comrades on the morrow and
mark them with the flag of our Union,
while they are adorned by childron $
hands with the fresh flowers of spring,
YOU cannot help feeling "a stronger faith
in Immortality. These noble spirits, many
of them cut of in life's dewy morning,
did not all perish. They live not in your
memories only, nor In the sighs and tears
Of those who cannot cease TO mourn their
loss-they live also. III the better land
where all strifes are ended, where the
conqueror receives his crown, where there
Is an unendlng state of progress In all
knowledge and virtues.
Their bones are dust
Their good swords rust
Their souls are with the saints, we
trust
And their faith and their triumph beck.
on 20 us from tho celestial work. and
bid us toibear with furtitude the part we
have in this present life. Still TO you the
summons comes to "gird on the whole
armor OF God that ye may be able to
stand in the evil day. " The present
times require spirit of patient endur-
ancc not always easy TO exercise. In
tho shock of battle, in the tremendous
excitement OF bloody contest, the spirit is
upborne with almost superhuman exalta-
ton; but in the weary march and long
waiting for uncer tain orders and some
times q temporary retreat for better po-
ston. there is something harder 10 bear
Your brave comrades. who early laid
down their lives, were spared much Of
the suffering that followed. And is it
not true that the pains of lingering dis
ease and the trials of business life, when
industry is ill-rowarded, are harder to
bear than times of warliIe perilg
An Example of Grand Endurance.
When our great leader. Gen. Grant
was overcome by grievous malady, and
suffered for months the tortures o: dis
ease while with uncomplaining patience
he toiled on those ffrfnortaf memoirs
which he left as legacy To his country, was
ne not showing grander endurance than
in the heat of conflicts Well has 1t been
said that bravery is that which we share in
common with the brutes, but fOrtitude
in common with the saints. yea even in
likeness 60 the Son of God. Such was the
fortitude exhibited by tho many who Ian
guished IN prisons and who, through
wearisomc days and nights of privation
and uncertainty, waited with hope long
deferred for the glad day of triumph.
And the lesson is 20 you, my friends, and
To us all at the present hour. The great
need Of our people, young and old, is
fortitude To bear the Ills OF lie and To
look forward to better times.
The prosperity that followed the war,
tho rapid increase of wealth led many
iutn hnbits Of luxury In strange contrast