Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-01-03
The source Of Crime Our Duty
as fShtInnthrOptsts and Chris-
ffeENS.

ttanS.
'yice Is monster Of such frightful moin
That TO be hated need but TO be seen;
Yot seen to oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
The military steps in anytime of sin.
ful indulgence are warmly contested
by the moral influences that hover
around, despite the most energetic Of
forts TO throw them beyond our natu-
raj bent. We may hate even the
thoughts that first form the ground
work which culminate in overt acts OF
wickedness, knowing TO a demonstra-
tion, that future in which they OPP
crate is beset by thorns, ending in
loss of reputation, tsmporal-eonafeFts,
and life itself. We may loathe the
object of pursuit, denouncing the i'm
pulses that drive us forward; yet,
there is charm, an unnatural agen-
cy which takes the will captive, makes
us plant slaves, submitting our minds
and bodies TO acts of humiliation and
shame.
We are living in an age of excess
i've wickedness. Crime is feariully on
the increase. The city and country
prints are filled with naITations Of
murders, rapine and theft, with their
collateral train of evil surroundings
All classes Of society are represented
in the roll of tragedy and crime, where
in is recorded "man's inhumanity TO
man" We find the Revs. Kinslys and
Hudsons, reputed ambassadors OF
Christ, figuring with the Probsts and
Springs, whose lives were spent in
crime from earliest infancy, the pet
ted Ketcum and the sneak river thiei,
side by side in the list of criminals.
These are the groupings sown du-
ring the ''civil" struggle. The list OF
killed and wounded, by bullet, shell
and sword, by exposure, fever and
starvation, may present a more fear
full bulk Of mortality, furnish the
homes of thousands with dark man.
ties, obstructing the rays of hope as it
once CLEANED on all around Such
sorrows are smothcred by the march
of time, often leaving the heart puror
and better qualified, afterwards, for
subsequent conflicts This second
crop, however, is more blighting in its
effects, more fearful in its devlop-
ments, and more, far more detrimont-
al in its terminating resources. The
widowed wife, the fatherless child and
doting parent, find some consolation
in the thought that their loved ones
yielded life as an offering in defence OF
home and country; but DO consolation
survives the wreck dashed upon the
highway and lost beneath the aveng.
ing sword OF justice. The wife, child
or parent see DO "silver lining" in the
dark. portentious cloud that engulphs
them, no rainbow Of promise, assur.
ing that all is well beyond the divid-
ing line.
The returned soldier, a complete
wreck, a mere remnant of his former
self, although an object of commisera-
ton, is honOred by the true patriot
while the moral wreck, which goes
down in the storm Of lifes rugged wa
ters, is remembered only as roproach
upon the name of humanity.
This is indeed an age controlled by
wicked passions, the powers Of evil
have even marshalled their hosts with.
in the visible church, using its infu-
ence TO prolong strife and social fcuds.
The God of peace, Of brotherly love,
Of christian charity and forbearance,
has been compelled to abdieate the
Throne, while the God ofwar, of bate
and of selfshness, has reared his seat
prepared at the word Of the people,
TO keep alive the elements of discord,
disunion and oppression. These bit.
ter fruits, legitimate ofishots from the
field of carnage, flourish after the
smoke of battle, after the war has
ceased, after the articles of capitula-
tion are signed and sealed, with double
vigor We are Just beginning TO reap
the bitter fruits Of national sin, The
North and South alike share in this
harvest. There is no escape from the
direful curse only in the resources of
that portion Of our people who profess
TO mould their actions upon christian
principles-who profess to be guard
cd by moral checks aud wholesome
laws, founded upon principles of equi.
ty and justice. The home influence
must be a christian influence, inculca-
ting a sentiment of love, of expanded
philanthropy, Of forgiveness, or we
suffer by schism, ioalousies feelings of
alienation, calculated TO undermine
society in all her departments. Let
us as individuals, as integral parts Of
this republic use our efforts TO create
a wholesome state OF society, and the
work will commence.
Our country must recognize the
great principles that are taught in the
Scriptures, making them a controlling
powerin the land, or we never will be
exalted as nation. Passion will nov-
er elevate us, will never give us a per-
manent influence, will never make us
one in every good word and work
Let the loaven of christian charity,
brotherly love and national unity
dwell among our proiessed christian
people and it viii not be long before
bone will come TO its bone and we will
rise up from the valley of death and
carnage a great army. There is no
need of dividing lines, no need of pro-
tracing feuds, if the moral elements.