FROM HIS ADDRESS AT A FAIR OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION IN PHILADELPHIA.

June 16, 1864.

. . . Yet the war continues, and several relieving coincidents have accompanied it from the beginning, which have not been known, as I understand or have any knowledge of, in any former wars in the history of the world. The Sanitary Commission with all its benevolent labours; the Christian Commission with all its Christian and benevolent labours; and the various places, arrangements, and institutions have contributed to the comfort and relief of the soldiers. . . . The motive and object that lie at the bottom of all these are most worthy; for, say what you will, after all, the most is due to the soldier who takes his life in his hands and goes to fight the battles of his country. . . .

"It is a pertinent question, often asked in the mind privately, and from one to the other, when is this war to end? Surely I feel as deep an interest in this question as any other can; but I do not wish to name a day, a month, or a year when it is to end. I do not wish to run any risk of seeing the time come without our being ready for the end, for fear of disappointment because the

time had come and not the end. We accepted this war for an object, a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained. Under God, I hope it never will end until that time. Speaking of the present campaign, General Grant is reported to have said, "I am going through on this line if it takes all summer." This war has taken three years; it was begun or accepted upon the line of restoring the national authority over the whole national domain; and for the American people, as far as my knowledge enables me to speak, I say we are going through on this line if it takes three years more!

"My friends, I did not know but that I might be called upon to say a few words before I got away from here, but I did not know it was coming just here. I have never been in the habit of making predictions in regard to the war, but I am almost tempted to make one. If I were to hazard it, it is this: that Grant is this evening, with General Meade and General Hancock and the brave officers and soldiers with him, in a position from whence he will never be dislodged until Richmond is taken; and I have but one single proposition to put now, and perhaps I can best put it in the form of an interrogative. If I shall discover that General Grant and

the noble officers and men under him can be greatly facilitated in their work by a sudden pouring forward of men and assistance, will you give them to me? Are you ready to march? [Cries of, Yes!] Then I say, stand ready, for I am watching for the chance.”

66

REMARKS TO THE 164th OHIO REGIMENT.

August 18, 1864.

There is more involved in this contest

than is realised by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed.

I say this in order to impress upon you, if you are not already so impressed, that no small matter should divert us from our great purpose.

"There may be some inequalities in the practical application of our system. It is fair that each man shall pay taxes in exact proportion to the value of his property; but if we should wait, before collecting a tax, to adjust the taxes upon each man in exact proportion with every other man, we should never collect any tax at all. There may be mistakes made sometimes; things may be done wrong, while the officers of the

government do all they can to prevent mistakes. But I beg of you as citizens of this great Republic, not to let your minds be carried off from this great work we have before us. This struggle is too large for you to be diverted from it by any small matter. When you return to your homes, rise up to the height of a generation of men worthy of a free government, and we will carry out the great work we have commenced."

HIS LETTER TO MRS. ELIZA P. GURNEY.

September 4, 1864.

MY ESTEEMED FRIEND, -I have not forgotten - probably never shall forget the very impressive occasion when yourself and friends visited me on a Sabbath forenoon, two years ago. Nor has your kind letter, written nearly a year later, ever been forgotten. In all, it has been your purpose to strengthen my reliance on God. I am much indebted to the good Christian people of the country for their constant prayers and consolations; and to no one of them more than to yourself. The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible

war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge His wisdom and our own error therein. Meanwhile we must work earnestly, in the best lights He gives us, trusting that so working still conduces to the great ends He ordains. Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay. Your people, the Friends, have had and are having a very great trial. On principle and faith opposed to both war and oppression, they can only practically oppose oppression by war. In this hard dilemma, some have chosen one horn, and some the other. For those appealing to me on conscientious grounds, I have done and shall do the best I could and can, in my own conscience, under my oath to the law. That you believe this, I doubt not; and believing it, I shall still receive for our country and myself your earnest prayers to Our Father in Heaven.