last claimed to be in accordance with Christianity to doom these people to a life at once hopeless and miserable.  As you grow up, my son, and begin to think and act for yourself, you will think it very strange that such a great national crime as this should have existed in a land so blessed with the fruits of a ripe civilization.  And it will be a cause of wonder to you that a society based upon such an abomination did not sooner break down under the burden of its wrongs.  And yet you must always bear in mind, my son, that men do not view great crimes alike, and that even good and great men differ as to what constitutes national rights and national wrongs.  It is said that great nations have gone to decline because their people became blind with pride, and refused to think right.  A nation is always safe while its people think right; but you must teach the children right before you can have the people think right.  Education and association had much to do in training the thoughts of men in the South into wrong channels.  Taking this view of the subject you may find much to forgive in a political system that seems wrong in your eyes and right in the eyes of its supporters.  Indeed, my son, I would enjoin you to treat with a reasonable amount of deference the arguments advanced by those who differ with you on questions of public policy, and also to remember that right and reason are your strongest weapons.  Never get angry with your opponent, never use language that will cause you a regret; and if you cannot convince by the moral force of your argument, abandon the undertaking.  And whatever else you do to advance your material prosperity, never let it be said of you that you advocated a great political wrong merely because it was popular and brought you the applause of the unthinking.  You cannot do so with a clear conscience; and what is life without it?

I have, unwittingly, my son, wandered away from my subject.  The people of the South forgot all the great principles which govern humanity for humanity’s good; they were betrayed into wrong doing by false friends, and made blind by their own prosperity.  And they even forgot that God was their truest and best guardian, and to Him they must look for that care and protection which shall last forever.  But, my son, I would enjoin you to bear these people no ill will, and remember how much better it is in the sight of God to deal with the erring in the spirit of forgiveness.  They were a brave and a gallant people, who fought in the belief that they were right, and with a heroism worthy of a good cause.  It is only the meanest nature that has no respect for the courage and gallantry of an enemy—­that cannot find in it something to admire.  It was the selfishness, my son, which slavery begat in these people, that perverted their natures, and caused them to forget God.