Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-12
OUR POLITICAL sOOTHsAYERS.


Our readers are aware that as secular journalists
we abstain from all attempts to interpret the pre-
else object and purport of the Divine judgments
which, in the order of Providence, have marked
the changeful issues of the present war This We
have done as well from feeling of reverence as
from respect for the proprieties of our position.
Our religious contemporaries are naturally not
restrained by this latter consideration, it is
trey in accordance with their functions "to Justify
the ways of God to man" We could wish, how
ever, that, in simple regard for their repute as
hierophants of the Divine mysteries, they would be
little more careful rightly to divide their commi-
nations, as we apprehend they are in some darger,
from rash and inconsiderate speaking, of mourning
the woe denounced by Jeremiah upon {" the foolish
prophets that follow their own spirit and have seen
nothing"
We find, for instance, in religious contempt
rary published in Boston, the following explanation
Of recent reverses which have overtaken our arms
is it surprising that disasters como our armies when
injustice to the helpless openly defended II God has
sent judgments the nation for completely with slavery
if it His design by this terrible to break the yoke
Of oppression may be certain that victory aud peace
impossible till full justice meted out by Govern
ment to the poor black. He must be treated like man
and brother, or God will not lift the rod He must re-
ceve the wages bis white comrades and be shield
ed by the whole power of the Government when taken
captive. The barbarities pracsed coored prisoners
at Charleston and Fort Pillow must be sterny avenged
inflicted the of Cabinet officers of our
Congressman.
'Such is Interpretation OF the late mournfu disas-
ter. God has still controversy with because OPP
press HIS poor and weak children He will not lift the
rod till justice is done the defenceess Their wrongs
cry to Heaven for redress and the cry heard and
swered in judgments the guilty nation which will not
turn from their sin.
1--WE see since the above was in type that measures of
redress to the colored soldier promise Better
late than never"
We fear this is not an exhaustive analysis of
the elements which bring disaster on our cause
If it were, we should expect that Providence
would be as likely to favor the National as the
Confederate cause, because we presume that this
expounder Of the Divine counses will not contend
that zee arc more cruel and unjust to the African
race than the Southern insurgents. And yet, if
the God Of battles decides the result of engage
mcnts on the moral ground defined by the Boston
journal, this would seem to be the irresistible in
ference
Next to the impiety of those who totally
deny the doctrine ola experimenting Providence
in the affairs Of men, is the sacrilege of those who
press it heedlessy and rreverenty into the service
Of their own falible conces and prejudices for in
far as these latter accepted the exempars of
Christian truth, they tend to increase and intensity
the incrcdulity Of the former. The judgments Of
Eternal Providence, as evolved in the many-sidcd
history Of nations, are ca great Deep" into which
those who drop their shallow lines and report
soundings often prove nothing but the profundity
of their own political and theological charla-
tanism On the whole, we incline to the opinion
of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican, when it
advises the political ,oothsayers, who so flip
PANTY assume to be athe God of God" that they
should practise little more reserve and prudence
in welding the thundcrs Of Omnipotence. Our
secular contemporary says:
"Woe unto the foolish prophets that follow their own
spirit and have nothing Jeremiah advised to put
such in the stocks If should treat them 40 in these
days, what exhibition Of uncouth human nature we
should indeed at the street corners We have pro-
phets among who very that II do not per-
form the Divine will, they understand it, shall
to griek They to have open vision into the hea
venly councils and indeed to Do intimate terms
with the powers above than any thing ia :her neral
religious character would lead 10 suspect. In fact
some we know who make most free with the Divine