Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-12-08

again burst forth, and comparative TRANQUIL
lity has prevailed throughout the land. =
Europe has been convulsed by war.
| The armies of proud Austria have beer
routed by the hosts oe Prussia, armed will
the terrible needle gun, aud the thrones o.
Germany have toppled over like ten pins
Mexico, poor Mexico, has been rent anc
torn by civil war, and oppressed by the ar
mics OF France and Austria, while the State.
of South America have been engaged il
bloody battle; but within our own borders
no tread of martial hosts, nor clashing o
hostile arms has disturbed the quiet of tn,
nation. Nor has any foreign nation men
aced our peace. I.-
Those empires that, jealous of our power
while we were brought low by our internal
dissensions, waited but an opportunity tc
attack US and destroy US from the earth
now stand obsequious, ready to do our bid
ding. France, that short time ago defed
us, now nanifests her willingness to with
draw her troops from Mexico at our re-
quest, and proud and naughty England, that
mocked at our distress, now shows a dispos
tiUn even to pay the Alabama claims Rever
! ing the lamentation of the ambitious Roman
we may say, "5ut yesterday, none seemed Sc
poor to dc US reverence; n0ao, we may stand
against the world |" God has restored to us
our proud position among the nations of
the earth; nay give US loftier place than
we ever held before, and to Him that settetb
up one nation and putteth down another,
be all the praise. ..n..
That the sunlight of peace has shone so
brightly upon US, after the long night of
war that enveloped US in gloom, tba; senti-
ments of conciliation have so largely prevail
ed, ,and the affections Of loyalty and patriotism
been SO widely renewed, our deepest graft.
tute is due to God. But while we find so
much in the present peaceful condition of
the country over which to rejoice, it must
be matter of regret to every true patriot
that the chasm which the civil war created,
though biidged over, has not yet been
completely closed that eleven States of our
glorious Union are still unrepresented in the
council OF tue nation; that eleven stars of
our flag are still obscured. To suggest
plans OF reconstruction is not the office of
the minister of the Gospel, but of the states
man; but 1t IS the duty OF every minister of
the Gospel, of every Christian citizen, to do
all in his power to promote sentiments of
good will throughout all sections of the
land nor does a minister transcend his
sphey in urging upon all, legislators and
people, the importance of accomplishing as
soon as possible the complete re union of
the severed fragments of the nation. In my
humble opinion, the longer we delay to adj
init loyal senators and representatives from
the South into Congress, the more peiiious
becomes our condition. The prosperity of
the whole country demands entire reunion.
care not what are the terms upon which
the southern States shall he restored to their
full independence provided they be just,
and Possi6te but by all means let the result
be fastened The chasm that remains un-
closed will grow wider, aud no man is o
friend to his country who places stumbling
blocks in the way of speedy recoDstruc-
ton. For the sake of the freedmen,
for the sake of the South and its million of
our fellow countrymen, for the sake of the
whole country, and the great cause of free
dom and civilization l hope to see the
speedy re-anion of all the parts which rebel
lion and war have shattered II this be
preaching politics, make the most of it As
great and good man once said: "With
malice toward none, with charity for all,
with tirmness in the right, as God gives US
to see the right, let us strive to finish the
work in which the nation is engaged, to
! bind up the nations wounds, and to do all
which may achieve and cherish Just and
lasting peace among ourselves and with all
| nations |"
| But once again, I would enumerate as the
last but not the least of the blessings for
which we are called upon to offer unto God
| thanksgiving, the moral and religious pro.
gress Of the past year. This is not particu-
iarly specified in the proclamation of either
the President or the Governor, and yet to
speak Of the material prosperity of the na-
tion, and ignore its intellectual and spiritual
advancement would he grave omission.
Material progress is nothing, unless morality
and religion keep pace with it. There may
| he some who can discern no improvement in
this respect, but think can point to some
signs which indicate moral and religious
progress in the State and Nation. Do we
| find no cause for thankiulness to God that
the enemies of the Sabbath have not been
allowed to triumph in their attempts to secu-
larize the day2 that the running OF the street
cars on the Lords day has been stopped 2
Do We tinG no cause for thankfulness in the
many organizations that have been establish
ed during the past year for the purpose of
ameliorating the condition of the poor and
wretched, of providing for the orphan of
the soldier, of protecting and educating the
freedman, of advancing the kingdom OF the
Redeemer Do We find no cause for graft
planted, and the churches erected during the
past year Do we find no cause for gratitude
to Almighty God in the glorious revivals of
religion that have blessed large portions of
his church in this land in the souls that
have been converted and saved through the
preaching of the truth That, despite the
wickedness of the times, the advancement of
the Kingdom of Christ has been great and
astonishing during the past year, what OBJ
servant mind can. fail to perceive what
Christian heart eau fail to Acknowledged Is
it nothing that among people who short
time ago, made no public recognition of the
existence OF God the coin that circulates
from hand TO hand, bears the inscription, "Ih
God we trust Z" Is not the very appointment
of this day Of National Thanksgiving, thing
unknown few years since. an indication OF
an advance ir National morality and reli-
gion For all these indications of religious
progress, let us 'offer unto God tbanksgiv-
ing"
Having thus taken q cursory glance over
the country, and noticed few of the bless.
ings which demand our special thanks this
day, as q nation. we might take lofticr
point Of observation; and taking o survey
of the world at large, We would lind much
in the signs Of the times TO call forth our
.sns. NNa TX .g