Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-06-01
EMPORIUM PA. THURSDAY. JUNE T. 1899.

tnan the people OF tne OHiltu SUITES. itn
the rapid and great development of our territory
The original colonies possessed only 4el 900
square miles Then came the great Northwest
bringing five mighty states. Then came Ken
tucky Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, which
doubled the original area. Still Spain held
everything west of the Mississippi In 1900
Napoleon compelled Spain to cede to France the
vast tract called Louisiana. But in 1903, finding
he had too much to do at home, he sold it to the
Uuted States for s15.OO00o0, again doubling our
area. Next came the Mexican cessions, then the
sale of Alaska by Russia for $1,000, 900. God
fought our battle of development. Sixth, the
Civil strife. July Il, 81 our troops were beaten
at Bull Run-how it CALLED us! Then the dis
asters on the Peninsula, and before Richmond
the next year, then the retreat, then the bloody
and indecisive Antetam. Then Lincoln read
his Proclamation on the 22nd of Sept, 1862. From
that moment God granted victory to the armies
of freedom. Then came Vicksburg, Gettysburg,
and Appomattox. The selection of Abraham
Lincoln to guide the Ship of State through such
q bloody sea, can be explained only by my text.
Let us notice, nOw that while God promised to
fight the battle for Jehoshephat he and his
hosts were commanded to get out against their
enemies. God honors us by making us the means
to accomplish His ends. When distressed peo-
pie in Egypt appealed to him for liberty He raised
up Moses to lead them. When the necks of
our forefathers were CALLED by the yokes of for
eign servitude, He raised no a Washington to
lead them to liberty. When three millions of
our brothers in our own Southland presented
their grievances to Heaven He raised up Lin
coin to break the shackles from human ankles.
Lincoln's call to arms you obeyed, my noble
veterans, and thus entered the service of your
God as well AS your country. A nation rises up
to call you blessed But let us never forget that
God fought those battles and you were only the
instruments in His hands.
Now what heritage has there been won for us?
First We have the only successful government
"of the people, by the people, and for the reo-
ple"-the ideal goverdment of the world.
Second. We are great land socially. Here
manual labor is dignified. We esteem man
rather for iohdt he is than for JDho he is, Blood
has its value. 1t creates predisposition. But no
man has right to occupy a place in the social
world on the merit ofhis great grandfather. This
is the temper of our social fabric The only lust
social standard on earth.
Third. We are great land scientifically. We
need only to think of Fulton and the steam-en-
gine; Prof Morse and telegraphy; Edison, Bell
and Fields TO be reminded of our contributions
to our higher civilization
Fourth. Our wealth is enormous In 1880 it
was great enough to buy the Russian and
Turkish Empires, together with Sweden, Nor
way, Denmark, Italy. Australia, South Africa
and all South America. Our country produces
one-ha)f of the gold and silver of the world. We
have twenty times as much coal as all Europe
combined.
Having this great heritage what shall we do
with it? The future is before us; how shall we
meet it? What will the future historian write
of usf This is a serious question: must
meet it. On what does our national perpetuity
depend? Some think our safety is in our wealth.
But would remind you that ancient Babylon
was the worlds metropolis, situated where the
caravans of Asia and Africa could dump their
wealth in her lap but where is Babylon now?
Some think it is in our culture; that our only
safety is in educating the masses The value of
this cannot be overestimatedi But | desire to
remind you of cultured Greece which lives
ouly in dead language and in the classics. The
righteousness of a nation is its only safeguard.
If nation is true to God He will fight her battles.
righteousness stimulates culture and wealth. If
we turn our back upon God nothing can save us
from disgrace and defeat. We must bring our
National life up to the standard of Gods word.
We must preserve the sanctity of our American
homes-the foundation stones of national
greatness. The Roman Catholic Church deserves
our thanks for her high position on the divorce
question. An when, in the Episcopal Church, q
perverse social world demanded her to lower her
standard she had moral courage enough to pre-
serve her sacred Canon which insists that what
soever God hath joined together, let no man put
asunder.
| The drink traffic is another deadly cancer on
the body polite, Her influence is inimical to all
that is pure and American. God grant that a
righteous public sentimnnt may soon be able to
throttle this deadly monster. Our duty as
patriots IS plain. None of us can fail to under
stand 1t. Many battles are yet to be fought,
battles of the pen and battles of ideas. We are
not yet done with God; we shall need Him in the
future.
"Breathes there man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land.
If such there be go mark him well,
No minstrel raptures for him swell;
High though his title proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim.
| Despite those titles power and pelf,
The wretch! Concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
! To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unsung."