Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-12
Effect OF War upon Moral and Mate.
rial Improvement.

The public mind has been so much engrossed
with the exciting scenes and circumstances con-
nected with the changes in our national affairs,
that few persons we apprehend, have found time
to reflect upon the damage to the moral and ma
terial condition of the people, which must be pro-
duced by long continued state Of hOstilities.
The patriotism of the entire country North and
South, has been aroused and cultivated to the
highest pitch but this has related chiefly to our
political condition, and has been directed almost
exclusively to providing the ways and means, not
OF assisting and developing but of killing or de-
stroying a portion of our fellow citizens. We
make no objection to the patriotism, especially if
it Is sincere and diSnterested but rather glory in
that sentiment so universally implanted in the
hearts OF the American people, which prompts
them to defend their country and its institutions
against all invaders. The chief difficulty at the
present time is not that there is too much patri-
otism, but that in too many instances it has ia
ken the direction on one side or the other, and
perhaps in too many instances on both sides, of a
crusade against those who should be friends, rath-
er than against national or foreign enemy. As
our remarks in this article are intended to be APP
plicable to the whole country, and not particular
ly to either section, we may say thus much re-
specting the misdirected patriotism of the Amer
ican people, without giving just cause of offence.
| While the North and the South are thus pre-
pairing for and engaged in a conflict for political
jurisdiction, and providing the most scientific and
effective methods of shedding each others blood,
all the great moral questions of the day must re-
main in abeyance, or receive shock from which
| they will be slow to recover while the improve
ments in art and science. and in agriculture, which
is our great material interest, must be neglected
until restoration of peace shall enable the peo-
pie to return, not only to their accustomed pur-
suits, but to that channel of thought and rehec-
ton suited to their more rapid and perfect devel-
opment. A state of war is not favorable to ad-
yancement in religion, morals, science or i'm
provement of any sort. This is true of war gen.
orally; but especially and emphatically SO of a
war which enlists the feelings and sympathies OF
all classes of people, and diverts their minds from
other topics and duties.
The effect of the influences to which we allude
may be observed all around They are ex-
hibited in the falling off of the attendance upon
the anniversaries of our religious and benevolent
societies. in the contributions to these and kindred
objects; in the desecration of the Sabbath, not
only by those actually engaged in the army, but
| by large numbers of people, who, carried away
by excitement, forget the sacredness of that day
in the prostitution of the pulpit to the encourage
ment of carnage and bloodshed and hate, and in
the dissemination among the people of the coun
try of bitterness and revenge and enmity towards
those who should be brothers and friends.
war are no less disastrous. Improvements of al
kinds are postponed or abandoned, public spirit il
diverted from the prosecution of useful and bene
ficial works of almost every description, enter
prise is suffered to flag, and the great interests
| the country become stationary or retrograde
The entire resources and energies of the people
will be called into requisition to provi men ant
means for carrying on the war, SO that everythin;
must flag or fater, or be utterly abandoned, unit
| apIr hall ha hah hur
dens cast upon the people, both of the United AM
the Confederate States, will be oppressive, ant
must bear heavily, not only upon the present bu
upon succeeding generations.
As one of the effects, disastrous in its character
OF the present excitement, we may mention tn
circumstance that the various Agricultural So
cietes, at least portion of them, are discuss
ing the expediency of emitting, for this year. thei
annual airs. This is the case, we hear, with tn
New York State Agricultural Society whicl
has held regular annual exhibitions TO
period of twenty years, but whose managers ar
now apprehensve that the unsettled condition o
the country and the absorption of the public at
tenton by matters connected with the war; ma
render it imprudent to incur the expense of hold
ing exhibition the present year. Such W
fear, may be the effect upon institutions of lik
character in other States, and also upon the ope
rations of individuals devoted to the development
of our agricultural resources and improvements
The considerations to which we have allude
are applicable alike to both sections of the coun
try, and will perhaps be equally potent in both
IN arrestng religious and benevolent effort, in de
moralizing the public mind, and in paralyzng ex
ertions for the promotion of the public good
When the present troubles shall be ended-for W
suppose like all other evils, there must be an en-
to this war-the philanthropst, the missionary @
the Cross, and the public spirited citizen will fin
their work set back quarter of century, an
the labors for placing them again in motion i'm
, measurably augmented.-N. Y. Journal Of Con