The Globe-republican., 1909-06-03

!; flowers Of Dixie will be strewn by South
ern hands o'er the graves Of Federal be-
roes. In the light OF history we should
glory in arbitration as we "Call to 70.
membfance former days.
secondly, learn that this occasion, com
memoratlng the past. tesches us the tri-
umph Of divine purpose. A clear un-
derstanding Of the cause will enable US to
interpret the consequences Of this con-
| flict. 10 the city Of Philadelphia stands
a magnificent statute. 1t 10 the bronze
figure Of 9 negro. Upon bis hands are
manacles which have been broken and
upon his feet are shackles which have
been cut. Itportrays the joys Of freedom.
But that was not the primary cause Of
the civil war. Abolition Of slavery was
not the beginning but an incident and
fruit of that struggle. President Lincoln
said: "If could have all the states free
and preserve the Union, would do It,.
II could have all the states slave and
preserve the Union, | would do 1t. II i
coull have part of the states free and
part slave and preserve the Union, l
would do 1t. But house divided against
itself can not stand. The Union must be
preserved" Henry Clay, standing be-
fore the legislature of Kentucky, said I:
81 will never consent to dissolution Of
this union. II congress abolishes slavery
shall YIELD" And not until January
/, 1858, was the Federal government com.
mitted to the policy Of emancipation.
Thus while the freedom OF the negro
was right aud just yet the Fundamental
cause of the civil war was the issue
whether or not the South had right to
secede from the North. Whether or not
this nation ordained Of God should be
divided and "perish from the face of the
earth"
"A divine purpose is seen In the man
selected to administrate this war. Slav-
cry was the social curse Of the South.
Every capitalist had his own servants to
do his work. This left class Of people
called the "poor white trash" who owned
no property. had no employment and en-.
joyed no prestige. When God destroyed
this evil He selected as q thunderbolt a
man who sprang from this class so un-
Justly wronged. In youth this patriot
longed for usefulness. One day he stood
in the streets Of New Orleans witnessing
q human being sold from an auction
block. Every stroke Of the hammer
seemed to be blow upon his soul. Turn
ing to friend be said: "If ever get
chance to hit that thing I'll hit it hard by |
the Eternal God." Through days of
darkness and months of msjudgment he
toiled toward his aspiration. When
the voice of the nation called
him to Washington. In leaving Illiuois,
be SAID: "There is laid upon me task
which did not rest upon the father of
bis country | turn then and look to
he great American people and that God
who has never deserted me-" Thus be
aid hold the helm Of state. Billows Of
,ate surged around him. Llghtnings of
malice flashed before him. Winds OF
jealousy swept up against him. And
clouds of despair o'erarched him. But
le never wavered until he guided this
lation into the haven of peace. His /!
,ame? His name is Lincoln. And when
Booths bullet sent his white soul into
,ternity nation bowed in reverence to
/ life dedicated by God.
A divine purpose is seen in the man
elected to execute this war. What was
leeded was special general for special
conditions. Caution was not the only 9