Evening star., 1909-06-01

Union however. the almost unanimous
consensus of opinion among men confirms
and approves the verdict of Appomat-
tox What is better. the vanquished, as
we'll as the victor alike as the years go
by, are as nearly unit as men can ever
hope to be in ascribng limitless L.essings
that must follow restored Union and
united people Besides. l think it may
be clearly demonstrated that of the two.
,ne preservation of the Union was OF
greater moment. from every point of view.
to the south than to the north VINO.
then. shall say that the prayers Of Lee
and jackson on the tented field were less
| persuasive or less efficacious in the chron-
| icles of Jehovah than those OF Mitchell
and Howard? And who shall say that
this philosophy of prayer is not the true
| one? Man prays and God answers: not
for the hour or the day, but for all
time.
sections as they stood Immediately prior
to the war. upon the question or human
freedom, in its broadest and best sense,
il must be admitted that the south Is
placed at great disadvantage. / do not
stop to inquire which section was most
to blame i'm the moral realm for that dis
advantage. Beyond doubt, IN large
sense. both were blamable. but it Is
enough for the purposes of this inquiry
that the disadvantage for the time being
was with the south. At the opening of
the rebellion the south held an extremely
narrow view of freedom. She was preju-
diced as we are today even in matters
of great moment. by a seltishness that
grew naturally under the shadow of a
bondage limited TO a race.
Defeat Accepted Graciously.
1T takes a good man at his best to get
away from the spell Of defeat. IL the
victory against him results in the loss of
his property or the deprivation of his
rights, be they real or lima gined. the iron
is driven deep and dangerous into his
soul. 1t is only by the gift OF abundant
grace that he is enab bled to maintain that
dignity and that charity that SO well be-
comes the nobility of greatness. II
should also be borne in mind that if at
the opening of the conflict with the con-
ditions reversed. with the soldier OF the
north transferred to the SOUTH he would
have donned the gray, and the soldier of
the south, If transferred to the north,
would have donned the blue.
Therefore / say without heSitancy, and
say it with pride, that the gracious dis
position being manifested in every part
of the southland demands our sympathy
our admiration and our gratitude.
With the Union thus disenthralled and
| dnvexed of all disloyaIty. why is 1t that
Ill is not we'll with people? Why
IL it that wrong is not banished from our
temple of freedom? This question puz-
zles and often dismays us But SD it is
that in the midst of abounding success
lose sight Of the many perils that
threaten us 1t is well that we should
take soundings aud assure ourselves
whittier we are drifting. is the trend up
| ward. toward righteousness. is 1t
downward in reckless retreat? Ii must
be remembered that we cannot advance
on past achievement. There are foes to
face and victories to be won in peace as
we'll as in war If this generation does
not win its own laurels, it must prove it
self unworthy of its sires. Are we even
holding fast to all they bequeathed us?
Are we fulfilling the pledges they made
in a heroic age pledges written i'll the
Constitution? Do the laws being enacted
now rise To the new demands Of the ma
ton? Most Of all. are the laws receiving
loyal obedience? Is there no violence. no
mob rule. no defiance of national and
state authority? Have we properly sur
veyed the narrow gulf that separates the
sway OF the mob and the surge of rebel
nonn Are there no combinations forming
with full intention TO compass square
dealo Is the square deal to do service
for all, OF are The cunning and crafty to
make void all righteous endeavor in its
behaIfo Are the brave and the true sus-
tanned by becoming loyalty?
Vows to Be Renewed.
~ warn van my countrvmen tha; IL