Valdez daily prospector., 1914-02-12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1914.
THE scoURGE OF WAR.

coin at Washington March 4, 1853, after his election for the second time as president:
 Fellow Countrymen: At this sec ond appearing to take the oath of the presidential office, there is less occa- sion for an extended address than there was at the first Then state ment somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed very fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declara- tions have constantly been called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and expresses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented.
 The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to my self and it is, I trust, reasonably sat isfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to this, four years ago, all thoughts were anx- iously directed to an impending civil war All dreaded it; all sought to avoid it. While the inaugural ad- dress was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent az ents were in the city, seeking to de stroy it without war-seeking to dis solve the Union and divide the ef- fects by negotiation.
 Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war r,ther than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let t perish; and the war came.
 One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves-not distributed generally over the Union, but located in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and DOW erful interest. All knew that this in terest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union by war, while the govern ment claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial en- To of pected the magnitude or duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the con fiict might cease, even before the COL flict itself should cease Each looked for an easier triumph, and result less fundamental and astounding. to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare to ask just Gods assistance in WringiHg his bread from the sweat of other mems faces. But let Il" judge not, that we be not judged. Tho prayer of both should not be answer ed. That of neither has been answer ed fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. Woe unto the world be- cause of offences, for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence conl- eth" If we shall suppose that Amer ican slavery is one of these offences, which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having con tinued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the be- lievers in living God always, ascribe to Him?
 Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toll shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword as was said three thou sand years ago; so still it must be said, that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
 With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the