Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-06-06
From the CAristion Adrocate.
Duty of the Nation.


If the nations life were transient as the
life of man if its influence for good or i'll
were limited to brief and narrow space if
the living generation alone were involved in
the consequences of its action; if its func-
tions might be suspended and its organic
life expire without violence and injury; if it
had no boarded good to be queath to poster
ity along with its own integrity if nor Gsd
nor man would be derrauded 10 its disrup-
ton; if its end were accomplished, lis mis-
sion completed-much more, if greater good
might ensue from its abrogation; if it had
come to be an evil instead of a good if its
institutions and government we're prophetic
of wrongs and expressions then might we
look with Indifference upon the great strug-
gle which has 30 suddenly fallen upon US
might even be consenting 10 the overthrow.
Why seek to penetrate that which is of no
yalue2 Why resort to the bloody arbitra-
nent of the sword for an obsolete idea p
Why rally to the support of defunet and
meaningless constitution, a worthless and
superseded flag? Why. when no good is in
Tolyed, the men cf the North stand oyer
against the men of the South? They have
insulted US Suppose they have; cannot
we forgive and go on as before2 But they
have robbed US, and de6ed US, and killed our
brothers, and humbled our flag, and called
| IL
our superiors2 But they have sent forth pi-
radical fleets to prey upon our commerce,
and gathered armies to invest our capital and
drive out our President and proclaimed their
pnrposs to burn or occupy our great cities |
Admitted what then Who are we, that
We should object? But they will not be
content with this having gained SO much.
they will suhjugats US; they will enthrone
despotism of masters. and we and our child
rem will be oppressed and domineered over
and plundered; anarchy will CT me into The
whole land, aud bloody revolution succeed
ing revolution. decimate the petty states
No doubt Of it. But what have we to do
about it? Is it not as well that we should
be slaves as freemen? Has freedom ever
done any thing foI as that We should fight for
it? Is it not better to bow to the force of
circumstances? Has not nature made some
.aen to rule, and others to be slaves? Shall
We fight against God ? How can we hope
to succeed even if We attempt resistance p
On their side, ia their not learning. and
wealth, snd bravery, and beauty. and blood?
On ours barbarism, and mpoverishmens, and
cowardice, and lowliness (? On their side
have they not justice, and humanity. and
freedom on ours fraud, and cruelty, and
slavery? is it not madness in US to contend
against such odds? Would our fathers been
guilty of such teinerity Were they SO be-
sotted as to put their lives in peril for an
idea :? Had they any such lille notions
about country and freedom as to bleed and
3ie fer them? Will not their very dust cry
out against us, from the heights of Concord,
and Lexington. and Bunker Hill. and Tren-
ton, if we prosecute this war? Let US dis
band our armies. and not dishonor their
memories. They set Us the example how to
be slaves, cannot We be worthy Of them /?
But an end to this this war is duty,
We could submit to be branded, and defed,
and insuled and robbed, and even enslaved,
and handed duwn the ages with every term
of o2probrium as craven, degenerate race;
could forget all the glorious memories OF the
past, and abandon all the glory Of the pres
ent, if these were all, rather then engage in
a long and bloody war; but there are other
considerations paramount in this case. Sa.
cred as life is, there are some things more
sacrsd-; for which, not one life alone, but
hundred thousand of a nations best blood,
and all its treasure, were a cheap price.
This is recognized principle of the govern
ment of God. He places right above ALL
To secure it he pledges his throne and ON.
impotence to the destruction of wrong, by the
destruction of wrong doer. His government
based in love and ordered for good, and cal.
oulated to secure it, rests upon the idea that
the infiction Of evil, which is itself an infe-
rior good, may be necessary for the greater
good. He ordains that life shall be taken
that more life and more happiness may be
preserved, aud he employs men in executing
the ordination. The present is case in
point. God has raised up nation on this
continent for great and benefcent purpose;
has deposited with them the most benign in
stitutions of civil and religious freedom that
have ever blessed the world, and endowed
them with unparalleled means of usefulness
to the rest of mankind and with the eneow.
ment has devolved upon them the sacred du-
ty of preserving and perpe u ting these great
blessings. Unborn millions are interested
in the fidelity with which the trust shall be
guarded. Nor is the interest local /; it is as
wide as the world.
There is not an island in the sea, nor .
hamlet on the broad continents, that has not
stake in the issue. It is not New England
and the Middle and Western States, with
their manufacturing and commercial mil
lions alone, that are to be affected but men
of all climes and through all time. The eau.
ses at work 20 into history, and sooner or