Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-08-09

atnclsH. Inc tost nEts 100 MUCH seHSo
10 maintain such an extreme view. But
ON the other hand. II there is IA des-
tiny that shapes our ends" on Il grand
and majestic plan. IL in the long run
divine purposes are carried out In the
affairs OF nations, there is want os
logic and consistency in accusing per-
sons OF blasphemy and superstition
who profess TO believe that III particu-
lar events OF vast present and future
Importance and influence ON the course
OF history the hand OF Providence is
TO be recognized.
In the war with Spain and It's direct
results one chapter OF history closed
and another opened. Many lameri-
cans. and II the truth We're known
doubtless many Spaniards, believe
that the destruction OF Spain as CO.
lonIai power after four centuries Of
trial. during which period Ignorance.
cruelty and oppression marked It's poll
cy towards It's dependents. was d.
rect punishment by the hand OF the Sn-
prcmc Judge OF nations. They believe
thnv authority was wres,ed from Spain
because II has been weighed In the
balances and found wanting. that the
time had come when Judgment was
TO bc declared and punishment exc
cutcd. They are further Of the belief
that this power was transferred TO the
unltcd States not only because this
nation had become ready AMI lifted 10
assume II. but because OF the unsclhsh-
ness OF Its Intervention In behalf OF
struggling people. the only Instance in
history OF one nation making war on
another for the benefit OF third. II
IL Is conceivable at NIL that ut any time
or under any circumstances higher
power In,crycncs In human affairs.
the Spanish War and the strange and
cpoc.i.maklng events growing out OF
IL. unthough, OF by the American pco-
pie or government when the war was
entered upon. would seem TO be OF n
sufficiently gigantic scale TO inspire the
belief. II Is further impressed on the
minds OF many Americans by the un-
prcccdcnicd circumstances that attend
cd the war. That two OF the greatest
naval battles In history. both In the
numbers engaged and the destructive
power OF the warships on both sides.
should have resulted In each case Ia
the total humiliation OF one parts
without the loss OF n ship or even OF
man OF the other. Is certainly nm rs.
founding fact. worthy. II any even,
can be. OF being regarded rs mirara.
Ions and provIdcntIai.
II Is impossible to compinccniiy
eliminate Providence from among she
factors In history. Repeatedly during
the Revolutionary War and later.
Washington. In solemn words. de
clnrci his reliance upon divine power
and aid. and testified his conviction
that the favorable issue was due to
the Intervention OF Providence. when
Lincoln took leave OF his towns pco-
pie Mt Springfield in February. 1861. in
an affecting speech he declared his
that only the favor OF the
Almighty could save the nation.
the war his reliance on
and faith in providcntial aid We're
many times reiterated. and in his sst.
ond inaugural address he asserted MS
belief that the terrible Civil War WIS
n chnstisemcnt OF the American peo-
pie by the hand Of the ruler Of nations
for their national sin OF human siav-
cry. II 1t was not childish supersti-
ton in Washington and Lincoln to rec.
ognizc the direct Intervention of d.
vine power in the affairs of the eoun-
try forty or n hundred years ago. 1t is
difficult TO see on what grounds such
n change can be brought in relation
to the Spanish-Amcrican War and
events provoking and growing out Of
1t.