The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-02

III there 10 one lesson taught with greater
distinctness or emphasis than any other, ,by
the war in which this country has been en-.
gagged for the last three years, it is. that
God presides over the affairs of men-over-
ruling all the plots of the politicians, order.
ing the results Of all our battles, and SUBJ
ordinating all our little plans to His grand
plan of purgiug the nation of its sins. es-
tablishing righteousness as the basis OF
national affairs, and bringing the nation to
RECOGNITION OF His reign. Many doubt
er of Providence has been converted bv
the war; and the almost universal lack of a
living faith in the fact that God takes an in
telligent interest in human affairs and ex.
srcises His correcting hand upon them, is
much less noticeable now than it was be-
fore the war began. There are few men
who remain blind to the con viction that
there is . power at work in the war which
we do not see, and working out great and
good ends with wisdom and skill which
altogether transcend the endOwnents of
atatesmen and generals. The war has cut
knots that human wisdom could not unite.
We have prayed that il might cease, but il
has persistently held the national iniuui-
ties before the nations eyes, until the ma.
ton has not only seen their enormity, but
has seen that there could be no worthy and
permanent peace until those iniQuities
should be put away. The nation Is con-
vinced, for instance, that one of the special
designs of Providence, in this war, is the
destruction of slavery and all the black
brood Of political evils Of which it is the
mother; and ii is coming more and more
lally into the belief that the war will not
stop until slavery is forever DESTROYED.
with all those political powers aud parties
which have sympathixed with it. The ma
tion II becoming convinced that we are to
take new start, and travel more nearly
parallel with the Golden Rule than we have
hitherto done.
We have only 70 look back to the COM
smencement Of the war to sec that the p0lit-
ical infidelity Of the nation had become
horrible. Men OF the grossest personal
vices were reported for Office by those who
pro1essed 70 be Christian people. POliti-
cans who called themselves Christians
were often the Meanest dme-servers. In
deed, il was almost universally admitted
that . man could not be politician-asu sue
ceasful POlitician-and, at the same time,
. thoroughly honest man. Philanthropy
wes by-wOrd and reproach in the capi
al Of the nation. "A man who prayed aud
lab0red for the freedom Of the slave was
accounted despicable fanatic, by that So
oiety which assumed the first rank in
Washington and in the commercial CEN
ters of the nation. Patriotism was at .
discount, and personal and party interest
were recognized - the controlling motives
among all public men. The men who con-
ocientiously believed and openly declared,
that there was "a higher law" than the
Constitution Of the United States, were
booted at In the capital of Christian re-
public. Presses abounded which shame-
!easiy apologi.ed for, or covertly defended,
Oommerce knelt at the foot Of the slave
power and begged for peace. The slave
6ade itself had been resumed. and the
pooplo were getting 50 accustomed TO the
eRgressiOns Of political sin, that thew were
becoming callous, and were not surprised
Qanythtng.
We can Gee that, in some way, ,.war must
come out Of such state of things ss this.
aad We are apprehending with greater dis.
unctuess the fact that the defenders of
alavery are not the only ones who have
been 10 blame for its coming. It is the
elimination Of national iniquities, and is
Intended to be their cure. We are seeing
aume tthank God!) when it il not consid-
ersd an exhibition Of weakness to pro-
elaim and keep . national fasting. The
national heart responds to the call for
prayer, and rises more readily and natu-
rally in Thanksgiving whom special mercies
come. The medicine IL working the cure
10y which It has been administered.
50 this is our lesson-that God rules in
the Affairs of man, and will be recognized
" those affairs. The quick and tractable
nave already learned this lesson. The dull
ate learning it, and now, when the impress
NON is at its height, comes the temptation
forget and slight it. The Presidential
ssaovass is beginning. Is 1t to be pursued
70 the old way? Are we to have only the
cid struggle between the ins and the outs?
are we to have only the old game for pow
e and plunder? Will the nation still con-
sent to be the tool Of designing partizans,
ana turn its back on the duties which God
nag been teaching it, with such terrible
Tst TO itself Of treasure and of blood? Is
~ this pain to go for nothing? The blood
hundred thousand noble men cries
a9 rIm the ground to deprecate SO terrible a
ssling sadder than horror, and more sick
s1lng than disgust, when we survey the
seansh schemes of politicians and plunder-
~ c1 VINO, forgetful Of the war, or only care
lQl now they can mako IL cont 4 l,,A 10 e ie