Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-02-20
Communicated.

Mr.. EtIiOr--It appears 10 me,
from observation and reflection, that
few persons have a definite and clear
idea of what is transpiring IN the con-
tention OF man with man on this earth.
1t is humanity striving TO free itself
from the despotism and tyranny of
flesh and the devil. When the Lord
offered David his choice of being put
under the yoke of man, (the flesh and
the devilo, pestilence and famine, he
knew what he was about when he
begged Him not TO let him fall into
the hands of man; he had suffered
persecution ut the hands of Saul. and
he knew what man was capable of,
uncontrolled by the commands and
general counscls OF God. You may
ask any man, the vilest sinner, If he
will have man TO rule cvorh:1a, and
he will instinctiveiy or with spon-,
taneity tell you no. Truth never con-
tends against itself. It is one error
or idea under the appearance Of truth,
against another error or idea under
the appearance of truth. If crroror
idea could not put on the appearance
of truth, humanity could not be de-
ccivcd.
The late conflict between the North
and the South gives me good illus
tration: The idea OF the North was
so-called freedom, unity or National
Sovereignty; the idea of the South
was so-called slavery, individuality or
State sovereignty. President Lincoln
had TO use trickery and deception TO
get them TO fighting. Our fathers cs-
tablished Il voluntary union. not 4 CO.
ercive one, and that our differences
should be settled by ballots. and not
bullets. President Lincoln chose
tricllery and bullets for his policy
L told him il he did not change his
policy some terrible calamity would
befall him. You may ask how knew
ii? / will tell yOu: 1t was by the
study OF Gods word and the nature
of things, the relation of The finite TO
the infinite. The idea of the North
was superior in numbers to the idea
of the South. In order for the South
10 succeed, it was necessary for the
South TO have assistance, either Wis
ible or invisible. At the commence
meut the South had that invisible ns-
sistance, for it repulsed the North.
But oh! fatal day for the South when
it deserted Gods counsel and COM
mcnccd to initiate the North. On the
march to Pennsylvania they told me
they were going over there and servo
them rs they served us. told them
they had better not, for If they did
they were no bcttcrth than the Yankees,
and thought 10 myself if they did,
they would get thrashing. There
is 4 remarkable case recorded in the
Scripture where Joshua and his army
got thrashcd when some OF his mon
appropriated the golden wedge TO
their own use. lie puTgcd his army
of the culprits and then triumphcd.
Gen. Lee did not do that. and I am
afraid il he had he would not have
had many men left. Tho struggle of
humanity to regain what il lost 10y dis
obedience in the garden Of Eden, is
not over yet, IL has taken on n new
phase-thc idea of so-calIcd capital,
and the idea OF so-called labor, and
if those entertaining these different
ideas do not learn wisdom tho conflict
will be awful. so terrible that II God
does not shorten those days no man
will be saved. Allwar is bat = bloody
exchange of ideas.
+. a. LEWIS.