The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-05

colonies would become an easy prey to
Great Britain, and the rebellion would
end in converting the right which
the British parliament then claimed to
tax America without representation,
into firm and indubitable right by
conquest?
The fact alone that the colonies sue
ceeded in the face of such overwhelm-
ing odds in winning their independence
must necessarily argue the support of
some superhuman power which inter-
veneS in the affairs of nations. And
when the secondary means through
which victory was finally secured for
the colonies Is considered. the more ap-
parent becomes the fact of divine inter
position. The mind sceptical to such
faith as this. would naturally say that
the victory of the colonies was achieved
because France and Spain, old enemies
of Great Britain, and Holland, her
jealous rival for the worlds commerce
Joined with the American colonies in
the war against Great Britain. and that
armies, won for the American colonies
their independence. To my mind, how
ever. it is Just here that the interposi
ton of divine providence becomes most
apparent and l find my belief most
patty expressed by one of the most ac-
complished of American historians
Marcus WILSON,. who. in commenting
upon the treaty of peace signed by
Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland
and the United States. said:
Thus closed the most important war
in which England had ever been en-
gade-a war which arose wholly out Of
her ungenerous treatment of her Amer
lean colonies. The expense of blood and
treasure which this war cost England
was enormous: nor, indeed, did her Eu-
ropean antagonists suffer much less Sc
verely. The United States was the only
country that could look to any benefit
cial results from the war, and these
were ordained by a strange union of
opposing motives and principles. un-
equaled in the annals of history. France
and Spain, the arbitrary despots of the
old world. had stood forth as the pro-
tectors OF an infant republic, and had
combined, contrary to all the principles
of their political faith, to establish the
rising liberties of America. They ap-
peared but as blind instruments in the
hands of providence, employed to aid
IN the founding of a nation which
should cultivate those republican vir-
tues that were destined yet to regen-
crate the world upon the principles of
universal intelligence, and eventually
to overthrow the time-worn system of
tyrannical usurpation of the few over
the many"
To this expression of my belief 1
may hope TO add nothing. l do, how
ever. desire. i'm addition TO the evil
dence thus presented for the idea of
the interposition of providence in the
affairs which led TO the establishment
of our nation, 1 do desire TO call your
attention to the fact that some of the
great American leaders in the Revolu-
period had most perfect pre-
vision OF all these events which his
tory records as having taken place.
Among these inspired men. which many
Of you believe God raised up to found
the constitution of our country, there
certainly was none more inspired than
the great Virginia orator, Patrick Hen
ry. Mr.. Writ. his biographer. calls at
tention to an item OF his history which
seems to have been strangely over
looked by those who speak of this great
man and the contributions he made
TO the general cause of freedom in our
land. Mr.. Writ tells US of a conversa-
hon that took place at the residence of
Colonel Samuel Overton in Virginia in
the presence of a number of promi-
lent gentlemen that is so clearly proph-
etc that you shall not find in Isaiah or
Micah or Amos or any of the Jewish
prophets a passage that surpasses it
'or prophetic clearness. / shall quote
The incident as related by Mr.. Writ, |
Who received the story of Mr.. Pope, !
and records IL i'm his excellent biog-
Apply of Patrick Henry:
Il was informed by Colonel John Ov- |
srton, that before one drop of blood |
vas shed in our contest with Great |
he was at Colonel Samuel |
)verton's in company with Mr. Henry, |
Colonel Morris. John Hawkins and Col |
mel Samuel Overton, when the last |
gentleman asked Mr.. Hen |
y. whether he supposed Great Britain |
would drive her colonies to extremities, |
md II she should. what he thought |
would be the issue of the war; When |
Or. Henry. after looking round to see
Who were present. expressed himself |
TO the company in the
GLOWING manner:
She will drive US to extreInities;
10 accommodation will take place; hos