Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-13
WOROEs 5 II ER:
DEoEMBER Ia, 1901.

IT is now nine months since the country
has been at war. We have become tolerably
familiar with the calamties Of civil strife
which the statesmen OF three generations have
held up as the terror OF our race. The ordI-
nary movements OF armies never before par
aleled on this continent are witnessed with
composure, and the incidents of The eX-
traordinary struggle excite neither wonier nor
surprise. The present peri against when the
government need be most watchiu and alert
is the indifference which any apparent mac
tivity on its part would encourage, and the
loss of that moral support which an earheat
people are prepared to give TO govern
ment in earnest as freely as hey have gwen
their young men and their stores for the war.
1t is not in human nature 10 be patient un-
der suffering, even for the best OF causes,
unless it can see wherein its sutlerings will
contribute to the benefit Of its cause. Then
there is nothing it will rot endure. The sac
rifice of society, the endurance Of hardship,
the exposure TO nclement seasons and to the
fiery storm of battle, have all been hastened to
with alacrity by more than half a million of
brave men, who count themselves rewarded
with line hope OF sustaining q government
which God has given as a Blessing TO man
kind. But while they are hazardng every
thing for their government, the government
owes to them the exercise OF all its energies,
all its daring, all its powerful enginery OF OF
fence against it's periidious enemy TO ensure
the speediest possible return TO the blessings of
peace and prosperity. There is not soldier
in our army, however humble and triendless lie
may be, whom the government does not
wrong beyond power OF alonem, nj every hour
which this war is prolonged through infirmity
of purpose, errors in council, or needless ne
gect of opportunities that are always in its
power to command.
However much the loyal people of the coun-
try differ as to questions incidental to the war;
they agree with earnestness and enthusiasm
on the necessity of action---actlon against the
foul conspiracy which insults mankind every
hour it is suffered to live-action against the
horde of robbers who, having piundered and
betrayed their country, are now striving to
involve all that is left of il in one common con-
fagration. But while they are SO united in
their desires and purposes, the dilatory
progress of the campaign-the long inter
walls which are suffered to escape between our
fragmeniary marches, the overpowering pru-
dence of our great commanders,-non OF them
perhaps any the less necessary because they
are not understood, give time and occasion
for anxions and threatening debate Congress
sets the example. Some OF the newspapers
say it is bad one But congress is only ex-
pressing the feeling of tile country, and neith-
er needs anything so much as bold, clearly
defined, and self-reliant declaration of policy.
followed up by blows worthy of an injured
government and heroic people.
1t is gratifying to be assured that the i'm
pulse OF reaction is working violently on the
rebel states, weakening their efforts for evil in
some sections, and paralyzing Them in others.
They have been duped by their demagOgues
into an adventure, the magnitude Of which
they never contemplated, and which, with all
the advantage of their cotton and their slaves,
they will not be able to carry more than sim
gle season. Perhaps, if we are true and faith
full, they may, sometime, consent to become
part of government, which, whatever may
happen, is to be free hereafter, restraining
men only from injuring one another leaving
them otherwise free to regulate their own pur-
suits of industry and Improvement, and not
taking from the mouth of labor the bread it has
earned. This, says Thomas jefferson, is the
cur ~ j.. IN,
close the circle of our felicties.