Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-07-05

tue tnulfect results OF tue lie work or
Fulton and whitney? Aud. my friends.
shall we who know how much honest
labor has had to do with making this
nation what II is-are we today to de-
spise the calloused baud of the laborer
and the honest toiler I'm the nations
Industries?
What Defeated Adams.
Another impressive truth emphasized
by our author which many of us pro-
fess to know. but which most of us
need reminding of. is how little things
inevitably decide the policies of the
men who control the destinies of the
nation. AS the falling of n stone may
change the course of n running brook,
Insignificant things may change the
course of our lives, and they do con-
tinually change them. DR.. Hale tells
us that one OF the great causes of John
Quincy Adams defeat for the presi-
dency was the fact that he had intro
duced n billiard table into the White
House. Many things less than a bill
lard table have decided the careers of
the worlds greatest men.
Study the life OF Abraham Lincoln.
How many little things decided that
careerl Take him. for instance, when
he was little boy of eleven years of
age. falling into deep pool i'm the
creek and nearly drowning and only
saved 10y the presence Of mind of
boyhood companion not as large as
himself. who extended q stick to him
and pulled him out when he was about
to go down for the last time. or take
that other most remarkable incident OF
Lincoln's life. when, after his defeat
for reelection to congress in 1S49, be
turned his face homeward without q
dollar in his pocket. His law practice
was gone. His political position was
gone. EVERYTHING seemed to be against
him. At this critical moment Presi-
dent James X. Polk offered him the
goveruship OF the territory of Oregon
Supposing he had accepted that posi-
tlou, as he nearly did. what would
have happened to us as nation7
When the civil war broke out, would
Lincoln have been standing In Edward
Dickinson Bakers shoes as the United
States senator from Oregonp Might
not William Ii. Seward or S. p. Chase
have been delivering the inaugural ad-
dress as president Of the United States
In 1861? Had the great forensic foe Of
Douglas been removed from the stra-
tegic battle-ground of Illinois, what
would have been the outcome of our
civil strife? These are mighty ques-
tons, and yet these are all dependent
upon the yes or "no" which Abra-
ham Lincoln gave to President James
*. Polk in lSi9 in reference TO the
governorship of the far away Oregon
territory.
And then as I delve into the auto
biographical recollections Of DR. Hale
and into the life stories Of other Amer
leans cannot but read strange signs
OF the times as loiter by the tomb
Stones Of some of the nations many
men who died in young manhood. I
cannot but say TO myself. what would
have been the history OF this country
had the brilliant elder brother of Ralph
Waldo Emerson lived? Far more bril-
liant was he than the Concord sage.
He was the Arthur Hallam OF Har-
ward. He had just entered the law. and
all success was 10 be his Yet he went
out one cold night and made a speech.
hours he was dead. What would have
been the history of the civil war II
Seargent s. Prentiss had lived? He was
the most brilliant orator the south ever
sent to congress. Yet he was Graded
among the Maine pines. He was born
only one year previous to Abraham
Lincoln. What would have been the
history Of fhfc III
brilliant son had not been killed in the
Mexican war or if Websters brilliant
son had not lost his life In the same
International strife? These are ques-
tions which love to ask for many
reasons. 1t is TO prove to you and me
that no question in our lives is too in
significant TO weigh carefully. We
may think we are DECIDING an insig-
nificant matter, but rfat seemingly in
significant decision may govern not
only the destinies OF our own lives. but
the destinies OF many lives directly or
indirectly dependent upon us.
Another Lesson.
Another great lesson which we learn
Is that each generation has a different
and distinct work TO do. When we
go back TO the time OF Bradford and
Miles Standish, there we find the stern
stuff of a Puritan life. The founda-
lions OF national character had to be
laid. There we found men who were
hewers or great rocks OF truth. They
were hard headed set. They did not
believe IN flowers and rainbows and
apple blossoms. But they had a great
work to do. Foundation stones are
rarely beautified by the sculptor's CHS
Ell. They must be laid in the dirt.
But they are the most important stones
In the temple OF national life. Thus
these broad brlmmed Puritans did
their work we'll. for they laid for the
nation the foundation stones OF moral
character and spiritual truth.
Then came the age of Washington.
Samuel Adams, Otis and Franklin.
They were builders OF our political and
constitutional life. as the Puritans
were the builders of the nations spirit
uai and moral life. Then came the
early years OF Edward Everett Hale's
own life. That was the growing age
or our nation, the time OF acquisition
or extensive territory. OF new states
ana the scatterings of many peoples.
Then came the emancipation age of
Lincoln, Seward. Grant and Lee and
Alexander III. Stephens. That was the
age when the many states were welded
into one firm. unbeatable nation.
ours Is the age when we are to battle
for social rights and for the downfall
or the saloon and for the triumph of