The Washington times., 1909-05-31
TRIBUTE TO MEMORY
OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Representative Hoingsworh Challenges Statement That
Jefferson Davis Was Greater Man Than President.
Answers Attacks In Southern Papers.

Davis photograph being placed on The
silver service OF the battieship Missis-
There Is 10 nlistaking the patriotic
sentiment OF the people. Monuments
may be erected to a lost cause; shadOWy
lines may be drawn between loyalty and
treason; Southern newspapers may de
nounce the LincOlns and Grants of the
war period and call their soldiers
buns and robbers of defenseless
women and children, Confederate en-
blems may be allowed by conplaisant
officials TO adOTn our Government bat
tlsships. but still the J Suits, the inn
mortal truths vindicated BY the war Of
the Union, are now as hXed and eternal
as the ages. Registered In heaven, they
are beyOund the reach Of mans undOing
God has certainly had the American
continent IN His keeping for some wise
purpose. The same cloud by day and
pillar OF fire by night, that led the
Israelites out of bondage seems TO have
guided our Pilgrim fathers to Plymouth
Rock; blazed ~fusthe heavens as the pa
triots marched TO Lexington and Con-
town, by Jackson at New Orleans, by
Scott and Taylor in Mexico, by Grant
al Appomattox, by Dewey at Manila,
and. while God continues TO reign, the
same providence and protecting care
viii asSuredly abide with the American
people They are the chosen instruments
of His power in the evangelization of the
world.
Not Time Nor Place.
This is not the time or place to dis
cuss or criticise modern attempts to
revive Confederate ideals. Mawkish
sentiment toward those who cherish the
lost cause may reach point where
Northern mitigation and manly con-
science cannot be restrained, but the
time IS not vet Justice and truth move
slowly II required the firing on
Sumter in 1861 to thoroughly arouse the
loyal North. Spanish insult and agrees
sion IN Cuba continued until the blow
ing up Of the Maine. Patience and for
bearance are virtues of the strong.
Time has happily softened the asperi-
ties of the civil war and SmOthed OUT
its wrinkles. 1t has worked wonders
in public sentiment toward the actors
in that bloody tragedy. Treason, as
applied tC the rebellion, is no longer per-
Missile in polite circles. The rebels
whom you old veterans knew and fought
as such in lS6I-5 were suddenly trans
formed after the war into Con
federates," ''erring brethren of the
South and in a few years were wisely
and generously restored to fun rights
and citizenship.
NO one now questions the wisdom Of
reconciliation and peace. Today II may
be said. is said by the highest authority
Of the land, that the men Of the Gray
and the men OF tho Blue are given equal
Nation.
Charity IS one of the cardinal vir-
tues of the Grand Army Of the Republic
and its frequent exercise is, certainly
ennobling. Along ahis line or usefulness
we shall have many opportunities. The
care of unfortunate comrades. TheiC
widows and orphans, is sacred trust
Other duties, equally sacred will press
upon US from time TO time all through
life until final taps are sounded and
we should be prepared TO meet them
bravely and well as We met the enemy
in battle.
ct should never be said Of a soldier
IN war that he falteTed ia the presence
OF danger, or of a former soldier in
peace that he turned his back upon
duty.
LET Us then, comrades OF 1879. al
though the evening shadows are fast
lengthening. although We have nearly
reached the age for chloroforming, ac-
cording TO DR.. Osler, keep our faces to
the front, buckle our belts a little
tighter as we did on the eve of battle,
and bravely resolve TO so forward to
the end, doing our whole duty as good
citizens in peace, as we did our duty
as soldiers IN war, even though insult
and abuse may be heaped upon us by
the friends and defenders OF the lost
cause. II we do this, il Is as certain
as anything under the sun that the
pIaudits OF a grateful nation will follow
abfda with n 70 the end