The Irish standard., 1903-05-30

which like the operation of the sir
geon either kills or cures. So war.
cruel. terrible and awesome. in all its
horrible accessories, cut deep into the
body polite, that national life might
be preserved. believe there never
was holier or more just war than
that which spent itself for the free
dom from slavery Of the negro race
during the years from 'SiXty-one 10
'SiNty-tive. For what cause could be
moro sacred than to liberate Il down.
trodden and inferior branch of the
human race, and restore its inalicn-
able rights, vouchsafcd to all human
ity by the Great God, and which in
dividual state governments had usurp-
cd States and governments have
rights. but man had rights before
states and governments came into
existence. And if it he true, as our
Declaration of Independence saws,
that all men are before God equal.
that they have Il right by reason
of the nature that God gave them
to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness. where then do states re-
ceive the power TO declare that any
man or any race of men are slaves,
to be sold body. aye and even soul,
to the highest bidder. Man was not
made for the extension and aggran-
dizement of governmental power, but
these powers have been constituted
for the protection Of man and to con-
tribute to his happiness.
Rightly then, think, do l place up
Oh the highest pedestal of civic virtue,
the soldier Of the Civil war and de-
clare him hero amongst all heroes.
\ great hero indeed was the soldier
of the American Revolution: most sal
cred was the cause for which he
fought. but even greater was the SOL
der of the Civil War. The one fought
for himself and to make him Il coull-
try for family and home. The other
took up arms in defense of his brother.
There is here, then, displayed Il mag
nanimity of soul, which adds luster
and eminence to the courage and
valor shown in the cause of liberty
and justice. From Sumpter to Apo
mattoN we have the sublime spectacle
OF men of q superior race of trallSccn-
dent genius, men of refinement, learn
ing and culture, men of wealth and
talents and ability to achieve taking
up arms in defense of an inferior
class of human beings, bound down
by the shacllles of slavery. and upon
the great battle fields of the country
shedding blood. giving their lives for
the uplifting of those luwly brethren
in humanity, for whom as we'll as for
us the Divine Master shed the last
drop of Ills blood upon tho cross. that
they might be free With the freedom
whercwith Christ has made them free.
that with us they may look heaven
ward to the Great God and cry. Abba,
Father. o. when before did the world
witness such generosity, charity and
fraternity on the part of man; "Grcnt-
er love than this no man hath" SAYS
Jesus Christ. ethan that he give his
life for his friend
In every American heart the name
of Lincoln is cnthrOncd with that of
Washington: side by side with the
heroes of the American Revolution we
place such men as Grant. Sherman and
Sheridan, Scott, Mcdowell and Nc
Clcllan, Pope, Burnside and Rose
Grams; under the leadership of such
men, you gentlemen of the Grand
Army of the Republic have done a
great work, YOU have accomplished
the emancipation of your negro brctll-
rem in Christ. you haze forever abol-
ished the foul crime Of slavery from
the land of the free and the home of
the brave.
Comrades Of the Grand Army, need
l tell you this morning that tho
Church appreciates your work? You
have been but as instruments in her
hands. Great reforms OH moral sub
jects come only from religious in
fluenccs The Church has always
maintained the fraternity of human
kind. 1t is. however, the policy of the
Church to adapt itself to existing con-
ditions and circumstances. She does
not deal in wholesome upheavnls Of
established customs, she does her
work but gradually, though persistent
ly. What you did from Sixty-onc to
'SiXty-fivc is the cOnsummatiOn of
nineteen centuries of her untiring cf-
forts. With the abolition of slavery
in America comes emancipation in
every land where there is even a YES
tigc of modern civilization. You, COM
rades, have been chosen by Divine
Providence to place the crown upon
the abors of the Church through all
these years. The Church thanks you
for the service you have so valiantly
rendered Christianity and she admOn-
ishes you to-day that there he nothing
i'm your lives as citizens, in these your
declining years. that would dctrhct
from your career as soldiers ana
heroes in a great l;lllSn And for