Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-11-01
CAN 1T BIC POssIDLEs

The American people have ever believed
that their manifest destiny" was TO be that
of a free, prosperous and christian nation
illustrating in its progress, growth and civil
lizatiOn oil that is noble and powerful in
human government. In common with our
more scrutinizing but less charitable friends
in other lands, we have seen and mouned
our various "natiOnal sins" and characteris-
tic weaknesses. But we have never felt
that these sins or weaknesses were of so
radical q nature as to call down upon our
heads the permanent judgments OF Almighty
God OF to lead to national declension aud
death. But may il not be wise for US to ask
the question seriously and anxi0usly, whether
it is not possible that Republican America
like Republican Greece and Rome, should
decline and fall 7 Gould it be possible that
our national sins have become SO great an
offence to God that it is more in accordance
with His plans aud purposes 10 let us die
than to help us to reform
The great crime of human Slavery has
doubtless had much TO do with bringing the
present calNmities upon our people. This
all writers on our present situation unite in
declaring The anti-savery historian traces
the judgments of high Heaven back to the
chain, the lash, and the blood of this sys-
tenn; while the Comprehend" decries the
abolition of this cruelty as the cause Of the
war. Either way, Slavery is "the rolling
/ atonnu That haa unoattlaA 4 ,,a.s, -.
tions Of the government. Many think that
as people we have repented of this sin
and forsaken our pride, our boasting, and
our self-conceit. But the question is still
grave one : is this repentance genuine or
universal is their enough of honesty and
integrity left among the masses Of the peo-
pie TO claim the help of God or the sympa-
thy of the good in other lands Even to-
day it is set down as doubtful whether the
people Of Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jer.
sey, or Delaware have moral power enough
to declare their respective States in favor OF
freedom and opposed to oppression, anarchy
and rebellion. And TO gain still darker
view OF the corruption of the men who are
striving after the ruins Of tho Government
and hope to grasp them in November next
; look at the recent astounding frauds per-
pstrated by the ruling Democrats Of New
York, by which the votes of soldiers. exile,
from the polls and fighting for their country
are changed, tampered with and by tb
basest kind OF treachery and forging, mad
to support men for office, for whom In
soldiers never voted and whose treason an
j, corruption they despise. And yet it
, thought that by the influence OF u Demo
y cratic Legislature, and Democratic Judge
: and Democratic Lawyers, and Democrat
= Governor, these very votes will be declare
/. valid on their account or The whole sollip
: vote BE- eaeludod; thus cheating our heroes
! their right Of suffrage and possibly givir
to Copperheads the control of the elector
a vote of the State of New York. A peop
= that car allow corruption like this TO pa
l. unpunished, cannot expect the favor
N Heaven aud cannot subserve auy good mi
ID sion among the nations of the earth
ID Then, think of that appalling conspira
,y IN the Northwest by which all entire secti
OF our land, was by blood and flame to
overwhelmed and carried at once to rebe
an lion.
I'd And we have intimations in our own Sta
at that the riots of New York city, are to
az repeated here and all their horrors re -enat
cd on Delaware soil.
We believe that the leaven of 'Coppe
I haadism" is working in our own midst, a
to it is possibly the same as that which fill
d. the streets of New York with riot a
'h bloodshed, that awakened damnable CO
81 spiracy in the Northwest, and perpetrat
an astounding fraud upon the soldiers of
t Empire State.
le 1t is said that the eseafed rebel prison,
d. and other fugitive rebels, who have fou
I'd shelter in Canada, are projecting bold r,
of on election day into Vermont, Maine, p,
haps Michigan, to drive Union voters fr,