Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-01


is frequently submerged under the wave
of prejudice. and the human mind ceases
to be normal
At the beginning of our Civil War each
section was apprehensive of unfriendly
measures. The South particularly fear
ing that following in the line of the Fed
eral Court decisions, slavery would be
excluded from the whole country, includ-
ing what was then known the Slave
States. As the slave was then personal
property. such "A course would have
meant the deprving of many of the citi-
zens of these states of their investments
without compensation.
Regardless of whether there was rea-
sonable ground to believe such would be
attempted by the dominant political par
~. the fear of 1t must have borne heavi-
lyupon the Southern mind, predisposed it
to anticipate hostile intentions, and
evolved resentment and offensive action
upon its part. even before there was rea-
son to apprehend on attack upon its in
terests of sufficient mor1ent to cause un-
rest.
Mankind must be dealt with as it eX-
lists. Temperament largely controls ac-
ton, and we can not expect the same re-
suit from fiery. quick tempered, natures
as from the cool. collected logical mind.
There is no better safeguard for man
than controlled impulse The lack of
this control and what is far more to be
regretted and condemned. the political
ambition of many of those then In power.
the recourse to unusual and revolution
airy methods to continue individual poll
teal existence, were potential factors in
plunging this country into the War of the
Rebellion.
II is hopeful and natural ilustra-
ton of the good qualities of man that we
are turning from War to arbitration.
II is unnatural to suppose that God
created man. and as a part of his nature
endowed him with desire to kill and
destroy. while at the same time He gave
him a mind with which to reason and a
brain to intelligentIy execute Reason
and bloodshed do not harmonize where
one prevails, the other cannot exist.
We may even go so far, in the light of
the education we now possess. and are
constantly receiving. to assume that he
who calls for war. has not fully emerged
from the barbarism and savagery of the
earlier days, and that he has sadly neg
lected and refused to avail himself of the
blessings that God has given him.
Why do nations maintain great stand
ing armies, build huge navies. and bur
den the taxpayer with the unnecessary
labor of supporting a large number of
non-producers? Because each Is afraid
of his neighbor. and because he and his
neighbor will not get together and &C
cept the humane proposition Live and
let live
We hear the bombastic announcement
that the dignity of the State. or the Ma
ton would not permit the submission of
questions involving the nations honor"
to arbitration. Is the nations honor then
the product of overpowering force
slaughter and destruction, rather than of
reason? And if this be so. are we not
going back to the standard of the past
when physical force was the only arbiter?
1t is undoubtedly true that so long as
any great nation declines to disarm or
to reduce its military and naval equip
ment there can be no cessation of the
enormous waste for public defence and
foreign aggression. But here and now
is the great opportunity for the leading
minds. the commanding statesmen of the
NoFlu, To Strike loT the lf%W gospel ana
bring nations out of the military bondage
of the present
On an occasion such as this we are now
commemorative. the influence of concord
and peace and brotherhood abide with
and deeply impress us.
The records of the past, the great roll
of losses, the fearful cost of the bitter
contest for supremacy come before us
with all their terrible significance
Earths green cover. studded with flags
and flowers. marks the final resting place
of many of those whose lives were ended
on the field of battle; silent, impressive
admonitions of the awful mistakes of the
past, and pleading warnings for the
future.
The spirit of the dead, in the visible
evidence of the grave, asking for more
charity of man for man, more recogni-
ton of the right of man and congrega-
tions of men, states and nations. coun-
tries and continents, to live together with
mutual forbearance and regard. ever re-
membering that the great Creator clothed
us with strength and power for the
benefit of mankind and not for it's de-
conscience implanted in every creature of
God measures all our thoughts. approves
or condemns as they merit, protests If
we transgress. and that we cannot in
truth. in justice, in honesty. i'm sincerity
violate its dictates.
Conscience is the Divine essence in
man. We do not forget 1t, we cannot