Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-07-30
eInAnFtntp. JULY 30. 1899.
WHICH IL THE STRONGEST

Wsst'' - '6b NihbFsfStf
10 has been the confident belief Of all the
people North thai slavery, as an institution,
dsmofsiised and weakened any nation rus |
belief has also become political axiom; on |
fundamental principle, not 10 DO disputed, ~ |
all the modern philosophy OF the CROWN ana
economy OF States, as taught by the most
learned and profound OF European writer's or |
thinkers, On the other side, the statesmen |
and authors, who have sprung up in our slave |
States, have boldly asserted and stontly main |
tanned that no form of social orga nzstion Sc |
cured such progress, power or stabillty 10 |
nation as that which the corner stone OF the
political edfee was slavery. The Southern
leaders have always contended that their pc
culiar institution made them the most power
fnl people, considering numbers, on the face
OF the globe and that slavery, IN so arrang-
ing the condition of labor that the free male
population were ever ready and able TO take
up arms, and at the same time inspire each
other with loitness OF bearing and daunt-
less bravery never known to the menial and
underling hordes, the mud-sills ana Whlle
slaves Of free State, rendered them irresist-
ible in war; This notion has been secuted Dy
the North as the offspring Of the grossest ig-
norance and prejudice and that the men who
held IL have been either pitied for their want
OF judgment and for deplorable stupidity, or
denounced for the utter selfishness and i'm
pious cruelty OF their reasonings The pro.
gress Of events is bringing the question to the
only decision that can be thorough and final
that Of war and in this conflict, as it has
hitherto been carried on, looking with clear
sight and fair judgment at the present position
OF the two contendiDg hosts, must IL not be
said that the power which relies upon slavery
Is not 30 essentially weak and mean as some
have hitherto supposed. Must we not admit,
also, that the army which is sent by freedom
to the field, and which takes whatever il has
of strength and courage from free institutions,
is not so instantly triumphant and always so
irresistiby overwhelming when matched IL
gainst the power of slavery, as some enthusi-
astc spirits have continually asserted.
1t is an excellent thing to have dispute
which can never be determined by profound
writing and thinking, or the most ntermina-
Bile and eloquent speaking and debating,
brought at last to an arbitriment which is con
elusive. There is very little sophistry in the
naked facts Of war, and a most resistless con-
clusion follows from its iron logic. If free
dom is the strongest if her resources are the
largest and her endurance the greatest if her
army can overmatch and overcome the army
of slavery, let them be brought together on
the battle field ,Rnd then we shall all see and
know for ourselves and we may all become
thoroughly pursuaded and convinced, that
such an army as our army, made up OF such
material and fighting for such a cause, cannot
possibly be beaten. But the next telegraph
that brings the bloody fact of perilous falling
back for the shelter Of a wide swamp and a
deep stream, or the bulletin that feeds our
hope of victory with the meagre assurance
that our army is safe, shakes down many hasty
conclusions, and we begin to ask if slavery is
not also strong, and even if under some con-
ditions its armies may not prove stronger than
Freedom.
The history of the world is full OF proofs
that the truest devotion, the sincerest belle {,
and most eloquent professions, do not always
or oftenest overcome in the worlds conflicts.
Religion is good and God fights for it, but the
pagan and the infdel with arms in their hands
will hang, burn and cruelty all the saints
and apostles. Civilization is growth that
heaven blesses, but the sturdy and fierce bar
barian can pluck its weak and eliminate chill
dren by the beard, and give them all with their
palaces and temples to fire and sword. When
men fight for so sacred a thing as Protestant
Christianity they must not only trust in God,
but always keep their powder dry and some
believe that Providence is always on the side
ofthe tyrant and oppressor whenever he has
the most cannon. The great battle may now
easily enough go against the Union and Free
dom and go for secession and slavery. All
that is necessary to the utter, ignominious,
and irIeparable overthrow of our cause is suf
hcient bad management, enough delay and
hesitation, lack of energy and sagacity in
the administration, and good supply of in
capable generals. The heavens smile on JUS
tice and freedom but they frown terribly on
incompetency and stupidity. The stars in
their courses may shed blessings on the Union,
but they fight ieIcely against bundering con-
ceit and headstrong folly. There have been
battles gained by men with large brains.
Conquering heroes have not always fought for
freedom humane rights. Sometimes a
cause as holy as ours has been cloven in twain
in the shock of war ; and the races and nations
who have conquered the world, have not gain
ed their prowess from Christianity, or their
strength from Freedom. Imperial Rome drew
at first her mighty strength from the dugs of
the wild wolf and who shall say what terri
ble power this desperate confederacy may
draw from the black breasts of slavery This
is at least certain that if Freedom and Union
cannot overcome secession and slavery, then
we are the weakest and all the outrage and
suffering that have heretofore been the lot OF
weak people, will be as nothing compared with
the fate that is in store for us, when the mon
gerl black and white power is established by
our side.-Chicago Tribune.
The nerve which never relaxes, the eye
which never blanches, and the thought which
never wanders-these are the true masters of
victOrv-