The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-23

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" impossible. For God and slavery, to rule
in nation at the same time. The demands
of each, stand such opposite attitudes that
+ to harmonize, is out Of tho question.
i God says, man may ewn himsolf Slav-
); cry says not. God says, he may have the
! !, earnings Of his.own industry Slavery says
he shall not. God sanctifed the marriage
relation, and said what he had joined togeth-
! III let no man put assunder Slavery says,
it will tear them assunder at its convenience
or pleasure. God says, search the Scrip
i lures, increase in knowledges. become great
and learned.n Slavery says, shut the BIZ
ble,, tear down the school house, destroy the
means for educating and grow up in igno-
rance. God says, train up your children for
him, and for usefulness mong men, ~ Slavery
says. train them for the market, to be sold
like beasts of burden, to work the rice and
sugar plantations, or for purposes of aban-
doned licentiousness AT every point there
is an ISSUE Whom. slavery ruled, God was
practically ruled out of the nation. Politi-
clans were lending their influence to build up
its interests. Divines were ransacking the
/ Bible to find covert for its devilish iniqui-
ties The foreign ministry were telling Euro
pean despots how good and beneficial the in
stitution was The courts had decided in its
favor. telling the people that the God Of
/ slavery should hold high carnival over the
land. Commerce had unfurled reef and sail
in its favor; the decree had gone forth, and
was heard across the waters, along the coast,
over the gull, through Southern plantations
where its victims die of its cruelties-out
through the homes of Northern industry,
where freemen make an honest living-Down
with God and up with cotton
Some were squeamish. and thought it a
joke. But slavery never jokes. tits too in
tent on carrying out its nefarious and God-dc-
i flying purposes to lie anything but in earnest.
4 It makes no declarations where crime is in
volved, but what it will make good.g 1t
makes 90 demands where its interests are to
be served. but what it exacts compliance
That was great day for the nation when
Abraham Lincoln, before leaving his home in
Springfield, 10 take upon himself the respon-
sibilities of his honored position said---said it
out sothe people heard him" II God does
not help me, I shall despair of accomplishing
anything Tor good.,' Men began to rub their
1 eyes, and throw themselves on their reflection.
This reference to GODS ruling Providence was
such an unusual thing. that men could scarcely
believe their senses. Politicians, old inptrick
and strategy. said was simply an effort at
pious rhetoric. Good men, who had for
years been weeping between the porch and
the altar, over the abominations of the
country. took courage; and when he said it
again, with more emphasis than the first, con-
Ifdence was kindleds From that day he has
mot wanted for the sympathy of Christian
men throughout the nation, while their
prayers have been abundant in. his behalf. ~
Il These were the words that formed the d.
viding line between atheism. and a belief in
and dependence on the God of heaven. ssi.5aa
llsss.These few words were worth to this nation
all il cost 10 say them + They were not the
& Jimpalsivesefusions of mind UNCONSCIOUS OF
the character of its thoughts, nor used to
4 give pathos to a sentencein oratorys ase> =
Mr. Lineoln's s oratory is known to consist
in stubborn facts and hard logic, These ut
terances were advised by consciousness 0i
tremendous responsibilities ahead From
this period Of our history there has been a
strong tendency IN another direction. There
i has been a pefceptible recognition Of The .ex-
istenee. and ruling Prosidence of personal
God. s.Y
i This change commences just as soon as the
people cease to confdsin slavery, and hold il
!. reverence Ianpercd aristocracy, whose ipst
dixits were the standards of public thought
Il is d fact now patent to the observation o
every rejecting mind. that a higher tone o
feelingsbegins to exist-a more exalted ides
/ ffof the mission of Christianity is conceived
Il clearer light begins to dawn upon tn.
douRtry, revealing the future relations. of thi.
government and people to mankind at large
Selfshness and national bgotry are being
buried beneath tide Of sensible philanthropy
that the world will yet feel. tsia 8 g
81 We have had great means of usefulness
but have failed to improve them. There wa
d a God that would have guided us, but we re,
fused his counssls. Hitherto the nation nation .ha
been like child playing with q diamond. un
> conscious of its worth; = now We wake up t,
a the Importance OF What We hold in our hands
and the manifest intention Of heaven in per ,e,
. hitting Us to possess it, y ''''' ''.se w.
) would not say to-day that we should b
! thankful for this war; War is too great, a ca
larnity to rejoice over. No one can think 0
& its widows aud orphans, its carnage and blood
/. its burning cities aid desolated coasts, it
: blockaded ports and ruined conlmerce, il
d q wasted fields and fallen forests, its vineyard
/, turned into graxeyards, and its mansion
t turned into hospitals, without an indescribabl
shudder There are l7ssi evils, however, h5ia fo
i gwhichswar seems the only remedy. 1t ma
n act as a civilizer Of mankind Its result
E may beasol overuied for the public good q a
/. the fever in the shumanssy ystem is simply a
al effort Of ratnre to rid itself Of disease, S
war often indicates the existence of deepl
e rooted nialadies, while at the Same time it j
s an effort throw them of. 2 This war is b
ofl . single reyolutionsof The wheel Of progress
all Upon the rimlof that fwheel, as it comes u
4 to View and checks up fora moment, you sc
+ men Of different races, hitherto alienated b
8 prejudices and antinathies deep As hell---on
Int. ..kl. IL. \