04.06.2018 Views

The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

spring up among us; it can not come from abroad.<br />

If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its<br />

author and finisher. As a nation <strong>of</strong> freemen we<br />

must live through all time, or die by suicide.”<br />

<strong>The</strong>se were <strong>the</strong> words <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> immortal Lincoln.<br />

Now <strong>the</strong> crisis has been reached; <strong>the</strong> hour <strong>of</strong><br />

temptation is here. Will it be a stepping-stone, or<br />

will it be a stumbling-block? Present proceedings<br />

indicate <strong>the</strong> latter. <strong>The</strong> burning question blazes up<br />

before us now: As a nation <strong>of</strong> freemen shall we live<br />

through all time, or shall we die by suicide? <strong>The</strong><br />

heavenly seraph holds <strong>the</strong> scale in which <strong>the</strong> state<br />

is swinging. We are a spectacle not only unto <strong>the</strong><br />

world, and to angels, and to men, but <strong>the</strong> everwatchful<br />

eye <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Most High, who ruleth in <strong>the</strong><br />

kingdom <strong>of</strong> men, is riveted upon <strong>the</strong> trembling<br />

indicator, nervously made to quiver on its course as<br />

events <strong>of</strong> weal or woe affect it. Which way <strong>the</strong> tide<br />

<strong>of</strong> our destiny shall set is now for us to decide.<br />

Once more let it be said that this is wholly a matter<br />

<strong>of</strong> choice, and not in any way a question <strong>of</strong> chance.<br />

<strong>The</strong> manifest destiny <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation waits upon <strong>the</strong><br />

actions <strong>of</strong> men, while expectancy sits on <strong>the</strong> brow<br />

287

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!