Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-10
A DEAD Topic

n DEAD TOPIC.
Never, perhaps, was the oblivion consequent
generally upon the ''nine days" Of wonderment so
fully exemplified as in the case of the war with
Mexico. No journalist writes about it, no citizen
talks about it, and one might almost doubt whether
any think about 1t, except perhaps those whose af
iecilons centre IN some one spending his life
IN VICTORIOUS ease In an enemy's country. The war
might really never have been, OF might have long
since ceased to be, so far as it seems 10 have any
hold upon the public mind. IL is almost impossible
to realize the sudden absence Of all feeling of xcite-
ment upon the subject in view of the fact that four
months ago il was The theme on which every pen
and tongue dwelt--upon which some Wing and all
democratic editors, from the ssUnion" upward,
Were daily wasting paper and ink in spreading "a
broad their indignation and ferocity.
Well, there is lesson in this change Of senti-
inent which should not be lost upon our Govern
mcnt The war cry and the war spirit have been
entirely quelled by the very first step toward peace,
and the inference is inevitable that all the boosted
popularity of the war; and the boosted patriotism Of
some OF It's defenders, were mere moonshine, party
tricks to keep up excitement and cajole men into
volunteering to fight, and the people generally into
paying Tor the glory of thrashing an enemy We
incline also to think that there were motives on the
part OF the Executive or his Cabinet which would
not bear rigid examination. As soon, however.
as there appears the least hope of peace the bawlers
Tor war are compelled by the force OF public opinion
10 Keep silence, and tho entire national mind seems
to have simultaneously arrived at the same concu-
nently disposed Of
NO doubt In this, as in many other instances, the
wish is father to the thought. Thinking men have
always dlsapproved of the war: with the majority
OF the people it was never popular, and the hollow
friends OF those who promoted it have been driven
OIL their ground by the action Of the Senate and of
the President Now every one seems toadmit that
mr. pnnh o,I md
the people are content perhaps TO "b,y peace"
SO that they may be allowed quietly and without
distraction to prosecute their commercial agricultu-
raj and other pursuits.
AS is often the case when blessings come sudden
~ upon us, perhaps thankfulness and JOY are warp
Ing the popular Judgment, and the collapse may
| prove almost as dangerous the excitement and
we confess as TO some anxiety in the contemplation
OF me future. Peace is not yet made with Mexico:
this should be borne in mind, and on the question
whether 1t will be made the probabilities on either
side are very nicely balanced IL Mexico accepts
and raliIes The amended proposals for treaty
surprising. Tor the sake OF argument that she has
/ power to enforce the fuliilment-then will this ma /.
ton, we believe. profoundly rejoice, although the
terms and conditions are not litteat variance with
ihe representations and high promises held out nv
MT. POLK and other advocates of the war
put, surprising the contrary, il may we'll be
doubted whether this country can readily re assume
io at'iiuue ana again evoke the enthusiasm for
lighting which at the commencement of operations il
displayed. Time has come to the rescue of fever
ed minds The past has its records of deaths by
the sword and by the pestilence which appal and
dlsnay the nation The season for vomito an
breaches, and whatever martial ardor still sumbers
In the breasts OF men, there must be lull in war
like operations, for the god of pes,ilence will have
Ii So And in this connection we NAV not lose sipht
OF the moral effects of the rumored disorganzation
which has existed in the army, and in which even
officers have indulged in the conscious security of
political favor or obligation
How we shall stand if war is to be recommended
continued we ought rather TO SAYS grave
question. Heaven grant that such calamity may
be ayered, for 1t seems TO that the President and
MS cabinet have displayed as much want of sound
discretion and Intelligent forethought in the present
conluncture as they did in commencing and carry
ing on the war. That men who love their country
and desire peace and prosperity should unite upon
some iuure occupant of the White House, with a
statesman's intellect aud experience and PATRIOTS
virtue, seems to us not only in itself desirable, but
our only hope for the future-E T. Com. aip.