Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-22
CHRISTIAN PATRIOTISM.

which, unlike its political and ecclesiastical con
yf,sre. the New York Independent, does not habi
.stually dabble in politics. And when 1t makes q
reference to current political issues and discus
SONS ID does 80 because, according to its view, the
interests Of sound morality or of true religion are
involved IN such issues and discussions. To this
theory Of duty in the conduct of Christian jour,
nal there can be no possible objection. 1t is only
"A in the practical application Of the theory that men
are liable to error according their views Of Chris
tan and patriotic duty are more or less enlight-
/ ened. ~ v,.g.. TIL &C., "a
isg In its weekly number OF the 10th instant Inc
! Recorder INDUCES in certain remarks which,
IL says, are made awih no desire to enter the po-
litical arena, and no willingness to be in any sense
,psrtisan, but from an imperative feeling OF Chris
3 tiau duty.oz eve have far higher aims" add
the reverend editors than political influence, and
Ire determined never to be entangled in political
stries which lave no direct relations to and bear
T ines on the kingdom Of Christ. = +. a l.' ss
y; These declarations are made in view Of what the
Recorder calls the g peace element in the Chicago
i nlatform--ar element which, it thinks, has rem
dered it impossible for intelligent and conscien-
tious persons to hesitate as to the choice which
must be made between Secession and Union,
I'VE are not as intelligent" ss the editors Of the
Recorder but we may claim, we trust, without un-
due presumption, to be equally conscientious"
when we say that in supporting the candidacy Of
Gen. Mcclellan we honestly suppose ourselves
To have made choice for Union against Secession
And as our sense of practical duty conducts US to
!. conclusion quite divergent from that taken BY
the Recorder, it is plain that concurring with 1t
u we do in the theory which it acts there must
be some radical difference between the standard Of
dntv which we erect for our guidance and the
standard which the Recorder erect for its rule OF
nolitical faith and practice. And our religious
contemporary leaves us 20 room for doubt on this
point when it propounds the following principles
in Justification Of the view it takes in the matter
of the war, as involved in the political issues seve-
rally represented by the candidacy of Gen. Nc
Clellan and Of Mr.. Lincoln. Il says: /, "
Va Thsre s danger of guilty tmidty, srsrg from want
Of faith in God and in The right. which God will surely
for peacs aud morbid and scky sentiments of pity for
criminals should be too ready to yield the cause OF
nece and righteousness and humanity too ready 10 take
Il - oeys more mercifui than God, and pardon those
dyeadf offenders hO he in mercy to postery has dsliD
cred 10 y, 10 PUNISH aud desroy not Saul rejected
from beine kpQ because he disobeyed God in not utterly
the whoe was great that God
would not spare them7 Was not Elisha, the man OF
God wroh with Joash king Of for bis faint
in ept ring upon against the SyriAns the bitter
enemies of Israel, and the enemies OF God And he
said unto the king Of Israel sme upon the ground And
he smote thrice and STAGED. Ana the man ~ goo We
yro,h With him and SAID thou shoudest have sme0 hve
or AZ tunes then hads thou smtten Syria till thou hadst
consumed it; whereas now thou shat smlte Syria put
thrice no iost golden opportunity 70 conquer Jus.
and honornbs peSce and his nation from perpetual
sr These ars lessons ,ohch American christians ahoud
not neglect at such crisis this God looks at the moral
principles involved more ,han the temporary
ouestons of great and far reaching moral involved
10 the manner of making peace and chIstsns mast
not leave them to politicians alone or GOD w DO terfoy
angry with US"
It will be seen that according to the view OF the
Recorder the Government Of the United States has
been commissioned by the Ruler of the Universe
to exterminate the people and institutions OF the
South. The Divine legation of Abraham Lincoln
to accomplish this benefcent purpose is as clear
rs the Divine Legation of Moses demonstrated
in the pages Of Bishop Warburton. And this
consolatory view Of our political duty is sup
ported by Scriptural prcoedents drawn from tho
guilt Of Saul, the King of Israel, "because he
disoboycd Gcd in not utterly destroying the
Amalekites, whose sin was so great" As this
example of Saul is held up for the warning of
the American people in the present crisis, it
may be permitted US to recall the measure Of the
guilt he incurred in this transaction, that by clearly
perceiving his delinquency We may ascertain the
rule Of duty prescribed by the Recorder for the
observance Of the Government in dealing with
athe dreadful offenders whom Gcd in his mercy
to posterity has delivered to to punish and
destroy" M M
We learn from the Sacred Writings that tie
children Of Amalek for their treacherous and cruel
conduct to the children Of Israel in the fight from
Egypt, we're doomed by the express command Of
Jehovah to " be blotted out of remembrance from
under heaven" The Divine edict to this effect
was supernaturally communicated to Moses, who
soomnly left its execution in charge of the jewish
people, 30 soon as they should have possessed them
selves Of their promised Inheritance in Palestine.
When Saul had been set over Israel, the same
supernatural revelation which had originally de-
livered the Amalskites to extinction disclosed tc
Samuel, the prophet, that the follness Of time tt
osrry the decree into effect had come. The "voict
81 - ~ vvords If the Lord coynoand "a tho Kinc