Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-01-29

ihc truth must D. apparent 90 all thar the
eNistsnoc of the var. during the year has
obstruc;cd the operations of Divine grace.
in renewing the hearts and sanctifyin- the
lives q men. Anxictics connected With
the absence u fricnds IN their ccuntrv'. !.
cause. the succcss of governmental meas
urrs for suppressing the rebellion. AID the
advance ard retreat Of our armies. or ~
ioicings over victories gained on The battle
6eld. or Al the polls. have absorbed atten-
iion to tie exclusion q spiriiual aims and
rncditatious. Hence rrvivais have been
isw. sabbath desecration has been pain
faliy prevalent. aaI vicious indulgcnces
have Increased.
s. Nercr-hclrss there - bright sile 20
The picture. Therc have been gains a. veil
a. losses during the year.
Among these Las been the great adyanoe
towards the extinction - the piratisal con-
icJcracy.
The more than ffty federal succ-scs in
pitched battles. or in the lesser conflicts.
the great losses indicted upon the rebels a,
Nicksburr. Gstiysbur-. Pors Hsd.on.
Chatanooca, knoxville and other place. IN
their vicinity. the breaking up OF their ar
uiies in Mississippi. Louisirna. and Arkan-
"a. their expulsion from Erst Tennessee.
The successes IN Texas. the srvcriu., OF the
ooniedcra~y by the opening ~ the Missis-
sppi. that great artery ~ our internal CON
merce. The overrunnin-. and h3iIin- of 50
much of tle territory from Which thev have
drawn thcir supplies or their cons-riots.
tie Increased structure oi the blockade. the
increased tokens - a general bankruptcy
of The rebel 6u1nccs. tho CONSEQUENT lax
of confidence. the cKhagst.9u % their re-
sy1rrrs. tie wsarinr out aud demolition u
ihear railroads audroll.u, sto.A. tle threat
cacd farnine in thcir cities. tbs great diM-
calty IN feeding and clothing their armies.
the frequent dcscrtIous. the growing dis
couteni. the blightiny Of their hopes Of anv
eiicirn' AL from abroad. tbe wide spread
transition. Ina their Own language. 81. from
comPvtcncy O. poverty. from poverty 20
pcngry. and from peasry % palperisa. "
the freeing aai arnin- q so rnanv slaves.
tie consumate gencrai.hip ia the Western
deParimrlt. tbs aevcr % be forgotten bra
very of the union soldiers. both white and
colorrl. in every department.. the triumph
art loyalty. ani stern determination mani-
Tested iu the Altlmaal elections. the fnan-
cal prosperity ard Increasing confidence Of
The FREE states. aii these. combined With the
wsaknes' ia1-oed iy ihc late Presidential
amnesty. have cNs-teI a telling effect anon
the strength ~ lie rebellion. UaGer their
repeated assaa.ts. its great power and pres
tise have gone down in the conflict o. rise
10 more. NJ hat vii remain o. rs vitality
ior iaiare resisianec. val be bus the ener-
g Of despair.
Another of the gains from the course Of
the var FOR The year. has leon a more
uareHyt c.Hri.fi.i % G,rs pr1rif1lfilf
yasti-e. As a nation. we lad become in-
sensible - tL'. gr,a, trath. Il needed
rrvlFication in thc national heart. Prom
;he arst. 'Ac saT la bssa ts41hine a. ias.
ra7st Important lesson Iut moral truths
uanki iaI are slow OBJ learn. hcn.e che biz
ter experiences of another year have been
aided to tle lessons whieh hal gone be-
fore. that We m.-ht have Chs. truth imp-r.-
ed upon DE national heart. a.. with pen
oi iron. AL the point q q diamond. thai
'eriiy there is iciog ttat jad-cth in tbe
earth. Had tie var closed a wear AGO.
With tbe rc-estatii.hueut Of the constitu-
Ton. thr Jui9n and slavery. as ttcv exist
ci before iu the national eIifccs. the hand
of God ia the war vouii have been flr Ie..
clearly visible. and tbe nation probably
wouId have resumed its former career of
oPrre.-irr. Nlf fhc events OF OIL. ..s-
pact ,. ..e.f ..f ...r l.li leHrf tae
..t- ..a alte seen and leelsreI
i'.a i.e ae- anir-. Ia OoI. by his iaI.-
uerfs. hls heen le,h reading tac nation a
scsrre r.aake f1r fs rI>ti.e. anI on.
been from tle lr.f determined o.. f..t-ste
~1y avi-s. vl.rh should st1n st.rt of
ioo.snrng ths u1nlsof opnrcsslan. Hence
forth only those oi tae ll..est couarehea-
slor. or whose iafeiIecf. have been bsf.g.
Eri hy ss.l Interest. or hesoued 1v ambi.
t.n. can isi to believe that rl.t t,sI
pres. ies over hsua1 aFairs. anl that 90
ra-a. wh.rh -rumr'es hanufy in re
t.'t. ..' ionc rurs1e rrrherkel. a rros-
prr.as career. Ar1ther esir. ani e. great
gain t 's. vh..h the year hss bronz'.t ,.,h
u. itf.r .fr.i -l'.4rfial ~ fIs r--fr.-f
.rar g De- DOOM is aos c'oa-Ir
apparent. Wruea bong al, .a t..e Divine
lcr.s. d. i' r.a written ia r.e clearly sx-
pressed v.I .. ulEout of loyal Lesrts
or beading Glarrlh v.tl the brave rea