The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-06-18
"WITH HONOR"
BY Rev. c. w. BIddle, D. D.

honor, satisfying honor. peace with honor
We all believe in honor, but much depends
upon whether the honor sought is true
and noble one. Come to identify honor
with self-assertion, retaliation for in uries,
bombastie egotism, and it is low and
brutal.
To hear some persons talk we might
think, that the old lex talonis-an eye
still to rule the world. We hear them
speak of getting "whack" at the enemy
or of Spain risking great battle to show
her pluck, and save her honor, and then
suing for peace. All such talk is bal barrie
and belongs to the past. "Not every man
is made fool Of" remarked the observer
of men and things "but every man has the
raw material in him." 1t would seem
that every man has in him the "raw ma
terial' for a savage.
Honor means Justice, love of man, fair
play, self-possession, and the attainment of
humane ends, by proper methods. If the
methods, of necessity, be the use of force
and violence, the purpose must be the ac
oomplishment of righteousness, benevo.
lence and freedom. Jesus laid down the
conditions of true glory when he declared :
"lf any man serve me, him will my Father
honor"
Here Is an opportunity for honor that is
open to all corners either in peace or war
1t includes Admiral Dewey, who pre-
served hisself control, caring no, only for his
own men, but taking a tender care of the
wounded Spaniards, and includes also the
humblest sailor, who with true patriotism
served his country at Manila. When Lin
coin had an attack of the varioloid, he said
good naturally: "Now let the office
come on. | have something [ can give
them all" The honor that comes from
noble purposes and high ideals, can be
given to all, high or low, who do their duty
from right motives and in a Christian
spirit.
But every rallying cry that has in it, re
venge, paying back in the same coin, tit
for tat, should be repressed The true
honor OF the republic lies not in shouting,
Remember the Maize" but in breaking
the bonds of the oppressor, and in reliev-
ing the woes OF the suf ring. Wealth,
fame, material greatness, will not confer
81, T.. 4
ability to write the word "Honora oen be-
fore your name, or from bearing the title Of
Brigadier or Maj or General, or from belong
ing to the regulars or the volunteers, but
alone from the spirit of the service, in
whatever position. We must lift the con-
test OF to-day to this high level of honor in
the service of humanity, for nothing else
can Justify it 1t must not swervr, by IA
hairs breadth, from the purpose that pro-
fessedly began it Not waged to humili.
ate foe, but to eXa't IA brother Not lust
for territory or Imperialism, bus in remem-
brance OF the sorrows and sutfeIiugs Of
others, as well "a our Own. Other homes
than ours have fathers and brothers, sons
and lovers. about whom hearts are break
ing. And We must look to the elevation
vance of religious and civil freedom, to
Justify our course and vindIcate our homes.
We have just passed day of Memorial
for the soldiers of the Civil War. How
were their sacrifices best atoned for? How
were AndeIsonville, and Libby Prison
avenged? By the success of the objects fol
which patriotic heroes laid down their lives
A restored Union, a nationality more aud
more consolidated a race freed the diffu
sion of education and Christianity among
all classes, - these are the highest vindca
tons of national and military honor 1t is
wrapped up in the enlarging fulfillment Of
Lncoln's words at Gettysburg: "Witl
malice towards none, with charity for all. y
Fortunate is it for the country, that we did
not attempt at the close of that contest to
satisfy national honor by coniiscations, civi
disabilities, or by hanging jeff Davis Oh
a sour apple tree heard minister Of
the Gospel during the Civil War say, tina
if he had his way he would erect scaflold
at Bull Run, and he would hang J eff Davis
J till he was dead, dead, dead, SC that ht
might be three times dead. But happil,
Abraham Lincoln represented a highe
type OF Christianity. We should not il
the other case have found, after SINGLE
generation since the war; the sons OF the
North and the sons of the South rallyin!
round the flag, and loyal to leaders from botl
sections of the country. We have peac
with honor, without the shadow of revenge
What is the honor of the Massachusetts
Sixth at the hands of Maryland for the as
sault upon her men in the streets of Balt
more? How much better than the cry o
retaliation, or the bombardment of TIT
Monumental City, was the flag sent tc
Lowell by Maryland at the dedication of a
monument erected to her sons slain in tina
assault, and which she received by John A
Andrew, the war governor. | was priv.
legged to behold that act OF contriton and
confession. cold Glory" without sta
erased, was given and received ''witl