The Unity of Christian Humanitarianism?

We see in our primary sources the idea that Christian spirituality and civil liberty were essential to America’s impetus for declaring war on Spain. Strong states that “… the two great needs of mankind, that all men may be lifted up into the light of the highest Christian civilization, are first, a pure, spiritual Christianity, and second, civil liberty. (202, Strong)  Winton states that “the United States is the home of individualism…. his religious beliefs must remain unchallenged, his worship unmolested, his domicile inviolate, his civil privileges unhampered.” (Winton, 665)

McCullough states that with the war came “a new definition of national purpose, a mandate to extend the blessings of liberty and Christian civilization wherever possible” (McCullough, 29) Referring to Senator Proctor’s report to Congress, McCullough states that it “laid the foundation for the central Religious argument for an unprecedented American foreign policy:  intervention was justifiable not for national self-defense, revenge, or conquest, but only in the interests of the oppressed” (31)  McCullough goes on to state, “And a holy war this was, for many, because it was waged for humanity” (37) “Now war -- this war -- seemed the very definition of Christian humanitarianism” (43)

Faust in This Republic of Suffering... suggested that the North and South possibly did not truly start to mend fences until after the Spanish American War. Referring to McKinley's 1898 speech in Atlanta regarding the honor paid to Confederate soldier graves, "the sons and grandsons of 'these heroic dead' had in the preceding year risked their lives in a new American war; the brave Confederates should be officially honored alongside their Union counterparts." (Faust, 269)

Given the fact that so much animosity existed between the North and South in the postbellum years, was this “new definition of national purpose” the exact combination needed to gather both ideological sides together?  Could the North and South come together for a war that was not fought for “Christian humanitarianism?”