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ter's edge； and fired many times over the river。 We asked a bystander； who looked like a fisherman； what that was for。 It was to 〃break the gall；〃 he said； and so bring the drowned person to the surface。 A strange physiological fancy and a very odd non sequitur； but that is not our present point。 A good many extraordinary objects do really come to the surface when the great guns of war shake the waters； as when they roared over Charleston harbor。
Treason came up； hideous； fit only to be huddled into its dishonorable grave。 But the wrecks of precious virtues； which had been covered with the waves of prosperity； came up also。 And all sorts of unexpected and unheard…of things； which had lain unseen during our national life of fourscore years； came up and are coming up daily； shaken from their bed by the concussions of the artillery bellowing around us。
It is a shame to own it； but there were persons otherwise respectable not unwilling to say that they believed the old valor of Revolutionary times had died out from among us。 They talked about our own Northern people as the English in the last centuries used to talk about the French；Goldsmith's old soldier； it may be remembered； called one Englishman good for five of them。 As Napoleon spoke of the English； again； as a nation of shopkeepers； so these persons affected to consider the multitude of their countrymen as unwarlike artisans；forgetting that Paul Revere taught himself the value of liberty in working upon gold； and Nathaniel Greene fitted himself to shape armies in the labor of forging iron。 These persons have learned better now。 The bravery of our free working…people was overlaid； but not smothered； sunken； but not drowned。 The hands which had been busy conquering the elements had only to change their weapons and their adversaries； and they were as ready to conquer the masses of living force opposed to them as they had been to build towns； to dam rivers； to hunt whales； to harvest ice； to hammer brute matter into every shape civilization can ask for。
Another great fact came to the surface； and is coming up every day in new shapes；that we are one people。 It is easy to say that a man is a man in Maine or Minnesota； but not so easy to feel it； all through our bones and marrow。 The camp is deprovincializing us very fast。 Brave Winthrop； marching with the city elegants； seems to have been a little startled to find how wonderfully human were the hard…handed men of the Eighth Massachusetts。 It takes all the nonsense out of everybody； or ought to do it； to see how fairly the real manhood of a country is distributed over its surface。 And then； just as we are beginning to think our own soil has a monopoly of heroes as well as of cotton； up turns a regiment of gallant Irishmen； like the Sixty… ninth； to show us that continental provincialism is as bad as that of Coos County； New Hampshire； or of Broadway； New York。
Here； too； side by side in the same great camp； are half a dozen chaplains； representing half a dozen modes of religious belief。 When the masked battery opens； does the 〃Baptist〃 Lieutenant believe in his heart that God takes better care of him than of his 〃Congregationalist〃 Colonel？ Does any man really suppose； that； of a score of noble young fellows who have just laid down their lives for their country； the Homoousians are received to the mansions of bliss； and the Homoousians translated from the battle…field to the abodes of everlasting woe？ War not only teaches what man can be； but it teaches also what he must not be。 He must not be a bigot and a fool in the presence of that day of judgment proclaimed by the trumpet which calls to battle； and where a man should have but two thoughts： to do his duty； and trust his Maker。 Let our brave dead come back from the fields where they have fallen for law and liberty； and if you will follow them to their graves； you will find out what the Broad Church means； the narrow church is sparing of its exclusive formulae over the coffins wrapped in the flag which the fallen heroes had defended！ Very little comparatively do we hear at such times of the dogmas on which men differ； very much of the faith and trust in which all sincere Christians can agree。 It is a noble lesson； and nothing less noisy than the voice of cannon can teach it so that it shall be heard over all the angry cries of theological disputants。
Now； too； we have a chance to test the sagacity of our friends； and to get at their principles of judgment。 Perhaps most； of us； will agree that our faith in domestic prophets has been diminished by the experience of the last six months。 We had the notable predictions attributed to the Secretary of State； which so unpleasantly refused to fulfil themselves。 We were infested at one time with a set of ominous…looking seers； who shook their heads and muttered obscurely about some mighty preparations that were making to substitute the rule of the minority for that of the majority。 Organizations were darkly hinted at； some thought our armories would be seized； and there are not wanting ancient women in the neighboring University town who consider that the country was saved by the intrepid band of students who stood guard； night after night； over the G。 R。 cannon and the pile of balls in the Cambridge Arsenal。
As a general rule； it is safe to say that the best prophecies are those which the sages remember after the event prophesied of has come to pass； and remind us that they have made long ago。 Those who； are rash enough to predict publicly beforehand commonly give us what they hope； or what they fear； or some conclusion from an abstraction of their own； or some guess founded on private information not half so good as what everybody gets who reads the papers；never by any possibility a word that we can depend on； simply because there are cobwebs of contingency between every to…day and to…morrow that no field…glass can penetrate when fifty of them lie woven one over another。 Prophesy as much as you like； but always hedge。 Say that you think the rebels are weaker than is commonly supposed； but； on the other hand； that they may prove to be even stronger than is anticipated。 Say what you like；only don't be too peremptory and dogmatic； we know that wiser men than you have been notoriously deceived in their predictions in this very matter。
Ibis et redibis nunquam in bello peribis。
Let that be your model； and remember； on peril of your reputation as a prophet； not to put a stop before or after the nunquam。
There are two or three facts connected with time； besides that already referred to； which strike us very forcibly in their relation to the great events passing around us。 We spoke of the long period seeming to have elapsed since this war began。 The buds were then swelling which held the leaves that are still green。 It seems as old as Time himself。 We cannot fail to observe how the mind brings together the scenes of to…day and those of the old Revolution。 We shut up eighty years into each other like the joints of a pocket… telescope。 When the young men from Middlesex dropped in Baltimore the other day； it seemed to bring Lexington and the other Nineteenth of April close to us。 War h