The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-07-13
es55 BENTON. LOUISIANA, THURSDAY JULY 49, 1899.
drawn swords of the Almighty. I have

drawn swords of the Almighty. have
as much faith in the salvation OF the
smallest island of the Falklands, Of the
Canaries, of the Ladrones, of the Caro-
lines, of the Fijis. of the Barbados, of
the Cape Verdes, of the Society islands
as have in the salvation of America.
~ The continents themselves are only
larger islands, and the world in which
we live is only still larger island, and
the solar system is a group of islands.
and the universe is an archipelago
studded with islands of worlds sur
rounded by the great ocean of infinitude
and immensity. So you see when God
planned the universe He diagzammed
it into islands, and He will look after
the interest of each of those islands,
however small, and England and France
and Germany and America must not
treat the smallest and weakest island
that comes under their sway any differ
ent from the way they treat the strong
est nation of all the earth. God may
chiefly deal with individuals in the next
world, but He deals with nations only
in this world, and when persistently a
nation practices. injustice against other
people it is only q question of time wheli
the offender will find his doom. The.
path of time is strewn with the car
casses of nations that because of their
maltreatment of other nations perished.
The higher such offending empires rise
the harder will be their fall.
I believe the United States govern
ment will last as long as the world lasts.
Ibelieve the fires of the judgment day
will leap on the domes of our state and
national capitols while yet they are in
their full power. Isbelieve the last
earthquake will put in its explosion un-
der our national foundations while yet
they stand firm. / believe the republic
an and democratic form of government
will be the universal form of govern
ment for all nations when they have
been evangelical, for then the nations
will be capable of self-government and
will have demanded and secured that
right. It will be either that or theoc-
racy, which will be the direct govern
ment of Christ in His personal reign
on earth, as many Bible students be-
lieve. Yet that jubilant expectation is
founded not on the skill of human
craftsmanship or human legislation.
but upon the belief that this nation will
submit to Divine guidance. and obey
the Divine law, and carry out its divine
| ly imposed mission. But if we defy the
God of nations our doom is fixed.
| We concluded few days ago the an
nual decoration of northern and south
ern graves. Three years ago, at this
season, in memorial sermon proposed
I the twisting of two garlands, one to be
put upon the grave of the northern sol
dier and the other to be put on the grave
i of the southern soldier, but this year
we need three garlands, the third to be
put upon the graves of those who fell
in this America -Hispanic conflict. The
third garland needs to be quite as fra
grant and as radiant as the other two
These last heroes brayed more than
bayonets; they braved the pestiferous
breath of the tropics, whole battalions
whole regiments, whole brigades
whole armies of deathful malaria. They
confronted those oppositions of the
/ torrid chimes which no sword can pierce
1 no agility climb, no stratagem flank, nc
torpedo explode, no courage conquer
n Under the awful charge Of visible and
! invisible hosts about, 5000 men went
down, some to instant death and other.
through lingering pangs in hospital.
IL in this third wreath you twist tn,
lcripson rose, suggestive Of sanguinar.
s1crifice, and the white Gala lily, sug
y gestiye of glorious resurrection, put il
, also few forgetmenots, suggestive o
remembrance, and few passion flow
ers, suggestive Of the love that mourn
the slain, and few heliotropes, sug
. gestiye of the fragrance of their mem
CRY. Then let the nights dew put tn
J tears into the blue eyes of the violet
Il and all the soldiers cemeteries be s
, many scensers burning incense befor
: the throne of that God who has bee
: | the friend of this nation from the tim
) of Lexington to the time OF San Jual
: hill, from the guns Of the United State
, warships Constitution and Constells
i ton, at the beginning Of the century
! to the guns of the United States wal
i elships Olympia, Oregon. Brooklyn an
-Eother loaded thunders, at the close Q
: this century. e s7f
Week before last, in this capital of th
t nation, We set three nights on FIRE
{ celebration of naval and soldieriy h
roics, and there were rockets OF fir
a and spouting fountains Of fire. and bon
: bardmentss Of lire, and ships of fiji
e sank in. pillows of fire, and those thre
4 rights were three garlands of fire; bt
t now We are in softer and quieter moo,
iand the three garlands OF today al
ell vpven OF blossoms and oorollas OF q
D colors and all pungencies of aroma, an
Il we bethink ourselves that this thi1
8 frarlaild was sneeded to chain togeth,
8 the northern garland Of other decor
s ltive times to the, southern garlan
E fof other decorative times. Floral chai
j. of three links! For the first time in
1 II e<r = Sv.>