Evening star., 1867-05-22
THEN AND NOW

No matter what differences OF opinion ex.
listed among the opponents Of the war for the
suppression Of the rebellion, while it con.
tin ued, there was one line Of argument ON
which all were agreed. 1t was used alike, By
the Democratic journals and speakers Of the
North to discourage enlistments in the army
of the Union, and by the rebels in the South
to force in to their ranks all who showed any
reluctance to join the secession movement. 1t
was that the war was not prosecuted to restore
the Union. but to free the negroes. The
changes were rung on this theme from morn
iSg till night, and from night till morning. It
was war for emancipation, prosecuted sole
ly to carry out the schemes Of fanaticaI aboli.
tionists. There was no mistake about thai point
So they said then, never dreaming that their
own admissions were to rise in judgment
against them. In view Of their past position.
so well known to every Intelligent mind
throughout the length and breadth Of the land.
north and south Of Mason and UIxon's line;
it is rather refreshing to ind these same speak.
ers and journals telling the colored people
now that the claims Of the Union men to their
sympathy is unfounded, that the war was
prosecuted for sUnion and Slavery" that the
Southern white people are the only friends of
the negro; and much more Of the same sort
They must form very low estimate indeed Of
the Intellectual capacity OF the freedmen to
think thew can bs imposed upon with such
shallow sophistry as this.
We have been led into making these remarks
by readin z the speech Of General Clanton. at
Montgomery. Ala, In reply to Senator Will.
son, which speech is warmly praised BY the
Democratic journals North and South, and ,s
copied in the Baltimore Sun Of this morn.
ing with favorable comments, under the
headings, "a sharp rebuke to Senator
Wilson-A Southern talk to the Neeroes
As specimen brick taken at random from
this edifice Of s'clap-trap' we quote the fol.
lowing absurd, il not blasphemous, attempt to
prove that the rebels themselves were the
chosen instruments Of Divine Providence tn
effect the liberation Of the slaves :-. You ara
not indebted TO the North or the South for
your freedom, but to God Instead Of abusing
us, you ought to remember that this rebellion.
which you are taught to despise. by your en-
emies and ours, who only come amongst you
for your votes, was an instrument in the
hands of God for your deliverance, so far as
mortal eye can devise the purposes Of the
Creator" That the hand of Providence was
visible in the Titanic struggle which ended in
the liberation Of the colored race, will not be
disputed by many OF those who fought for the
cause Of Christianity, humanity, Union and
freedom; but the claim Of the opponents OF
. that cause to be the agents Of the Divine Will,
is most astonishing. 1t is as if Judas Isca.
riot and Pontius PLATE should claim the sym.
pathy OF CHRISTIANS because they were in.
struments Of the Almighty in putting to death
the Saviour. And yet the Sun says ys.-"There
can hardly be doubt that General Clanton
takes the right view of this whole subject
politically. and probably as to the mysterious
providence in the freedom OF the slaves also.