Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-12-02
Thanksgiving and Prayer.

ahSthhS5hSAhS anu AS CAs
Last Thursday was the day set apart
by our six-foot government" as day
of fasting and thanksgiving to Almighty
God, for the innumerable blessings we
have experienced, since the reign of Abo-
Etion rule. The proclamation was pretty
generally complied with ostensibly, how
ever, with a great many long faced hypo-
crits; some whose love of gain is always
uppermost, done fine trade behind closed
shutters, while others, whose bump of
alimentiveness predominated, turned the
memorable occasion into a day of revelry.
Others there were, whose religious pro-
clivities took the ascendency, hailed the
day as fitful occasion to s'wrestle with
the Lord" and "make joyful noise unto
him." for the blessings of a fratricidal war
for the many ''glorious victories ~ we
have achieved; for the abundance of
greenbacks, army contractors, and provost
marshals, which have made unto us a
''strong government"
Oh, ye puritanical hypocritsI what a
mock'ry unto Him, whose wrath you would
appease by ostentation-by hypocritically
praying for peace, while your murderous
hands are yet raised against your brothers
Six months ago, the man who uttered
peace was a "traitor!'' To pray for
peace was a crime But to-day we find
this mandate coming from the great mogul
OF America; and it is no longer a crime to
pray for peace. But why insult Almighty
God with prayer for peace, while we
continue to Gugnleht the sanguinary strife
which is now fattening the soil of Amer
lca with human blood The same devil
ish spirit which actuatei the Puritans of
New England to murder the innocent
aboriSines of that land, and then .sao-
pe1se, the vengeance of a just God, by
commanding days of Thanksgiving and
prayer, is yet alive In the early history
OF our country, we find them driving the
natives from the soil, and then appointing
days OF thanksgiving and prayer To-day
we find them plundering the homes of their
brothers IN the South; trampling upon
their guaranteed rights; confscating their
lands; and then appointing day of
thanksgiving and prayer; just as they did
under the blue light laws of New England.
Thus we find men doing homage to the
mandates Of Mr.. Lincoln, while they
would not hesitate to desecrate the day on
which the word of God became incarnate
for our salvation.
FOR those who sincerely pray for peace,
we say continue your petition TO the
Throne OF Mercy. But when this PRAYER
for peace, comes in the shape of a com
mand, from those in authority, we would
like to see them practice what they preach.
They do not speak from the fulness of the
heart when they pray for peace. War.
by which they fatten and thrive, is their
delight. The hords of usurpers, contrac-
tors and parasites of power, who now
control the destinies of our country. do
''otwant peace. They wish to prolong their
reign OF murder and rapine They do not
wish to cripple the goose that LAYS the
golden egg. When, by their acts, they
aSgrayate our National troubles, and with
their lips pray for peace, it is the old crv
OF " stop thief" to deceive the unsusnect-
ing, that they may further gloat over the
blood of their fellow victims.
What the people want, is a real peace.
peace which will again unite the North
and the South in one brotherhood. Such !
peace, we are in favor of, and we are
not afraid TO proclaim it, We do not
want the hollow sound of peace from
Federal authority, while they continue to
fan the devouring plans of carnage and
rapine. We want permanent peace.
xx-h l.