The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-05


Looking through the long vista of ages
in the light Of history, we learn that ma
tons, races and mankind generally, have
made the greatest advances in civilization
and toward civil Liberty through strife,
suffering and revolution. Every bright
epoch in the history of mankind would
seem to have emerged from chaos of
confusion and darkness. Every great ad-
vance made by race to higher position
on the scale of humanity, has been out Of
the midst of surrounding and appalling
evils which seemed for time to threaten
their very existence. Every great and
important change for the better in the
condition of people and the character of
It's government, has resulted from terrible
conflicts in which society was upheaved
from its very foundations
The history of the dominant races and
nations Of Europe is full of examples
illustrating these positions And the race
and the nation 10 which we trace our de-
scent, as well as our own country. furnish
many signal examples in point
The impetus acquired by this nation
IN the Revolutionary struggle for liberty
and independence had spent its force,
and as the last survivors of that conflict
sunk into their graves, the nation com
nenced downward movement. The
generous exatation of the sentiments
Of universal liberty which distinguish
ed the fathers, and prompted their eff
orts in the cause of mankind, sunk into
conservative selhshness i'm their posterity,
aud prompted only regard for their own
political condition. Reform. progress.
elevation and generosity of sentiment
could not be rendered practical against
all the vested and natural conservatism of
the country IN time Of peace and rrosperi-
~. lnSurrection, rebellion. strife and
revolution, may do for Us what they have
done Tor other nations and for our own
ancestry The indications are favorable.
The vested right If property in human be-
lngs may be diverted by treason. That
position the most conservative among us
coneede, aud that concession. the devel-
oped fact of the present rebellion, will
prove the entering wedge to the recon
struction Of society ia one half Of this
land, aud will lead TO the founding of
new nation and Government for the DOS
terity Of the four millions of down trod-
den human beings, whose present wretch
ell condition stimulated the madmen who
inaugurated the rebellion.
The position of the border slave States,
the movements toward gradual emancipa.
tion IN Western Virginia, the sentiment
OF the people of Maryland and Delaware,
the prospective insubordnation and un-
prohtableness Of slaves, the resolutions at
the opening Of Congress, and President
Lineoln's cautious suggestions Of wide.
reaching policy Of emancipation, afford
most significant indications of the kind Of
progress and reform whichis 10 be wrought
out Tor us in one direction at least by the
present terrible civil war. A million Of
men are not 10 be arrayed in hostile
armies against each other, aud the world
commerce and nations prosperity ane
happiness TO be destroyed for nothing
We trust that under an oyerruliDg Prov
dence the work will be thoroughly don,
when II is done, and that il will be don,
oaee aud forever now in our day. that on,
children may have it of their hands.
The Presidents message il simply sug
gestive, and it has suggested many thing,
to US, Of which the above is kind O
glimpse. The President has made prea
progress since the Inaugural Message -
lie now enters upon the sacred soil
with the irm tread Of commander O
armies, and proposes to take forts inter
iefe with peculiar institutions, End bull,
railroads, In the sovereign" St,tes Of tn,
South
The world moves; who shall block tn,
wheels