The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-01-30

uClUIIlllUllOtl W GOllolIuS tlS blpiC
to mean what they want 1T to mean,
forbids conviction against their
wishes. But the fact, that both
parties at war, composed of the
same denominations and profess
of religion, justify themselves
in their position by the very same
rules of argument, places Christian
ity in n very doubtful attitude. In
both armies now at war, are null
titudes of men who belong to the
same church-profess the same re-
ligion-pray to the same God-and
invoke His aid in producing exact
ly opposite results. How can He
do this? Infdels may well doubt
the sincerity of both parties.
will not now discuss the ques-
ton as to how far a nation should
go in its submission to evils that
tend to degrade it in the eyes of
the world, rather than resort to
arms, for it seldom happens that a
nation ~disgraces itself by the mere
submission to evils rather than re.
sort to war. The question of NOR
ais, or of mere right, very seldom
constitutes the whole ground OF
war. Morals did I say? What a
solecism! When did nation ever
go to war for the purpose, either
of improving the morals Of its own
people, or those of its enemies
Interest is the leading Indictment
to war. Here l have almost com.
mittcd another blunder, for if tho
vast sums of money squandered il
war, were applied to the settlement
of the difficulties which give rise
to war, in nine cases out Of ten, il
would effect the object desired.
If, then, neither the morals mol
the interests of q nation are bene
flied by war, why do they continue
the barbarous practice? Its Origin
will determine that. AS it vas a
first, so will it be to the last-th.
acquisition Of power, and the graft
fcation Of ambition. These wcr
its original incentives, and the.
will continue to be until the nation
shall learn war no moro.
1t would be useless to eLter int
details Of the dcmoralizing inhu
ences of war; they are too numer
GUS to mention, and could onl,
interest a statistician. Only a gen
eral glance at somH Of the NOR
stupendous can be noticed. An
first and foremost Of all, is til
spcculationby fraud and corruption
which it engenders. 1t has not ye
passed from the minds of the pee
pie, how the poor, honest soldier
of the Revolution we're swindle
out Of their certificates of govern
ment indebtedness, by a system c
fraud and corruption. which, a
TINT day had no parallel. Millior
of dollars worth ofthese certificate
= were bought up at a reduction
., from one half to one tenth the
real value, and rs soon as the
were fully in the hands of specul
tors, all difficulties which had pr
" viously stood in the way Of the
:, redemption by the governmer
Il speedily vanished, and the scou
drelS received dollar for dollar {
them. In vain had Mr.. Madisc
- urged upon Congress tie JUST
- and ~propriety of Discriminating b
tween original holders and spec
y ~lators, in their redemption, so
' to prevent fraudan m corrupt spec
), lation. The scramble for publ
> plumber had already been intr
T. duced into the halls of Congre:
and had too many advocates to
% put down.
Have we any reason to belle
u that we have improved upon t
morals of our forefathers? F
'e otherwise. Already have we be.
81 sad witnesses of frauds and &C
ruptions, which would have be
summarily dealt with in the da
= T.l, .D1 Mo1;eon II