Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-30
WHAT THE FUTUREi

1t is promised, by the secret diploma
tis,s at Washington, that in few days
we, the people, shall be told exactly
what conclusions have been arrived at
In the Mason-SIidell case. This great
condescension would, no doubt, be
deeply appreciated were it not that the
people are getting to understand, pretty
we'll. what course is to be or has already
been adopted. No one who has watched
the management Of that question since
the arrival Of the Europa, can have
formed but one concluslon--that our
Government is to let Mason and Siidcil
slide. Yes, and that suitable apology
will be made, and that other Illuminating
ceremonies will take place. If the ma
ton has done England wrong, 1t Is
but fair that the amende should be
male; but what will 1t amount TO!
After the British Lion has taken home
the brace Of rebels to his lair, arc we TO
suppose, for a single instant, that he IS
satisfied, and that thereafter peace and
harmony will he restored? Let us not
persist in deceiving ourselves about the
intentions of that country. Were the
Il. itlsh cotton manufactures supplied
with raw material TO 4 ~, and were there
no prospect OF future supplies IN that
line beng Immediately cut off, Messts.
Mason and SIideIl would receive 70
more consideration from that quarter
I an any other couple Of traitors lncar-
cerateI at Fort Warren. The question
with the British admin sration Is not
shall we have Mason and Sid, IL; bnt,
shall We have cotton Therefore, We
sumo that, within SKY day, after
those pri-o' crs are driiv' ~, some
other bone Of conlettiou WI be 81, we'd
under the nose OF our Adm nl>trat Oh,
W tn view Of gr'lng up a quarrel.
All these mfll,sts operations mean
something moe lhan tie achits ue'
81 the lihetl, al two IA tpr~, AID 1t may
a. we'll he so uplcr7 opi At nee.
What form The next ON II itii al
ty will assume can ha'dy be tore
shsdo~el at present, though 1t IS ut
mated that the Oh Maiue b ,unda,,
question VIII he eop n>,l. The idea
is secuted at, in the g.; j.. there Is
10 telling just what a 20 emmett ma
DO with eight millions Il haii-,tarvea
operatives who are cam rug FIR means
Of sustcnance. The Mexican question
may become an ug y crsto er; but
what seems more probable than either
is the recognition OF the >outhcrn Con
tcdcracy by both France and Eng aud
Every day the difficulties into Which our
country Is plunged become more and
more omluous, and The future destiny
Of our Republic becomes more and more
in doubt. We can see but two aItcrna.
tves: We mus. either give up the rebel
Statts-Maaon, Slidcll and all-acknow-
ledge ours bat second-rate power, or
the entire country must take mp arms
and fight fight is enemies with that
degree OF sigor which knows neither
abatement nor defeat. The present ap-
parent let argy must be shaken of =
there must be more patriotic unanimitv
and less abolition rhodomontadc-the
entire country must stand up shoulder to
shor'der and lock shields for a fearful
and bloody contest, or else give Eng
land all she asks, and let the South
carve the Republic in twain. Who
shall decide which shall +. done. Who
can predict the meaning o. the rising
storm!
>oe