The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-06-02

man soldier We owe the rich inheri-
lance of Germanic Civilization which
has so powerfully influenced the mod
ern world
And 1t is due alike to the spirit of
the German soldier. and the genius OF
Charles Martel. at the memorable bat
! tie of Tours. that the Christian civil
cation of the west was saved from
extinction. and that the world is not
living under pagan civilization to-
day.
These are but brief outlines of some
of the early struggles of civilization
and Christianity, which, since the dawn
of the Christian Era have gone hand
in hand together. Everywhere it
was the force of arms that prevailed
over the powers of darkness and the
/ forces that make for evil.
But not to early history alone need
we turn for evidence of higher pow
er than that of man in the direction
of human affairs. Down through the
procession of the years to our own
/ land and time. the pen of the histor-
ian bears silent witness to this truth.
| The war of the Revolution was the
1ivinely ordered outcome of the efforts
of few English Colonists to find in
another land greater political and le-
ligious freedom, with no thought
whatever. of estrangement or separa
ton from the mother country. But
when the sun set upon the battlefield
of Saratoga where Burgoyne surrend-
cred the shattered remnants of his
army to the Americans. it set to rise
upon the dawn of a new nation that
Was vet to hold in its keeping the vel
i fare Of millions of people, and to exert
powerful influence upon the political
destnies of the world.
The issue of the Civil war was fore
ed by the south to perpetuate the in
stitution of human slavery, but, by
the will OF God it resulted in lifting
/ tour millions of people from bondage
and forever eXterminating the curse of
slavery from our soil.
He would be blind student of his
tory indeed. who should fail to trace
in these events the hand of providence
leading mankind forward and upward.
He would be blind, too, to the lesson
of history If he should fail to see in this
a manifestation of the same insCru-
table wisdom and power that sends
the earthquake and the lightning and
the tempest to purify and re-create
the earth. From our human view
point we cannot more clearly dis
Germ why violence and pain and de
struction are Gods chosen instru-
ments in bringing mankind to its
highest estate, than that the great
convulsiye forces of nature should be
the appointed means of bringing the
earth to the beauty and perfection OF
completeness In our blindness we
cannot penetrate the wisdom of God S
purposes; but we must accept the
fact that in the divine order OF
things, war has existed for beneticent
purposes in the past Out of the agony
and travail of war great nations have
had their birth. In the clash of discord
ant elements humanity has ever been
lifted to higher level
The great dream of the world has
been to see the end of war. and thou
sands of hearts are everywhere beat
ing high with hope of the fultllment
of that cherished dream. Christian
men and Christian nations are striv-
ing to bring in the reign OF universal
peace through universal arbitration.
But there is point in this field OF
endeavor at which human wisdom has
so far, failed and an imaginary dead
line at which all peace tribunals have
halted. Who shall say that this bound
has not been set by wisdom higher
than mans wisdom? For as the civ
ilization of the world has been slowly
evolved from barbarism through ages
/ 1,,t1 nj
believe that the Divine plan is being
gradually worked out, and that the
dawn OF universal peace will come IL
Gods own good time and way.
, have nowhere, here. attempted. OF
any ground of human reasoning, Il
justify war. But II, in tn" providence
of God, war is its own justification, Il
our duty to recognize that fact, an(
, to cultivate those national virtues
; that make us strong and efficient IL
war.
In urging the duty of patriotism il
is fitting that we should urge the true
conception of war Otherwise thu
T. lesson will fail Mr. Roosevelt, il
speaking Of the ethics of war in his re.
cent lecture in Paris on Citizenship
; in a Republic. said. The question
must not be merely. Is there to be
peace or war? The question must be
Is the right to prevail? Are the grea
laws of righteousness once more Il
be fulfilled? And the answer from
strong and virle people must be
Yes, whatever the cost This wa:
the question with the north in 81. /
was not whether there was to BIT
peace or war, but whether or no
, right was to prevail,-and right nobll
| was it answered. History is inexor
able, and in her cold and luminous
: eyes that side is right which tight'
, in harmony with the stars in thei
course The men are right through
: whose efforts and struggles the worlt
is helped onward and mankind move
to a higher level and a brighter day
Comrades of the Grand Army of tn
. Republic. history long ago recorde'
: IS verdict on your deeds. You march