The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-27 00:00:00

Reply to a Republican Leader.

In our correspondence columns there is a severe
critique oh an article which appeared in our issue
of the Ist inst., headed " Rebels ;" and the " Re-
publican Reader" after pulling our sentences to
pieces, asks 113 to express clearly our own opinion
upon the question at issue. If we compared notes
we would find that our critic differed much less in
opinion from ourselves than he appears to suppose.
Ile has strung corsceutively the broad differences
between WASHINGTON and Darts, to prove, that the
main difference was not that between success and
failure ; but lie has done this without convinc-
ing us. Great as are these differences, truly and
fairly as lie has put them, we still adhere to our
statement. Morally, success or failure makes no
difference in a cause ; the right is the right whether
triumphant, or steeped in the ignominy of the most
disastrous defeat ; and it sometimes happens that
fame accords the highest niche to the hero who re-
presents a train of misfortunes and a horrible
death. But this is only accorded when time has
shown the career of the patriot to have been pure
and disinterested, when his memory is'venerated as
that of a martyr. What place Mr. DAVIS will take
in history it is not easy for any, least of all for
Americans, to tell. Though morally, success or
take tihne ymieawteinrig this question,
al as well as the
failure makes no difference, materially, it makes
wa all the
are difference,bouu d to
maintain, that the difference be-
and
daspublicists, writing what passes
recording impressions of facts as they
:
andle
failure, is, the "main" difference.v
amwoarya
na sap e aspect,
week,a
tgedeenbaeufoereeesuss,
Our critic attempts to kill two birds with one stone,
and to make his remarks tell against our sentence,
that " between a rebel and a patriot there may be
but fine shades of difference, perhaps darkened by
the clouds of adversity or lightened by the sunshine
of success." We had no intention whatever of apply-
ing this sentence to Davis as the rebel, or Wasii-
iNGT°Nast
be falsehepatriotto
; forwe are well aware, if we
did, it would the fact. 'These remarks,
therefore, are not applicable.
The idea implied in
the whole article was not, as our critic says, that
success or failure makes the difference, in the right,
or wrong of actions. We do hold what we stated,
" although under certain circumstances it may be
the bounden duty of men to revolt, these circum-
bined to justify the movement,
stancesitth beyecaorme notaerse a ar
walre ine the highest degree, and where
m li
cc
ing the land with wasted blood, giving the reins to
wicked and insane act of folly, drench-
the vilest passions of the most wicked natures, and
involving ruin, suffering, and death to the innocent."
The Southern the " Republican Reader"
says, w
political crimes on re-
cord, the and the most causeless of
as
most
one
osts oft rebellion,uthepe nd au greatestSs
all rebellions, and we further believe that the word
rebel, as applied to Mr. Davis and his associates,
did signify the perpetration of a great crime. But
vguilt has been expiated, that
theecontend
South has a
and is enduring, the result of
its actions, and having paid the penalty ,it was
‘tendured, t the
for the interest of all
parties to throw the veil of con-
ciliation over the sad
Past. This was our only ob-
ject, and however bad may
have little doubt that even our " Republican Reader"
will allow our intention to be our argument we
have been good. We
believe in the truth of some theories, which are often
sneered at, as the
`` Alanifest Destiny" doctrine, and
every step to the fulfilment of the prophecy is in
our opinion a step in the right direction. A great
and united America,
a continent under one rule,
speaking one language, with the same laws and
without a hostile force on any border, is what we
would wish to live to see the great Republic.
Such results can never be attained if the
nation is to be torn by
contending factions.
It is for this reasoa We hope for the speedy
reconstruction of
the Southern States, and the
obliteration over all the land of the vestiges of the
rebellion. The memories it must leave are sad
enough without parading them unnecessarily, and
although our correspondent objects both to the
arguments and to the tone of the article, he
seems to consider that it would be wise to drop the
term. " A new conintandment I give unto you, that
ye love one another." These were our SAVIOUR'S
words, and if the unity of the North American
Continent, under a great section of the Anglo-
Saxon race, excites any enthusiasm in the minds
and hearts of good men, it is because they see
there in the future, the fulfilment of the command-
ment added to the Ten, by the lips of our SAVIOUR
himself. If people foresaw nothing but jarring
factions, a great overgrown power squabbling in
parts and States for ascendancy and plunder, the
4, Manifest Destiny" doctrine would not have its