The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-03-25
Saturday, March 25, 1865.
The Rebellion-Its Mighty Lesson.

The Rebellion-Its Mighty Lesson.
The vastness Of the teachings Of the
great American Rebellion can hardly
be realized. Through j, God is instruct
ing the nations. They who narrow its
outreaching proportions to this govern.
nent. or this continent. greatly circum
scribe its comprehensive scope.
Il is not simply contest between a
government and a combined host of reb-
els; it is almost infinitely more than this.
It is conflict between antagonisms as
old as the world, or at least as old IS
the distinctions in society.
On one side is arrayed Progress; on
the other Retrogression; for whatever
does not 60 forward necessarily goes
backwards. 1t is the array of Right
against Might; Of the People against
Glass; of Liberty against Oppression;
of Justice against Wrong. The pecu-
liar circumstances, the extended field of
the contest; the magnitude of the inter.
ests involved in the issue. and the par
ties to the bloody strife. give 10 the great
drama the absorbed attention of the civ.
liked world. All thinking men per-
ceive that in its results are wrapped up
the destiny Of the nations.
Il is this fact which causes the eyes
of the Old World to be turned this way
with such intense eagerness: and the
ears Of the people there to listen so in
tently for the tidiugs brought across the
sea. Every breath that is laden with
Intelligence from beyond the waters is
to them a nurmur of destiny.
1t is not mere curiosity on the part Of
crowned heads. that leads them to watch
with such deep solicitude the varying
fortunes of our war: they feel that their
own crowns and realms are involved in
the struggle which reddens the battle
fields of America with the blood of the
noble and ignoble slain. No careless
spectators are they; not titled lord,
from the throne to lowest Of the class.
who does not feel that the war on Co.
lumbia's soil is the great conflict which
shall leave its mark on the ages to come,
and either establish the rule of caste or
the dominion Of the people. Sceptsrs
tremb!e in the hands and crowns rest
uuessily upon the heads Of rempered
royalty.
Il is but natural that, monarch and
lord should sympashize with the South;
for the advocates Of privileged classes
there are fighting the battle of class for
she world. "It is our battle" say the
a,istocrats of the old world. and say
truly. This is what makes them desire
60 earnestly the success Of the rebellion.
lis failure sounds their death knell.-
Hence the amount of cannon. munitions
Of war, medical stores and provisions
furnished the rebels, without which
they must long since have been sub
dued.
But the rebellion will not succeed.
Its sueecss would give = new leaseSf life
for generations TO all the nabobs of earth;
and God is teaching the nations better
things than the "divius right Of kings"
and the superior excelleacs of those
who bear titles and Cypress the poor.
Il is He who speaks in the booming
canncn Of the haiiIe-6eld and blue ocean.
IL is His voice that is lifted up to be
world heard in the waging strife fraughs
with the destinies of the human race.
1t is no whisper that reaches but from
North TO South and back. Once the
nation so thought. but the great Dis
poser opened the blind eyes of the peo-
pie and unstopped their deaf ears, until
they saw and heard the grand anthem
of God swelling up from out the depths
ss The "voice Of many waters and mighty
shunderings," proclsiming Liberty tol
the sons and daughters Of Adam. The
war for the restoration of the Union
then became a war for the overthrow of
Slavery; ard as God is "no respector of
persons" the destruction of slavery
here is the harbinger Of liberty to all
usanlind.< The nations shall rise ont Of
thtir political graves: and the shou, Of
Victory over Rebellion in America is
tie uuu..t which shall proclaim their
resurrection near.
Who that has marked the progress
OF the war aud the change Of sentiment.
On the part Of the people. can fail to
read tie lessen God has tauhgt Us. dis |
ri,e our unvilIipgness at the 6rst to
learn in His school? -Four years ago
not public msn or An officer in the