At the time we write the country is smarting under the defeat of our army in the engagement at Bull's Run. As is usual on such occasions, censors are plenty, and censures are unsparingly inflicted. It is agreed on all hands that there is blame somewhere; but there is no agreement as to where the fault lies.
There is one cause of the defeat which seems to be generally overlooked, a cause, too, of sufficient magnitude to account for the disaster. W e express it in language long since used. Ps. 44: 9, 10, "Thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy, and they which hate us, spoil us for themselves." Ps. 89: 42, 43, " Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries: thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle." God has done this: He has sent on the country this great calamity, and he has done it in righteousness.
We readily agree—we sincerely believe, that on the part of the Government tbe war is just. The rebellion is utterly, without provocation. The South, under the pretext of withdrawing from the Union, really designed to subjugate it. They hoped that by establishing a Confederacy, they could, through their emissaries in the North, in due time obtain the control ofthe whole country. In this they would likely have been disappointed; still they had some reason for this hope. On the part of the Government it is a war for existence, justified by the first law of nature. It is, moreover, indirectly a war for liberty: for let the South succeed, and slavery will be established; let the North succeed, and its abolition is an ultimate, but certain result.
With a good cause, it would have been wise to prosecute the war in a justifiable manner. But here is where the fatal error has been committed. The nation does not acknowledge God, either as King of nations or as the God of armies. Without any plea of necessity, but against all the dictates of a sound policy, and as if from mere wantonness, the attack at Bull's Run was made by our
army on the Lord's day. Whether Gen. M'Dowell or Gen. Scott has the blame' of this we know not, but the fault of it is with those who fixed the time of the attack. We say there was no plea of necessity, for indeed that plea was on the other side. There was necessity for the troops to rest and be refreshed for tbe struggle— and there was necessity for reinforcements that a few days could have brought forward; and there was a still stronger necessity to obey the command of God, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."
It is discouraging to the Christian patriot, to reflect on this state of things. It is most manifest the fear of the Lord is not a prevailing sentiment with those who are at the head of affairs civil and military. They seem to think that the battle is to the strong, forgetting the opposite teachings of the word of God. Christians are expected to lend their aid to the country in its time of need, and they have readily done so. Is it not most reasonable that their religious convictions and principles should be respected, so that when they engage in the service of their country, they will not be required practically to ignore their whole profession ? And if they are expected to pray for the success of our army, let the war be carried on iu a way that will warrant an expectation of the divine blessing. Religious and moral qualifications are just as important, we contend, as military skill in officers. Cromwell, among the greatest generals that have lived, knew that and acted on it, and hence his success. If we have no religious men who are fit to command our army, there must be something sadly defective in our military schools. If West Point is a place where our young men learn along with military tactics, profanity, drunkenness and Sabbath breaking, that institution is a public evil, in place of a public benefit.
Why is not the religious community roused by these outrages on the law of God ? A strong and well directed protest by the Churches addressed to the head of the War Department might have some effect. The co-operation of religious men cannot be well wanted in this conflict. Let them make it known that they can co-operate only on the condition that in the camp and in the field, they will not be required to ignore their religion and obey the arbitrary commands of men who have not the fear of God before their eyes. It is just what might be expected, that such officers will be the last getting into the fight and the first getting out of it. Trust in God and a good cause inspire with true courage. When either is wanting, there is the absence of what is essential to genuine heroism.
To us the future of our country is dark. It is not Jeff. Davis and his rebel hordes that we fear; but it is the Most High, whom by our sins we have long and greatly provoked, of whom we are afraid. We know he is merciful; but we know he shows his mercy to sinful nations by sore chastisements continued until they turn to him and confess and forsake their sins. Until our land does this, we see nothing encouraging in its prospects. God has
many people in it, for whose sake he will doubtless save it from entire destruction. But it may require fearful and long continued judgments to bring it to a sense of sin, and humiliation aud repentance before him.
Comments edit
Note that the "Ps." is an abbreviation for "Psalm".
Above the first large space is page 265, between the large spaces is page 266, and below the second large space is page 267.