The Portland daily press., 1863-06-01
Our Christian Soldiers.

PORTLAND, May 30, 1868.
To The Editor Of the Press:
But a few days since heard lady report
the conversion Of some soldier friends, when
gentleman present at once remarked that he
'pitied a Christian who had to fight" as If he
supposed that the remainder of their term of
enlistment would be embittered by a constant
struggle with conscience.
1t was little thing, a mere straw upon the
surface of tide of conversation, but noted
its direction and it saddened my heart. There
is too much peace croaking; too much effort
to make men believe that resistance to evil is
never right, a theory which no sane man could,
reduce to prartice in his own life, or if any
could, Heaven deliver me from such pro-
tector!
Ladies, imagine yourselves in the care of
such peaceable man. Some ruilian attempts
an iDsdlt. Your escort boldly nterposes his
bulky form as a shield until the danger of
hurting somebody seems imminept, and then
he either sinks away or quietly submits.
Away with such nonsense. There is a law
of self-preservation which governs all indvid-
uals alike. No one denies the right to enforce
order in the conduct of those who are inclined
to disregard all laws of human or divine origin.
Now where is the limit to this power? A wri-
ter in the Morning Star The is clergyman
tool says that "the right to use force at all
implies the right to use enough to gain the
end desired" Who is there whose common
sense does not subscribe TO the doctrine? If
it were not SO in our daily life, we should be
at the mercy of any vagabond who chose to
break the law. In fact there would be no law,
for law does not enforce itself, but is admins
tered by resort to power which may proceed
even to violence if not previously respected.
If this rule governs the individual, how
much more does it apply to the nation. The
weakness of an individual concerns but the
few who are SO unfortunate as to belong to
his family, but the weakness of nation, in
times when its life is endangered, perils the
existence and happiness Of thousands of the
innocent and helpless.
To preach compromise may be a very fine
thing-in sound. 1t might be in practice, if
wrong was ever satisfied in Its demands. We
have learned too We'll in the past that such is
not the case, and ought we not to drop the ex-
ploded idea of ever coaring back the rebels?
There are few indeed who believe that the
commencement of this war was wrong, or that
it could have been avoided by the North much
longer, if indeed any length of time however
short.
Then why not believe in it now? 1t is
new theory to me that the path of duty makes
such short turns as to contradict its course OF
two years ago. If it is right for any man, it
is doubty right for Christian, for that religion
is not the genuine which interferes with a
mans social, civil or political duties.
Two years ago all were ready to praise God,
the Giver of all good gifts, for the best govern
ment in the world. If it was as good as we
then felt = and who doubts it ?-shall we not
now even fight to sustain it?
One thing more. But few years since our
whole land was flooded with religious inter-
est, such as was never known before. Where
now are its subjects? Most of them, ay' the
best of them, our noblest young men are in
the army. Have they recanted their faith?
No, many tear-bedewed letter attests the
contrary. They are at once serving God and
their country, both with equal faithfulness.
Those who were wild and reckless here, who
would not heed the gentle influences of home,
are reforming in the far off camp. Letter after
letter announces the fact that our army are
witnesses of the revival and not the downfall
of religion. What does it mean if they are not
battling for the right; if they are not engaged
in cause which God can consistently bless?
Does any one hold the very original fancy that
lie has suspended His laws in their opera
ton, that lie may bless us in the violation
thereof?
Yet to this and greater absurdities must the
advocates of present peace subscribe. Who
can now be OF the number? They ought to be
few indeed. S. J.F.
s-A public meeting to protest against the
efforts of the members of Parliament to drag
the country into war with the United States,
s.o r.