Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-08-14
Barbarism VS.. Civilization.

The following summary of the contrasts
exhibited in the characteristics of the North
and South in reference to the rebellion is
taken from the Independent We CON-
mend it as worthy of careful perusal:
cat the outset of contest between the
two, Barbarism has some undeniable ad-
vantages.-The South is just now illus
trating this. with great exultation, and to
our discomfort and considerable damage.
Its President is simply Military Dicta-
tor; as really so as any painted head-chief
iof the Sioux or Camanches The temper
of its people is at once childish and saw
age Freedom of speech. freedom even of
opinion, is not tolerated within its limits
With passionate ferocity it confronts and
challenges the armies of the Republic;
sending collins along with its yelling
'braves," marked with the name of Abra-
ham Lincoln; offering rewards for the
seal lps of the Cabinet; enticing our troops
into thickets of masked batteries instead
of meeting them in the open field, and
then after battle torturing the captives
and numbering the wounded. The ferocity
on the part of the South meets patient,
principled, and patriotic enthusiasm for
the Union and its maintenance on the
part of the North; and the more intense
and concentrated passion has of course the
advantage at the start. So our tolerance
of free speech leads US to allow such var
lets as Vallandigham, and such gentleman
ly abettors Of treason as Breckenridge, to
vent and vaunt their dangerous seditiOn in
the very halls of Congress; while the head
of any man would be smitten from his
shoulders who should even question the
policy of Davis and his colleagues in the
Rebel Congress which sits in Richmond.
The South has therefore an aspect of una
nimity, which the more intelligent and tol-
Grant North to some extent wants. 1t is
kissing with fury, while we are simply
Tesolute and in earnest. And it is not
unnatural that some not very discerning
persons should feel in consequences that
the chances of success are on the side of
the assailing faction; that its hot wrath
will master our more deliberate purpose,
and its precipitate and desperate onset will
carry before it in one wild rush our mild
er methods and more careful preparations.
Indeed, that there has been and is scme
danger of this cannot be doubted. There
is perhaps basis of truth for the remark
attributed to Mr.. Russell, that the North
is not v.ndictiye enough to succeed
But there is quite another side to the
question. The noisy stream which tears
in fury and foams down the mountain, and
whose current rises twenty feet in day
before the spring freshct, is not after all
so majestic in power, as the calmer, deep
er, more slOwl ly-mOying river, that hardly
rises one inch in the hour to the others
ten, that is scarcely more than impercepti-
bly, swollen by any rains, but that can
carry feet of steamships without feeling
it, while the raging brook exhausts its
force in oversetting the dam or undermin-
ing the mill-wheel. A barbaric impetuos- 4
ity is always most effective at the begin
ming, and loses in power just in proper
ton as the contest is continued. Civili-
zation is self sustaining. But such state
ofsociety as exists in the South is always
dependent for arts, conveniences, necessary
rs well as for luxuries, on
more thoroughly organized and educated
Its very passion is spas
modic, being rooted In no great depth of
moral sensibi!ity. 1t deals its very hard
est blow, th.l fore, in the first sharp shock
of its attack Wealth, manhood, charac-
ter, culture, aith a principal patriotism
tell in the end, when matched against Its
ruder, more impetuous, but more precarl-
Gus enterpr;z and zeal There was great
business in tie reply of the Union men of