Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-12-21
Educating the Northern Mind.

Educating the Northern Mind.
The ''irrepressible conflict" is being wag
ed in the Northern States with increasing
activity Manufacturers are yielding be-
fore the terrible shock, merchants are sus-
pending, banks breaking, and universal
ruin impending over every branch Of trade.
Heretofore the masses have been led
blindly, under the direction of excited pas
sion,into the plans aud schemes of unprinci-
pied demagogues, until now the fearful re-
ality breaks upon them that they have been
made the instruments of their own destruc-
ton. The work of educating the popular
mind at the North as to their real duty to
the interests and rights of the South, has
thus commenced, and as each man who vo-
ted for Lincoln and a sectional policy, be-
gins to feel the effect. taste the fruit grow
ing out of the success of sectionalism, he
percoives the grave error he committed. -
The process Of education will be thorough,
severe and permanent. It has been the
wont of the masses to rush beedlessly into
excess of party feeling, under the specious
plea of freedom, thoughtless and regardless
Of the consequences that might follow
They now begin to see that it is not the free
dom they had been induced to believe was
in store for them. 1t is freedom from en-
ployment, freedom from bread and meat,
freedom from fuel and clothing, and free
dom from every ray of hope for the future.
They have manacled themselves with a
slavery, COMPREHENSIVE the condition O
the Southern negro is an elysium. 1t is
the slavery Of acant. Signs and tears and
groans coming up from starving women and
children. are the responses given to their
blatant appeals for freedom. And look al
the slave, for whom their pious efforts have
been put forth. Happy, contented, wei
provided for, no thought for the morrow, no
care upon his mind, and no apprehensions
either in regard to the political or fnancia
condition of the country. It matters no.
to him what the rate of interest or ex.
change; what the price of provisions; what
the supply of labor. 1t is all the same-ht
is fed and clothed as matter Of self inter
est to his master.
| While this is true Of the negro slave, looE
at the condition of the white slaves at the
North, the philanthropists who roll the whites
of their eyes towards Heaven, and shriel
in holy horror at the bare idea of the en-
slavement of the negro. They are abso
lutely sinking into the grave beneath th'
iron hand of hunger and restitution The
gaunt spectre Of Want sways the wand o
power over them, and all the horrors of if
remediable Poverty haunt them by day ane
by plight.
This process Of education, we are inclined
to believe, will effect a radical reformation
in the political views and theories of tn
working masses of the North. It is an ed
ucaton that reaches through the senses t
the heart--it comes home to the hearth
stone, and touches the tenderest and mos
sacred sensibilities of our nature. It's ap
peals cannot be withstood, and we ventur
the assertion, if, after the lessons alread
taught in the severe school through whicl
the people are passing, the election of Pres
ident were now to take place. different re
suit would be recorded.
The triumphs Of extreme opinions is nee
essary sometimes to prove their error E
vii is inflicted that good may result from it
A glimpse of the ruin a heresy may entail
will startle its disciple at the danger of hi
own folly. May We not hope, then, tina
the scenes that are now transacting upon GU
national stage, the legitimate sequence 0
the fanaticisn Of the North, will effect sal
utary change in the public mind, and carr.
the conviction to the hearts of the peopl
that to live in peace and prosperity, tn
rights and equality Of every section mus
be respected and protected, whether North 0
South ?