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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hayes views the Union victory as a triumph for religion and virtue and frames the war as divine work.
In plain terms
The Union win proved God and virtue were on their side.
What can you take from it?
Victory validates the moral cause of the war.

Where it applies

  • war memorials
  • historical speeches
  • post war healing

Putting it to work

  • honor union veterans
  • study war history
  • promote unity

Questions to consider

  • Is victory proof of rightness?
  • How does war shape national identity?

Another view

War outcomes do not always align with moral righteousness.

More from Rutherford B. Hayes

  1. Personally I do not resort to force - not even the force of law - to advance moral reforms. I prefer education, argument, persuasion, and above all the influen…

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  2. The [Loyal] legion has taken the place of the club - the famous Cincinnati Literary Club - in my affections.... The military circles are interested in the same…

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  3. The general review of the past tends to satisfy me with my political life. No man, I suppose, ever came up to his ideal. The first half [of] my political life …

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