The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-24

vince the pilot and the captain OF the
peru that threatens. But when once the
danger IA on. when the roar OF the break
crs Il heard. when the feeting foam re-
veals the reef beneath, there Is no time
for plea or protest or cxpostulation. then
an hands must unite TO save the ship
and bring "a out again TO the open sea,
that It may ride the storm with safety
and eventually, make the port OF its ac-
complished destiny.
A state in danger Is like destiny. that
IS relentless TO the individual. but saving
the whole The man pcrishes but the
race Is immortal In an industrial coun-
try such as ours. in time OF peace, the
government is for the people-the less
government needed the better the con-
dtion OF the people. the higher the state
of civilization. The individual IS given
tho widest liberty for the pursuit OF per-
sonal enos. In time OF war the people
are for the government. The individual
Is over-ridden. The organization is par
amount The soldier is denied his very
liberty. that the safety OF the state may
he conserved. When the factor OF war
enters then conditions are reversed and
normal standards are modified.
The application TO the present crisis
IS patent. We are happy 20 say that the
motive is n noble and glorious one that
the course we are pursuing Is one. not 10
encourage. but 10 punish inhumanity.
that we are the champions Of mercy. OF
Justice and of frceuom. entering the lists
against the upholder OF tyranny and des-
potism. the exponent OF treacherous i'm
humanity.
But there are many OF us that are
questioning not SO much the justice or
humanity Of our course as the justifa-
bihty OF Il. There arc not Few VINO
beforehand had declared that they see no
cause for war: there are more now whose
eyes have been opened to this same view.
Now that IN solemn hour is come. the
headlong righteousness Of national van
ftv has given way TO the sober consid-
Grafton OF the genuine. nemotonalizcd
merits Of the case. and I'm that con
sideration the Legitimacy Of our action
does not loom so big. But the hour for
that IS passed. The duty before as
stands in clear light so clear that even
the dullest sight can see. However We
may doplore the action of the represen-
tativcs of our country. yet our country
cannot but have now our undivided 10y
alty-our unhesitating, unquesioning al
legiance The RubicOn has been crossed.
TIE die is cast and my country's honor
aye. the remote possibility Of her safe
ty-is swaying In the balance-and. right
or wrong. my country still
Realizing the glorious possibilities o.
the empire OF freedom established on
these western shores. cognizant Of the po-
tencies slumbering i'm the breast OF our
republic. feeling. as we do that. the fu-
ture of human government Is Graded
i'm the fertile valleys Of this land OF lib
Crty: seeing how, under God, the stan
dard Of freedom is planted on every peak
Of our mountain ranges hearing the cry
Of hope as it surges IN the pillows Of the
Atlantic. as 10 is lisped In the tapping
waves that lave the shores Of tho golden
West ms IL is borne on the lakes and
re-echoed on the Gulf shall We hesitate
for a single moment In tho hour Of that
countiy's peril? We cannot We dare
not