Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-07
VICTORY OR ASNInILATroS.
From the Atlanta Appeal

DR.. Elliott, the patriotic Bishop of Georgia, in
a late sermon preached in Savannah, exhibits the
alternative before us, in few sentences pregnant
with all the fire of prodhet ano patliot These
are. indeed. words that burn:
Forward, my hearers, with our shields locked
and our trust in God. is our only movement now.
Ii is too late even to go backward. We might
have gone backward year ago, when our armies
were VIGOROUSLY laundering at the gates of
Washington. and were keeping at successful bay
the Hessians of West had we been content to
bear hu initiation for ourselves and degradation
our children. But even that is no longer left US.
1t is now victory or unconditional submission;
submission not to the conservative and Christian
people of the North, but TO party of in6del fa-
natics. with an army of needy and greedy sol
dierssst their backs. Who shall be abba TO re-
strain them in their hour of victory? When that
moment approaches, when the danger shall seem
to be over aud the spos are ready to be divided,
every outlaw will rush to fill their ranks, every
adventurer will rush to swell their legions. and
they will sweep down upon the South as the hosts
of Attila did upon the fertile fields of Italy.
And shall you find in defeat that mer-
cy which you did not find in victory 7
You may slumber now, but sou will awake to
fearful reality. You may lie upon your beds of
ease. aud dream that when it is all over you will
be welcomed back to all the privileges and i'm
munitles OF Tree cltiZens Dut how terribly Will be
your disappointment You will have an ignobe
home, overrun by hordes of insolent slaves and
rapacious soldiers. You will wear the badge OF
conquered race. Pariahs among your fellow
creatures. yourselves degraded, your delicate
wives ana gentle children thrust down to menial
service. insulted. perhaps dishonored. Think
you that these victorious hordes; made up in the
large part of the sweepings of Europe, will leave
you any thing? As well might the lamb expect
mercy from the wolf. Power which is checked
and fetterod by doubtful contest is very differ
ent from power victorious. triumphant and ire
sponsi5le The friends who you have known
and loved at the North; who have sympathized
with you in your trials, and to whom you might
have looked to for comfort and protection will
have enough to do then to tskecare of themselves
The surges that sweep over us will carry them
away in its refuent tide. Obi for the
tongue Of prophet, to paint for YOU
what is before you unless you repent
and trun to the Lord, and realize that
His hand is upon all them for good that
seek Him" The language of Scripture is alone
adequate to describe it: "The earth mourneth
and languisheth; Lebanon is ashamed and hewn
down; Sharon is like wilderness. They that
did feed delicstely. are desolate in the streets
they that were brought up in scarlet. embrace
dunghills. They ravished the women of Zior
and the maids in the cities Of judah. They took
the young men to grind, and the children fell uu
der the wood. The JOY of our heart is ceased
our dance Is turned into mourning The crown
has fallen from our head, wo unto US thai
have sinned."