Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-05-02
Providence in War.

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cnce OF Divine Providence intended
the liberation Of the African race
that the Abolition party of the Nor'
was raised up as His particular instr
ment to effect that purpose. Woa,
willing to admit He may have desg
cd the eventual freedom of tho Afne'
race in our midst, as he docs of
other races but we are not prepar,
TO admit that it was His will IN,
such object should only be attain
through dreadful scenes of blood n,
carnage. 1t is undoubtedly true IN,
wars, as well as every thing else tba
takes place in this world, are subiec
to natural and moral laws ordained
God but it does not follow that the,
come of HIS divine purpose, save as
punishment for the errors and imper
fections of men in the same manne
rs Hell itself may be said to be an m
stitutlon permitted of Heaven, intd
whieh sinners thrust themselyes
against every restraint.
st. James says "whcncc come war,
and lighting among you, como they
not hence, even of your lusts 2" Now
when We come to try the late CIV
War by this standard, we find that
the North, dissatisfied with the slow
working Of the peaceful mode Of thd
extinction Of slavery under the opera.
tion of natural laws, and lusting for
political power, determined TO turn
this moral iiropressible conflict into a
political one and, without regard to|
the equal rights of the Southern peo.|
pie, attempted the organization Of al
great political Northern party for tbo|
express purpose Of forcing their anti.
slavery notions upon the South.-If|
II be alleged that neither Were the
people Of The South innocent in this
behalf, it still makes no difference in
our argument where the first error
lies, rs it is only necessary to show
that the war was the result Of folly.
Of evil passions and misguided iudg.
ment; aud that it is impious to charge
its concoction on high Heaven, when
it evidently proceeded from much
lower Observation-Disclosures
We arc inclined to believe with
Napoleon lst. that in War, "God helps
the heavy battalions," if he helps any,
and, furthermore, that if the ''battls is
not always to the strong" vet the
tcedk must generally have the advant.
age OF breast works when they gain
the victory. IfGod, having establish.
ed his fixed laws, cannot now be ex-
pected to interfere with them often
in a miraculous way, even in behalf
Of just cause, we have little reason
to believe he would so interfere in a
war. .manifestly brought on by the bad
passions and perverted Judgments of
radical politicians on both sides. Dur
ing the war Jeff Davis We'd with Mr..
Lincoln in proclaiming fast days. and
in calling on tho respective people to
invoke the favor oflIeaven, Against
this we have no objection to make. AS
both sides being much to blame tbey
could not humiliate themselves in the
sight of offended Heaven too quickly
or too much but We protest against
that silly vanity which makes any
people who have helped to bring on
an unnecessary war, imagine that they
are the peculiar fayorites of Heaven.
and that the Lord of Hosts is fight.
ing on their side.
1t reminds us of an incident in hs-
tory, which we once read OF, that NAV
be appropriate here. Some hundred
years ago a formidable expedition was
fitted out by the Southern European
powers to attack and capture Sea-
port on the coast of Northern Africa.
held by the Mahometans. II was a
most powerful feet and sailed under
most tlattering auspices-the Pope
having gone to the sea shore to bless
the armada, and it being attended bv
the prayers of all christendom. At
the same time,i all the mosques. went
up the prayers of thefaithful Moslem
10 the same ovornling Providence for
protection against the threatened as
sault OF their encmies.-When the
iieet had reached the middle of tho
Mediterranean violent storm arose,
wrecked many Of the vessels. and
scattered the rest in such manner as
to cause the abandonment of the whole
expedition. Now to whose pravers
did the Almighty lend the most will
ing ear, and in whose behalf did he
design to interfere ? In our opinion,
neither.-The same winds which scat.
tered hopelessly the Christian fleet
were the results of natural causes per.
iectly Independent OF the concerns OF
mortals and whoever was exposed
TO ITS course, whether Christian or in.
hdel, had to feel its effects.
1t is not Gods will that wars and
bloodshed shall be the only arbiters Of
human disputes. His character should
no longer be regarded as that of the