The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-20

prayer, that this war may be speedily
and righteously brought to close, that
our rulers may be delivered from the
troubles which they have brought upon
themselves, and that the justly excited
Indignation Of Almighty God may be
averted from our nation.
If the sentiments promulgated in the above re-
solutions do not breath the spirit of toryism, we
confess we are unable 10 tell what does They
contain TRADE of abuse against the very govern
ment which guarantees to them the right to wor-
ship God according TO the dictates of their own
consciences. Had such sentiments been put forth
in the days of the Revolution they would have
procured halter for the necks of their authors
Where Is the man or set of men who would nav
declare that the last war with Great Britain was
'unrighteous" and especially" sinful, and that
its prosecution 'justy excited the indignation of
Almighty God" Yet such there were at that
time: and the members of these Synods are af the
same stripe Of patriots
The Rev. F. S. F. Gard iner, of Trim
ity Church, Boston, in a discourse de-
Iivered by him July 90, 1919, said:
"Let no consideration whatever, my
brethren, deter you a, all times. ond in
all places, from execrating the present
war. ltis war unjust, foolish, and
ruinous. 1t is unjust, because Great
Britain has offered US every concession
short of what she conceives would be
her ruin"
"As Mr.. Madison has declared war,
let Mr.. Madison carry it on"
The Rev. David Osgood, Pastor OF
the Church at Medford, in a discourse
June 81, 1912, said:
elf at the command of weak or wick
ed rulers, they undertake an unjust
,oar, each man who volunteers his SER
vices in such cause, or loans his mo-
ney for its support, or by his conversa-
ton, his writings, or any other mode
ofinAuence encourages its prosecution,
that man is an accomplice in its wick
edness, loads his conscience with the
blacklist crimes, brings the guilt of
blood upon his soul, and in the sight of
God and his law is murderer"
"My mind has been in constant ago
ny, not so much at the inevitable loss
Of our temporal prosperity and happi-
ness, and the complicated miseries Of
war, as at its guilt, its outrages against
heaven, against all truth. honesty, JUS
tice, goodness; against all principles of
social happiness"
"Were not the authors Of this war in
character nearly akin to the Deists and
Atheists of France; were they not men
OF hardened hearts, ,!seared consciences,
reprobate minds and desperate wick
edness, it seems utterly inconceivable
that they should have made the decIa-
We had intended to say something more in re-
ation to the resolutions of these Synods, but the
following extracts from the Cincinnati Enquirer
seem more appropriate than any thing we can say.
In speaking of the resolution of the New York and
New Jersey Synod, the Enquirer says:
"The reverend Gentlemen who promulgate this
resolution have an undoubted right to their own
opinions, and to the promulgation of them in this,
or any other form. that they may see proper to
adopt; but we very much doubt whether they will
aid in the spread of Christianity, by re.
presenting it as inimical to patrotism-or in build
ing up the church they represent, by employing it
in preaching a crusade against the government,
under which it enjoys the fullest measure of secu-
rity and protection. The men who framed these
of ours, utterly separated the church
from the State, and the people at this day will not
quietly brook the interference of the one, with
the affairs of the other If the men who control
any religious denomination, desire to make of it
a political engine, they will but sow the wind to
reap the whirlwind.' II needs no spirit of pro-
phecy to tell the result.
"By what commission do these gentlemen pro.
claim this war as especially sinful; 'an exhibi-
tion of human wickedness,' and "a dreadful
oSSA' 81 ho" uiS manu- VI Huu. 1IU tuty put IL
upon the annexation Of Texas?--the march to the
Rio Grande!-the acquisition of more territory! -
or do they know any thing about it at all! If this
is mere exhibition Of professional vanity-a wrap
ping up of the actors in it, in the sanctimonious
robes Of high Christian pretenders. with stand
ye back-I am better than thou sort of an air, it
will but excite derision where it is expected to
command respect There are as good and perfect
Christians in the American army, upon the battle
fields of Mexico, and whose religion is hallowed
by devotion to the government which secures to
them the right to worship God according to the
dictates of their conscences as are to be found
in the peaceful walks at home, sounding their pro-
LESSONS in the form of resolutions, and croaking
about the 'snfulness' of war which, il has been
declared, exists not by our own,
but by the acts of hostile nation.
"If these teachers Of moral sentiment desire TO
preach crusade ia an appropriate manner, against
he ssinfulnesa, of war LAT than yo fo Mav;co