The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-03-08
SUNDAY is OUR
DAY OF VICTORY.


DAY OF VICTORY.
Events of American History Enacted
on That Day.
Sunday, 1t appears from recent and
remarkable evidence, Is the American
day of victory. The latest victory at
Manila caps the climax Of great Amer
ican success In the war with Spain.
Since the age of Puritanism there have
always been people who exclaim against
the doing Of anything pertaining to
worldly affairs on the Sabbath day.
In their opinion the first day of the
week should be devoted to the contem-
plation Of spiritual matters. Some Of
the more rigid sects even exclude as far
as possible the dispensabIe functions OF
life, hedging their conduct with every
deprivation which reason can stomach.
Tc people who cling TO such beliefs,
and 10 many who entertain more lib
erai views concerning religious obliga-
tions, the commencement OF any i'm
portant undertaking on Sunday invites,
as they think, divine rebuke in the
shape Of failure. OF course, many
notable instances may be cited in sup
port Of this extra-religious view, and
are repeatedly cited by its advocates.
Bible passages are quoted and the
pages of sacred and profane history re-
viewed to illustrate the dire conse-
quenees attending such fragrant desc
Grafton Of Gods chosen day. Particu-
larly has this argument been applied
TO war, necessary evil which has been
for many centuries falling more and
more under the ban OF religion. To
make war under any circumstances is
bad enough, but to wage battle on
Sunday is to court the wrath of God.
During the wars In which the United
States have been engaged, and other
nations, too, for that matter, many
have been the bolts launched from
pulpits against the irreligious practice
of fighting on Sunday. We have,
unfortunately, had no war which has
not been attended by many such desc
crations-in fact, this country has sim
ned particularly in this respect, for in
its comparatively brief history no less
than three hundred engagements of
more or less importance have been
fought on Sunday. That in all our wars
the God Of Battles has invariably bless
ed our eagles might seem to the COM
monplace mind to have tendency to
refGte the religious argument were it
not supported with overwhelming force
by the fact that our opponents were
always defeated, if not In each engage
ment, in the ultimate result of the war.
Far from being discouraged by this
trend Of events. upholders of the sa-
credness Of the Sabbath have only
found fresh fuel for their argument and
have by no means given up the fight.
On the contrary, the recent war with
Spain afforded an opportunity to again
air that doctrine which could not be
neglected Many were the sermons,
in the early days of the war, in which
the horrible examples Of the past were
held up as warning to our govern
ment and military commanders not to
engage the enemy on Sunday. The
doctrine was, nevertheless, destined to
receive some rude shocks.
George Dewey, who had rested in the
obscurity of eommodore's rank in the
navy for many years, was the first no.
table sinner. Dewey had been for
some time in command of our Asiatic
squadron little fleet of warships
whose existence was known by but
few people outside of the Navy De-
plrtment at Washington. Forewarned
by long distance cable, of the inpend-
ing war, this unknown commodore put
fresh coat OF dark paint on his ships,
threw the superfuous woodwork over
board and kept the gun crews busy at
sub-calibre practice. He also casually
ascartained that feet of Spanish YES
sells, rated at approximately the same
strength as his own. was being concen-
trated in some harbor among the Phil
ippine Islands. The American squad
ron was at Hong Kong, neutral port,
which would be untenable from the
day war was declared, and there were
no United States coaling station nearer
than San Francisco. 50 Dewey filled
his bunkers and waited.
When war was declared he did not
wait to be notified by the Chinese Gov
er.ment 10 leave Hong Kong. Between
two days he got up steam aud led his
squadron away toward the Philippines.
The voyage was made at an ordinary
rate of speed. One or two minor har-
bOrs along the coast of Luzon were
"peeked into," but no sign of the Span
ish fleet So Dewey concluded that it
must be in Manila Bay. Accordingly,
be lost no timein proceeding tbither
The voyage was 30 timed that Manila
Bay was approached at night. The
American commander had been warn
ed by exile FilipiIos a. Hong Kong
that the entrance and harbor were
mined, but this did not deter him.
Now it so chanced through combi-
nation of events, such as the date Of
the declaration of war and other things,
that Dewey aud his squadron arrived
outside Manila Bay on Saturday
night Dewey was born aud bred in a
somewhat Puritanical corner Of New
England, and doubtless his early re-
Iigious training, had he needed it,
would have prompted him to defer the
attack twenty-four hours. But his
military instinct admOuished him that