Year: 1867

| Rev. DR.. Bellows, in the Liberal Christian thus


Sherman in st. Louis


! General Sherman was in California at the ne
rod when all the worth, sense and patriotism of
San Francisco were converted into unwilling law
! breakers and organized mob b. the estab-
lishment of the celebrated Vigilance Committee,
whose methods were doubtless justfable only
by revolutionary necessity, if at ALL They seiz-
cd the known and marked ruflians, gamblers and
banditti Of the city, and without legal judge or
jury, hung them from the windows of the street,
and with bloody threats drove violently all the


rest out of the place. General Sherman was
then banker, but had been educated soldier.
His military conceptions did not allow him 10
countenance so complete violation of lawful
! authority, and single-handed, he stood out
against the moral weight and wealth Of that ex-
cited community, insisting upon the peril of such
unlawful and high-handed proceedings ask
ed him if it did not require greater courage to
face such an opposition than to face battery?
He said that it stern work, but the greatest


demand on his moral courage was under the fol-
lowing circumstances The citizens of San


Francisco were celebrating the Fourth of July in


the large American Thcater which was packed to


its utmost capacity General Sherman was
chief marshal, and occupied seat near the
front OF the stage. The orator had completed


his oration, the poet began his song, when one


of his aids, white with fear, made his way down


the middle aisle to the footlghts, and bcckoning
the Generals car, whispered to him that the
theater had settled foot and a-half in Of its
side walls under the weight Of the crowd, and


might be expected any moment to tumble on
their heads in ruins. The General commanded
him to sit down just where he was, without


turning his panic smitten face to the audience,


and TO say not one word He then quietly sent


an aid ont to report the condition Of the wall,


then gave his apparent attention to the poem,
expecting every moment, as he said. to see the


pillars reeliag and the roof falling in but never


thele9s, certain, that any general and sudden


movement and alright Of the people would


hasten the catastrophe and aegravate the ruin,


while, by the ordinary Slow method of dspcr-


sion, the danger might possibly be escaped. The


exercises continued calmly to the close. The


audience left the theater quietly without sus
pecting their peril, and the terrible destruction


was avered by the presence Of mind, the self
control the courage OF the brave soul, who,


contemplating al one glance all the possibilities
of the case, decided, in a divine calmness, upon
the policy of duty, and awaited without one be-


trayiDg glance, or treacLerous change of COM


plexion, the uncertain, tremendous consequences.
Can we not understand the march TO the sea bet


ter for this story Can we not all the clearer
and more inspiringly sec the priceless worth of
Grave, social leaders, ef souls tiiat look to God
and duty for their guidance, and do not reflect
the pains, the passions, or the infrmities and
folles Of their day and hour? God seuds US
such saviors for our American civilization.