The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-31
THURSDAY. MARCH 81, 1898.
MEN AND NATIONS.
Thoughts About the Present CriSi
In America.
BY MEMO"

BY MEMO"
How thrilling it is to gaze on the
face of a man who is aroused either in
denunciation of evil or defense of that
which is right. His very face will
appear TRANSFORMER out of it will
have disappeared all traces of petit
ness, and as his head is thrown back
and his eyes flash, the best that is in
him will shine forth. These supreme
moments are to be cherished. They
throw things into their right proper
tions, when it seems to the aroused
one that even life itself is a small
matter in comparison with the truth
that must be spoken. Personal ease
and comfort are despised until the
tongue has uttered the words that
are inspired by released nature.
The important thing at such mo-
ments is seen to be, that the thing to
be done must be done; no matter who
the individual may be who does it;
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must do or be false to the greatest
that is in him. And to that aroused
life the truth comes home that failure
to do and to dare, may mean that the
deed and the daring will never be
done; for no two human beings follow
exactly the same lines of life or meet
the same opportunities. A call to
task is therefore found to be a solemn
thing that tests and Sits down to
small limits those whose tasks are
done in the dread fear of their never
returning if left undone. Thrilling is
it to see nature on fire. The mem
bers of the body must suffer if needs
be till the work is finished. The feet
must run and not be weary, the body
labor and not rebel, the brain act and
not falter; yet neither feet, nor body,
nor brain have any interest in the
duty; they are merely servants who
must suffer till all is done by the
individual who sits in control of brain
anu all IesSef organs.
4
Multiply all this many million times
and then yield yourself to the wonder
that fills the soul when whole nation
thrills and rises in infinite majesty.
The onward sweep of the tempest, the
resistless power of the tide, the stu
pendous motion of an earthquake are
trifles beside it; for this is motion
that is alive, that has brain, that has
purpose. A whole people aroused to
action is Il spectacle of awe. When
by species of revelation a million
minds think alike, and move forward
to discharge the task that is before
them, individually and collectively,
the sublimity of the sight transcends
infinitely the sublimest that mani
mate nature ever set before human
eyes. When there have been trif1ing
or even important differences before,
there will be one vast unity. In the
presence of the national duty, a level
ing down of pettiness will be accom-
panied by a levellng up of purpose.
Strangely like a man is this body of
men and minds. Deep in the national
consciousness it is understood that
love of ease and the getting of gain in
untrammeled peace are mere dust in
the balance when weighed against
national duty. Like the man, ma
ton awake is forced onward by it's
inner conviction of what is right and
just; and the consequences it must
leave to the Arbiter of the national
fates, from whom cometh national
inspiration and from whose heart of
mercy comes direct the feeling of
mercy and commiseration that pos
sesses the breasts of men, women and
children at this moment of national
uprising. And in our thousand times
ten thousand hearts we feel that
'Once to every time and nation comes the
moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the
good or evil side;
Some great cause, Gods new Messiah offering
each the bloom or blight
Part the goats upon the left hand, and the
sheep upon the right,
And the choice GOES BY FOREVER, twixt that
darkness and that light"
We know deep in our national
heart that now is the moment to show
to the distressed that justice is our
meat and our drink and mercy to the
weak our daily thank-offering to God,
who has brought us out of our own
weakness into strength. We know
that opportunities and calls come to
nations as they do to men, and that
wise is the nation that knoweth the