The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-04-12
THE DEMOCRATIC ADVOCATE.
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THURSDAY, APRIL IL, 1866.
PR0VIDENCE Nv WAR.

late Civil War asan especial interference
of Divine Providence intended for the
Liberation. of the African race; and that
the Abolition party of the North was
raised up as His particular instrument
to effect that purpose. We are willing
to admit that He may have designed the
eventual freedom of the African race in
our midst, as he does of all other races
but we are not prepared to admit that it
was His will that such object should
only be attained through dreadful scenes
of blood and carnage. 1t is undoubted-
" true that wars, as well as every thing
else that takes place in this world, are
subject to natural and moral laws Or
dained of God but it does not follow
that they come of His divine purpose,
save as punishment for the errors and
imperfoctions of men; in the same man
ner as He'll itself may be said to be an
institution permitted of Heaven, into
which sinners thrust themselves against
every restraint.
St. James says "whcnce come wars
and fighting among you, come they not
hence, even of your lusts 7" Now, when
we come to try the late Civil War by
this standard we find that the North,
dissatisfied with the slow working ofthc
peaceful mode Of the extinction of slave
ny under the operation of natural laws,
and LISTING for political power, deter
mined to turn this moral irrepressiblc
conflict into political one and, with
out regard to the equal rights of the
Southern people, attempted the organi-
cation of great political Northern party
for the express purpose Of forcing their
anti-slsvery notions upon the South
If it be alleged that neither were the
people Of the South innocent in this be-
half, it still makes no difference in our
argument where the first error lies, as
it is only necessary to show that the war
was the result Of folly, of evil passions
and misguided judgment; and that il i
impious TO charge its concoction on high
Heaven, when it evidently proceeded
from much lower region.
We are inclined TO believe with Ma.
polcon LIST that in War, God helps the
heavy battalions," if he helps any and,
furthermore, that fthe battle is not al
ways to the strong" yet the freak must
generally have the advantage Of breast
works when they gain the victory. If
God, having established his fixed laws.
cannot now be expected 10 interfere
with them often in miraculous way,
even in behalf of just cause, we have
little reason 70 believe he would so in.
tcrfcre in a war mnnlcstly brought on
by the bad passions and perverted judy
ments Of radical politicians on both sides.
During the war JEFF Davis We'd with
Mr. Lincoln in proclaiming fast days,
and in calling on their respective people
to invoke the fayorof Heaven. Against
this VIC have no objection to make, as
both sides being much to blame they
could not humiliatc 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 unue.
ccssary war, imagine that they are the
peculiar fayorites of Heaven, aud that
the Lord of Hosts is fighting on their
side.
1t reminds US of an incident in histo-
ny, which We once read of, that may be
appropriate here, Some hundred years
ago a formidable expedition was fitted
out by the Southern European powers
to attack and capture Seaport Gu the
coast of Northern Africa, held by the
Mahomctans. 1t was u most powerful
feet and sailed under most fattering
auspiees--the Pope having gone to the
sea shore TO bless the armada, and it
being attended by the prayers Of all
christendom. At the same time, in all
the mosques went up the prayers Of the
faithful Moslem to the same ovcrrulng
Providence for protection against the
threatened assault Of their enemies -
When the feet had reached the middle
of the Mediterranean violent storm
arose, wrecked many of the vessels, and
& catered the rest in such manner as to
cause the abandonment Of the whole cx-
petition. Now to whose prayers did
the Almighty lend the most willing ear,
and in whose behalf did he design to
interfere ? In our opinion, neither
The same winds which scattered hope
leJsly the Christian feet were the result
Unnatural causes perfectly independent
of the concerns Of mortals and whoever
was exposed to its course, whether
Christian or 1nfdel, had to feel its
effects. rs ls