The Portland daily press., 1864-08-04
The Cause of the War.

dDt9 OnO Va tiit uiOot
able, wicked, strange and causeless rebellions
that has happened since the angels rebelled in
heaven and lost their first estate"
OF the general spirit of that declaration
have nothing to say, But against the unqual-
flied use of the word "causeless," in that con-
nection, l must earnestly protest. And | do
it because of the practical effect Of such state
meuts upon the public mind And what is
that effect? 1t is "unquestonably" to endorse
and give currency to the superficial and false
notion, that, as touching the cause Of the war,
",ce the people of the free States" have no
responsibility, are not at all accountable for
its costs or consequences, and therefore have
nothing to do but conquer the rebels, and tlen
sing glory hallelujah, and go marching on"
with flying colors.
The idea is not only false, but like all other
selfdeceptions, exceedingly penicious, espec-
tally at this crisis, when the disposition is so
universally manifest to ignore our own ac-
acuntability, by charging all the blame upon
others.
What should we thing of a merchant who
should ft out piratcal craft, with the under
standing that he is to share the profits and do
so while successful, but when she is captured
endeavors TO cancel his guilt by denouneing
the crime and aiding in the execution of the
officers and crew? And where is the differ
ence? Mainly in the stand points from which
we view the two cases. To see and Judge the
faults of others, is very easy; but to look with
in and pass impartial judgement in our own
world. Let us subdue the rebels, but not for
get that we are accessories before the act For
maintain that from, say 1880 TO 1850, there
was not year in which the people Of the free
States could not have initiated measures that
would have put civil war in this country be-
youd the reach of human or Internal possibil-
ty. But it will be said this statement must be
qualified by an 'if.' | admit there is an "if,
in the way" and our business is to locate it
where it belongs. "If the people had been sui-
flcienily informed" &c. Ii they were not SO
informed, why were they not? 1t will not be
denied, think, that the unmistakable rela-
ton between the acts OF our Government,
(which are the acts OF the peope) and our
present trouble, was as clearly perceived by
very many persons, for the last 80 years, as it
is by any of US today; or that those persons,
many of them labored with a zeal and fidelity
and perseverance, commensurate II possible
with the magnitude of the issues involved, to
diffuse, and to impress that knowledge upon
the minds of the people.
And if the two main channels of informa-
ton, thro' the people, had been open for the
Transmission Of such truth, viz: The pulpit
and the press, where then would have been
the lack of information? / will risk the re-
sponsibility of saying that if two-thirds of
the clergy in the free States had been as true
and faithful, as were a small minority of them
during that period, they would not now be
under the painful necessity of substituting the
bloody gospel OF war, for the gospel of peace
and good wall to men. And if the press, re-
ligious and secular, had been as out-spoken
and earnest in the advocacy OF the truth, then
as noU, their daily and weekly sheets would
not now be freighted with daggers to pierce
the souls of millions, in their once happy
homes. Again you say it is one of the most
strange rebellion, &c. That is true; but the
strangest thing about it, TO my mind, is that
the people North, especially the intelligent
portions, and more especially those occupying
the responsible position of teachers of the
people, in any capacity, could, under the in
spiration Of the god Mammon, political ambi-
ton, party amnosity and sectarian zeal com
bined, succeed in so putting out their own
eyes, for the time being, as not to be obliged
TO see, from the nature of the seed being
sown, what the harvest must be. If the South
sowed the seed, the North watered it and
hedged it about with legislative enac,ments
to protect it from the raids of wild Fanatics
or what was the same in effect, ''let it Alone"
and cried hands of, trembling lest radicalsm
should derange the delicate working of some
religions, falsely so-called) pecuniary, polt.-
cal or social machinery in which we were per
sonally and deeply interested
"But why dwell upon the past?" Because
Nwe are verify guilty concerning our brother,
In that zoe sa,c the anguish of his soul when
he besought us and ace could not hear; there
fore is this distress come upon us"
And because the first step toward removing
this distress should be, not only fighting our
in guilt, hut reformation in our |
selces. And the first step towards genuine !
is TO gain a clear perception OF |
the nature and extent of our guilt and re- |
sponsibility.
care not how much people fast and pray,
both saints and sinners; if unaccompanied by !
rigid self examination and impartial self
Judgment, such services, like the faith that is
substituted for good works on the score of
is insulting to Heaven aud mock |
Try to suffering humanity.
A mere change of opinion, or of practice
lot necessarily prove reformation such as is
needed. Ii so, the above merchant, who fitted /
out the pirates, and shared their plumber as
long as he could, is a reformed man as soon as /
The crew are captured; for then, 10 ward OIL |
suspicion from himself, he is loudest in de- |
them.
Does he not really believe, yea, kno,o, that
their crime is infamous?
Superfciality, and consequent selfdecep-
ton, hold to be the most serious of all obsta.
cles in the way of our moral and spiritual
elevation, both individually and nationally
And when we become truly reformed we shall
ind abundant opportunities to manifest the
change in righting other wrongs besides
Southern rebellion, for then we shall not have
% wait till reform measure becomes popu-
ar before we shall dare look at it.
A MECHANIC.