St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-06-18

XXIl.-NO. 70.
Cuba might be continued from genera
ton to generation without sufficient
protest on our part and the pronounced
execration of people on both sides OF
the Atlantic, but that bursting volcano
of destruction in the harbor of Havana
fired the nation and shocked the whole
civilized world. All nations will learn
that such m act can not be repeated
without the anathema of all Christen-
dom. As individual criminals must be
punished for the public good. and we
have for them courts of oyer and ter
miner, and penitentiaries, and electric
chairs, and hangman's gallows.
so governments committing high
crimes against God and humanity must
be scourged and hung mp for tho
worlds Indignation When in Span
ish waters our battleship, looking
after our commercial interests and in
tending nothing but quietude, was
hurled into demolition, and the men
on board, without time to utter one
word of prayer, were dashed into the
eternal world, the doom of the reign
ing house of Spain was pronounced in
tones louder than the thunder which
that night rolled out over the sea-
Another alleviation is the fact that
we have God to go to in behalf OF all
those of our countrymen who may be
in especial exposure at the front, for
we must admit the perils- 1t is no
trifling thing for 100, 600 young men to
be put outside of home restraints and
sometimes into evil companionship.
Many of the brave of the earth are not
the good of the earth. To be in the
same tent with those who have no re-
gard for God or home; to hear their
holy religion sometimes slurred at; to
be placed under influences calculated
to make one reckless; to have no Sab
bath, except such Sabbath as in most
encampments amounts to no Sab
bath at all; to go out from
homes where all sanitary laws are
observed into surroundings where
questions of health are never dis
cussed; to invade climes where pesti-
lence holds possessions; to make long
marches under blistering skies; to
stand on deck and in the fields under
fire, at the mercy of shot and shell-we
must admit that those exposed need
especial care, and to the Omnipresent
God we have . right to commend them,
and will commend them. Postal COM
munication may be interrupted, and
letters started from camps or homes
may not arrive Mt the right destination,
but, however, far away our loved ones
may be from us, and however wide and
deep the seas that separate us, we may
hold communication with them via the
throne of God.
A shipwrecked sailor was found
floating on raft near the coast of Cali
fornia. While in hospital he told his
experience, and said that he had COM
panion ON the same raft for some time.
While that companion was dying OF
thirst he said to him: George, where
are you going?" and the dying sailor
said: II hope am going to God
IF you do" said the rescued
sailor, twill you ask Him to
send some water?" After the
death of his companion. the sur
vivor said, the rain came in torrents,
and slaked his thirst and kept him
alive until he was taken to safety. The
survivor always thought 1t was in an
swer to the message he had sent to
Heaven asking for water. Thank God
we may have direct and instantaneous
communication with the Lord Almighty
through Jesus Christ, His only begot-
ten Son. and in that faith we may Sc
cure the rescue of our imperiIed kim
dred. Is that not a mighty alienation?
Until this conflict is ended let MS be
much in prayer for our beloved coun-
try. Do not let us depend upon the
friendship of foreign nations Our hope
is in God. Out of every misfortune He
has brought this country to better
moral and financial condition, and SO
let us pray that lie will lift US out of
this valley of trouble unto higher
mountain of blessing.
It il : mystery that just as this coun-
try was recovering from long season
of hard times, so many of our indus
tries should now b. halted; that bnsi-
ness men who thought they could see
their way to pay their debts and build
up more prosperous enterprises and cn-
dow their homes with more advantages
than should have to halt and wait un-
til the periidious oppressor OF Cuba
shall be turned back. But individu-
al and national life is always
clothed with mysteries and we
make ourselves miserable by stab
bing ourselves with sharp interro-
CATION points, and plying the everlast-
ing questions of .Why?' and "How?'
and ..What?- and ..When?" While we
must, OF course, try to be intelligent on
all public affairs, it is glorious thing
to do our duty, and then fully and con-
fidently trust all In the hands of God,
who has proved Himself the friend Of
our country from the time when the
Spanish government fitted out an ex-
pedition to discover it to this time.
when the Spaniards would like to de-
| stroy it.
Morning, noon and mig hit let us COM
mend this beloved land tc the care of
gracious God That He answers prayer
is SO certain that your religion is an
hallucination if lie does not answer it.
Pray that in reply to such supplication
| the farmer boys may get home againin
time to reap the harvest of next July;
that our business men may return In
time to prepare for . fall trade such As
has never yet filed the stores and
factories with customers, and that
all the homes in this country now
saddened by the departure Of father or
brother or son may months before the
Thanksgiving aud Christmas holidays
be full of joy at the arrival of those
who will for the rest Of their lives have
stories to tell of double-quick march,
and narrow escape, and charges up the
parapets. and nights set on fire with
bombardment, and onr flag hauled mp
to places from which other dags were
hauled down.
/ Yet what the world most wants il
Christ, who is coming to take possession
of all hearts, all homes. all nations;
but the world blocks tie wheels of His
chariot. / would like to see this cen