Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-21

without severe strife with the foes of the
household that the State gets itself planted.
Men will grumble over a small tax to help
the poor, 10 educate the masses, to build in
stitutions for the insane or blind; while not
scTupliDg to spend fifty times that tax for
some luKury Of their own household. After
a long, long persuasion, the feeling of State
pride rises, and individuals feel sufficient
identity with the State to pay for its institu-
tions with cheerfuness. Until then the
household absorbs all cheerful effort; no toll,
nolhardship too great for their own. And
yet longer is IL before States combine to
nation. Perhaps, If left to their own free
will, no States would ever have risen to the
hight of nationality All such federations
hitherto have been formed under some press,
ing necessity of meeting commqn foe. The
United States, which had more reason for
such alliance than any other nation, arising
fom their geographical relationship, were
brought 10 II only for their common de.
fenses. And IL is an indication that this
country was the only real and thorough
nationality ever thus formed, that when the
necessity of a common defense was no longer
pressing upon them, our States met and,
abandoning the old articles of confederation,
formed "a more perfect UnionD | thinkit
will be difficult to destroy a union ratified
thus by deliberate and free choice, and one
which in its unity translates the unitary de-
CINtb ol US MIllltut III Tue uhFlQOultB Ol
climates, of rivers, Of mountains and valleys.
II will be at ence seen this was very vast
\ stride for humanity. In it the wholeness of
mankind is prehgufed. Such Union could
not bave been born of selfshness. The first
confederation on this continent was for a
common need; but from that union higher
force sprang-a high and glorious patriotism,
which formed q real, unfoTced union,
ffeighted with the destiny and the hope of
men D h
And what have been the foes of this great
national man Always the foes of the house.
hold; always some low private, State or in
dividual interests-the section against the
large humanity. The series Of rebellions
against the nationality of America have been
OF mean local Interests; now il is o whisky
rebellion, and then tariff insurrection, and
now one about slave property and the inter.
ests of cotton; slWayS the effort TO raise The
interests ofd section above those of the 1vhole
country and mankind. 1t is now the house,
hold of Cotton warriBg against the liberty
OF man, 1t is low, political sectariansm,
not whit more respectable than if the Epis-
copalians should take up arms to make the
country submit to their Bishops, and, failing
that, should declare themselves no longer
amenable 70 our laws. Christopher North
claimed that he had exercised a remarkable
Christian charity toward some rascals, be-
ceuse he allowed them to sit in the room
without pitching them out of the window
This nation has exercised the same wonder.
tul forbesrance toward slavery thus far; but
since it has construed not being pitched out
itself into the right to pitch out liberty,
don't believe such forbearsnce will last much
longer, Some of US think it ceased TO be a
virtue long ago.
AS the converse of the fact that our ma
tons foes are those of the households seq
ment against the circle--it should be re-
marked that the real success of America will
be in the proportion that her aim is large,
unsectioDal and humane. The press of the
country has been heaping us with calcula-
tons as TO the relative size, extent, wealth
and numbers of the contending parties. We
are told triumphantly that we have twenty
millions 10 their Eve, and money in yet
larger proportions. But this is not sufficient
as ground of confidence. Did Xerxes con-
quer Greece because be had a hundred fold
in its numbers2 Was Leonidas conquered
because he had only three hundred oompan-
ions2
Was America conquered in the Revolution
because England had many times our num-
Der of forces and all the money! In each
case the cause for which the people were
fighting was an element outweighing men
ard oney. "One with God was majority"
The nations fighting for mere household in
terests, for mere national boundary. lines,
against those who were for principles, for
iGeas, for freedom, were repelled with ali
their advantages. The Universe cannot af
ford to bSve those conquered who are fight
ing the battles of humanity. The stars in
their courses will fight against their foes. |
know Napoleon said, providence is on the
side of the nest battalions." But | know,
too, that not long after he said he was con-
quered. When Napolen first arose it was as
the friend and representative of the people ;
be kindled their hearts to enthusiasm for an
idea, and in its strength they prevailed again
and again. The soldiers loved him as a god !;
and old Beethoven, lover of the people, wrote
for him the great Heroic Symphony. But
when the household foes of Napoleon entered
his heart; when personal ambition and the
gaudy tiDsel of q crown began their lure,
then he began to identify God with heavy
artillery, and destiny with numbers. Then
Beethoven tore up the symphony written for
the champion of the people and wrote his
Funeral March instead: be had died though
the champion of self still lived. Ere long his
battalion. providence lodged him on little
rock out In the sea. 1t would seem as if au
oath had been taken by this universe that NO
victory shall ever be thoroughly, gained
which is not victory for justice aud man.
And this nation will be proved strong ex
aetly in proportion as it fights for q largeidea
against jostice--for freedom against slavery.
Take this away make it a war to repossess
property merely, or a war to revenge insults,
and the heart ofthe people can never be fully
reused to the mighty task. Aftera battle or
two they would sink back to negotiation.
Already the people are beginning to inquire
bow much is there to result to man from
this conflict II is not for stone and mortar,
for arsenals and nevy.yards, that men
are. willing to slay immortal beings; 1t
must be for principles and interests higher
than the preservation of millions of lives.
| This would not be the case II IL should be
imagined that the United States is fighting
one household in the interest of another,
neither meaning any thing but power. II
| we are yet to have slaves, and slave-hunts,
and Senatorial assassinations, and lynched
frsemen; If the land is to go back to its old
taskzmssters, why one Pharoah is as good
as another. But the people know that this
can never be So. They know that the at
mospbeJe of this country can heyer be bur
| tbened with the same malaria after this
storm. Every heart fills with prophetic ap-
pfshension or prophetic hope that sIapsry
ieill De W some lgGy ground 70 Pol0der between
tbe upper and nethsT, BillstoHes Hop al lOorA
apen e. This is not the victory aimed al
Immediately !; but any victory is merely pre-
pafatory Tor that higher one that frees tht
slave, In the exsgshclss Of war and theneg
pow ets thereby created, the Chief Magis
tfats of this nation will have an opportunity
OF 'beneftting mankind never before en-.
trusted 10 a. human being-the. opportunity
Of welding eiyilizations death-blow to hn.
man bondage. 1t will be in hispoWer to
say "Heneeforth there Is q new world, and
In itno slaYel" five praise the man. who
gave US religious freedom, theman whosHor
The Independence OF Holland, OF Switzerland
or America, what blessings shall not be
pouredon the head Of him Who, by one great
stroke, shall make q hemisphere Of freemen
the monument of his golden reigni His
Gay fehQice IS pd Yancing, when be may say,
these Slaves are all free Americans;
and these millions ofmoney raised 10 destroy
| you, shall help you bear the losses by their