Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-06-15
THE pAST-THE FUTURE.

not always the truth, ana II IL De we lntehu
now to Play the part of the fool that wise men
may profit by our foolishnss. We have be-
licvcd, and yet hold to the doctrine that the
lessons of the past afford the best guides for
the future, and that by exhibiting the stains
on our past carpet We are calling attention
to the means of avoiding similar misfortunes
for the future. Before entering into the sub
iect of our present article there !. one dietum
which we desire our readers to bear in mind
and consider as a demonstrated problem, and
that is that 'rMc Lord God omnipotent reign
eth"
Men in their prejudice, their arrogance,
their impotence and self conceit are but too
apt to imagine that they shape, control and
contribute TO the current events of this world,
while they are only the permitted instruments
in the hands of an over ruling and ali-wise
Providence. The affairs of all nations are in
His hands and are worked out to their final
results Mt His dictation. We do not mean by
this TO be understood as intimating that the
political affairs of all nations are at all times
and under nil circumstances, according to
His wishes, but that the end arrived at, no
matter how is according to HIS permission -
Contestants in the political arena not unfre-
quently donot work out these political problems
according to His will or desire, but at last His
end is accomplished without their will or even
knowledge. The history Of the chosen peo-
ple of God is full of instruction on this point,
and is too much neglected lesson by our pol
iticians for the good Of the country. A peru
sal of their history as laid down in the sacred
volume, shows that God was often displeased
with his chosen people, and after due admo-
milton or warning, and neglect thereof on
their part, he let loose upon them their ene-
mics and gave them into their hands This
is lesson which, though it has been read
by many of four countrymen. has not conveyed
TO their minds its full. its most useful import.
Ponder and ascertain what nation, though used
by the Omnipotent as means Of chastising
his chosen people, was not, after having ac-
complished the will of the Almighty, brought
TO nought and made to realize that "pride
gocth before a fall and naughty spirit before
destruction" They have all been wiped out
from the family of nations while Gods chosen
people are scattered over all the earth.
All the nations that have been permitted to,
or now exist on earth, have had their destiIe
to fulfil, their mission to perform; they ac-
complished this mission though they may have
performed it in such q manner as to have
caused their speedy CELEBRATION from the face
Of the earth Zone vessel he makes unto
honor another unto dishonor."
We, too, have mission to perform, des-
tiny to fulfil with us it rests whether we
shall perform it unto our honor or dishcnor ;
the mission will not the less be accomplished,
for 1.-THE Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let
us, then, look at the stains on our carpet, ex-
anime them we'll and profit in the future by
the lessons they teach. Our past history is
full of instruction and admonition in the
causes and manner of our origin on this con
tinent, in our rise and progress from weak and
neglected colonies to great and mighty ma
ton until now we stand before the world as
the mighticst of the family. We separated
from the mother country, through a seven
years war, on a principle. That principle
which impeled our pilgrim fathers to forsakc
the land of their nativity and which is the
foundation of our National edifce All men
are born free aud equal and are endowed with
certain inalienabie rights, among which: are
life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness. "
How have we performed our mission
us a nation in the elimn,tion of this
principle? We have no doubt that the pro.
mitigation of this principle was our mission
and for its accomplishment We have been led
safely through our difficulties and Dangers
The red man of the forest has been made tc
disappear from our pathway-we have been
safely conducted through the war of the revo.
lu,ion to independence ; We were the chosen
instruments to humble the pride and power Of
England in the war of 1872, which elimina.
ted sill further the principles of liberty and
equality; we have been led on step by step,
until we had reached the highest pinnacle at.
tanned by any nation. "Pride goctb before s
fall" We were pulled by pride and haughti-
ness we were plunged into fearful ci7i
war which has cost thousands of lives and
millions of treasure. Why? There was a
stain on our carpets; wise men threw their
NANTES over it to hide it. We lid all in our
power to perpetuate the kbel Oh the founda.
ton of the national edifce. Wedd not recog-
Mise all men as free. We held in bondage
,nillicus Of Gods creatures and bent our ener-
gies for their degr adation ths. We might stand
the higher and display laughter spirit. A
naughty spirit goeth before destruction, This
destruction we have but now escaped IN the
oh.ihration Of African slavery from the in