La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-10-15

President Mckinleys proclamation
asking the American people. to stay the
feeling OF eSultatIon over recent victor
les. and reyerently bowling before Al
mighty c !, to give thanks for divine
help and pay for speedy peace. MARKS
US as a Christian nation. but no less
significant has been the conduct OF our
officers and soldiers In the field. Among
other Incidents showing the Christian
spirit In the mltlst Of the horrors of bat
tie are two SO tender and revcrent as TO
lc worthy OF permanent record.
When the yellow and red flag on the
Spanish Cruiser Almirante Oqnendo was
pulled down. during the destruction Of
Admiral Ceryera's fleet. and the Ameri-
cans. flushed with conquest. were on
the point OF expressing their triumph
in wild cheer. their commander gave
the order to his men. Don't cheer,
boys the poor fellows are dying" and
the fiag came down In silence.
was not this no. merely an exhibi-
tian of Christian magnanimity. but in
harmony with the gentle consideration
incu,cated BY the Great Teacher?
The United States cruiser Texas went
through the battle exposed to the enc
my'ss fierce6t fire. with only single
wound aud without the loss Of man,
Al the close she lay on still sea
alongside the ChrIstobal Colon, the last
surrendered Spanish ship 1T was a
heautifdi afternoon" writes Chaplain
Jones. Gods heavens never looked so
clear, q ! the stars and stripes never
seemed pure as they did then" The
order wcnt out from Captain Philip.
"Ali hands to muster"
The crew hurried 10 the quarter
deck. and soon the chief master-at-
arms reported the last man up from
below who could be allowed to leave
his station All stood wondering what
their commander was going to do. The
captain uncovered his head and said. in
a reverent voice;
Il want 10 make public acknowledge
ment that believe in God, the Father
Almighty want all you officers and
men TO lift your hats, and from your
hearts offer silent thanks to God"
Every hat came OF and every head
was bowed Not sound was heard for
nearly two minutes. and then with one
accord the whole crew broke out with
three hearty cheers for their gallant
commander.
Bayard Taylor's well-known line
sings. "'rhe brayest are the tenderest +"
We mean more than mere physical
bravery when we say the hravest are
the most reverent. All the reyerent
tenderness OF these battle incidents
thrills Us in the Thanksgiving procla-
nation Of oar PRECEDENT. himself SOL
der The composition is one of beau
~. but Il ,her than its literary grace is
the masr lnimous spirit In which 1t re-
Dukes noisy exultatiou, and exhorts to
compassion for the fallen. and thanks
to the God OF Hosts. who has watched
oyer our cause, and brought nearer
the success of the right and the attain
,nent OF peace
In the midst OF this war against CEN
turtles OF human injustice. there is
felicity in the fact that in camp and
ship and hospital our troops have the
hest religious accessories OF God
fearing nation. and that SO many OF
our chief military and naval leaders
are men OF Christian record and char
acter. The virtue and piety OF war
rior lives In rugged surroundings. but
no fighting generation over had more
Hayelocks and Howards and Farraguts
than ours.