The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-31
The Compensations of War.

The ipfdels Of France taught that if old
heresies could be swept away and new truth
established by cmptyng the earth Of one en-.
tire generation, it would be cheap sacrifice
for so large gain. 1t may cost US as much
have allowed to instil Itself in this country
respecting submission to authority, in our hot
and binding haste after the wealth and pleas
ures Of this fast age.
King David in his war for selGpyoservation
overthrow a most devastating conspiracy.
Treason is the highest civil crime possible
murder by wholesalc-a crime against the
nation, against humanity, and against God
10 crush out such crime Is the highest hu-
man attainment, and calls blessings down I'D
on the actors from heaven and earth. He
sustained, also, what was in the main q good
government. David's sins were more person
al than official. Our national sins, we fear,
are both while the principles of our govern.
ment are the best ever embodied in civil
code. What such government is worth we
have never found any arithmetic to calculate.
Measured by what it has cost, and is now
costing, of treas ire and blood, by what it al
fords to US, and promises to our posterity, we
shall instantly transcend all figures in at.
tempting to compute. Al that is inviting in
civilization, education, and religion falls back
on law for its protection. When in .ustry,
frugaIty, genius, and learning are unprotected
by law, then dilapidation and decay invite
rapid and general chaos.
This war OF David greatly aided in work
ing out, under God, the high purposes of the
Jewish nation. God had purpose for Israel
to accomplish, and that was not lost sight OF
though one unfailhtul king aud administra
ton after another, was set aside, who refused
to subserve the divine will. Yet that nation,
through varied and adverse experiences
served its object.
In like manner God has some sublime OBJ
ject for this nation to achieve. This is suf-
fciently indicated in the endless sources Of
wealth 10 our mines and soil the health and
elasticity Of our climate; and our happy 10.
cation, SO remote from hostile nations and
easy OF defense, as well as in our unique sys.
ten Of free government. And though this
whole generation may become corrupt and be
swept away, God will give our fair heritage
to those who will carry forward its holy mis-
sion. So it was with Israel.
This ancient rebellion and its issue are full
of important lessons Tor our times. We set
that governments essentially right, with of
icers essentially god, yet partially wrong
may be called to great Christening aud suffer.
ing even when not overthrow. This is al
true of our own nation as it was of the Jew
sh kingdom.
1t / also seen that the desperately wicked
in working out their utter overthrow, ar,
made the instrument of repentance and reior
nation to less offen ers. The fearful fate O
Absalom and his rebellion, under God. mad
David a better man and his kingdom purer
Happy for us, if our scourge shall bring u
back to iorsaken truth and humanity
Neither is ii impossible that God intends, i
this very process, to sink forever in its ow
moral putretaction the body of sin and dea,
which has caused us all these caIamities.
so, every monument of this war will in n
our future, warn our posterity against the n,
tona drift IS which have by slow degre,
led US to this result