The record-union., 1898-05-09

| Think of Her. He spoke as follows.
Some OF us have been very reluctant
10 accept the conclusion that war is in
evitable, for war is an awful and a cruel
thing. But war is upon US, and our
cause is we believe the cause of justice
and humanity; let US then face it like
men, for the glory of God for the honor
of our flag and for the emancipation OF
the great human brotherhood from OPP
preston and unrighteousness. If we do
but keep right on our side the God of
battles will not only give US victory,
but will make US as nation the hon
ored benefactor of all the nations.
The present war between the United
States and Spain is decidedly unique.
This Government has ideas with respect
to war that no other nation has ever
had, and she is changing and means to
i ohdnge the sentiment of the whole world
with respect to the grounds and con-
duct OF war.
Our great civil war was the first way
ever waged by one race on behalf of an
other and this war is unique in that it
is the first war which has ever been
conducted by any nation for the uplift-
ing of another nation, alien in race and
language. 1t is not war of conquest
or aggression or revenge, but one in
| which a strong nation reaches out the
hand of human brotherhood in defense
of the weak and with malice toward
none, proposes to put stop to barbarlty
and elevate our brother men to the
liberties which God intended every man
should have, and while this is in no
sense a religious war, don't let us loose
sight of this new fact in national his
tory that our great war-veSSels and our
| regiments are sent out on the same un-
| selfish errand as our missionaries are
sent out, viz, to elevate and to benefit
! man Of an alien race and an unknown
tongue.
All honor to the boys who go to the
front, not from any lower motive, but as
missionaries of liberty to oppressed hu-
mainly and in furtherance of the great
| kingdom of the Prince of Peace and
righteousness and as some of our own
young men are being called into active
service 1 am sure they will have the
continuous and heartfelt prayers of
this church; that the God of battles
may go with them and protect them and
return them in safety.
Not only is this war unique in its
grounds and object, but in it's conduct
there is heretofore unknown effort to
relieve suffering and save life as far as
the exigencies of war will permit. For
the first time in the history of the world
the horrors of naval warfare are to be
lessened by a floating hospital with
every modern appliance and comfort for
the sick and wounded, and it is to the
credit of this country that this humane
effort is made for the first time in the
history Of the world under the Stars
and Stripes.
And the first news we hear of our
great Admiral is that after his great
victory, almost before his belching guns
are cooled, he is ministering to the enc
mys sick and wounded with the gentle
hands of tenderness and mercy.
| Beyond all this 1 believe that in the
end the United States will show herself
more magnanimous to her fallen foe
than any nation has ever done before.
But want to say word about Spain
and her day of reckoning, and so have
chosen a text that while originally ad-
dressed to the shepherds of Israel, might
with equal appropriateness be addressed
to the Spanish nation.
We not strengthened, neither have we
healed that which was sick, neither
have We bound up that which was
broken, neither have We brought again
that which was driven away, neither
have We sought that which was lost
but with force and with cruelty have
We ruled them
Nations like individuals are given a
mission. They have part to perform
in Gods great world plan. They are
held accountable. The day of reckon
ing comes sooner or later.
1. No nation Of modern times ever
had larger opportunities to be bless
ing to the whole world and to perpet-
uate her power to all time than Spain
has had.
l. In the first place, she had an an
cestry and a tutelage equal If not supe-
rior to those of any nation in the world
to-day
| Largely of Latin stock, the best
stock in the world at that time, with
a goodly intermingling of other OF
the best bloods of ancient Europe AS
a province under the tutelage of Rome
the most advanced and best governed
nation of her day, she gradually emerg-
ed to independence and consolidated
into her present form She had an un-
surpassed opportunity to adopt all the
culture and advancement of Rome, and
at the same time to profit by the mis-
takes that led Rome to ruin. Few ma
tions, if any, ever had so good a start
as Spain, and her ancient prowess and
her medieval chivalry we'll indicate
her capabilities for grand achieve
ments; and with such an ancestry and
such training she did rise until she
became easily the leading nation of the
world
z. In the second place, her discoveries
gave her opportunities that never have
been and never can be duplicated. II
was under the patronage of Ferdinand
and Isabella, joint rulers of the united
Kingdoms of Aragon and CASTLE, that
Columbus discovered the whole back
side-the half of the globe-and he took
possession of a hemisphere for and III
the name of Spain. BY one brilliant
voyage she multiplied her territory
many fold and came into possession OF
vastly more and more richly diversified
territory than any other nation pos
sessed. In the New World her repre-
sentatives were received by the simple
natives as superior order of beings
so that she had the opportunity tc
mold and civilize and Christianize tbs
population of her new world about tc
her liking; I say her opportunities by
reason of discovery never can be du-
plicated by any other nation.
3. In the third place. the wide dis
tribution of her territory gave her un-
surpassed opportunities. She had pos
4 L - H.