The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-09-18
The Peace Politicians.

the war, forget that we are not living in
ordinary times when their chief mission
is merely to put an Administration on
trial, but that the existence of nation,
and all the great interests and future pros
perity of millions of their countrymen are
at stake. No matter what men may think
of the past, or what criticisms they may
feel inclined to make upon the mighty
events transpiring around US, the first at
tention of every good citizen is due to the
stern realities of the present, and his high
est duty is to stand gallantly by the Gov
ernment which, in this crisis, is the rep
resentative of the majesty, the honor, and
the power of the American people. For
the war suddenly forced upon US by the
Internal enemies of our country, we were
almost totally unprepared, and it was ut
terly impossible at the outset of the con-
fict to foresee every contingency, to guard
against every error, and to do everything
in the best manner possible. But no ra
tonal or impartial man who scrutlnlzes
the course of events, can deny that an
earnest and resoute effort has been made
to grapple effectively with the eztraordi-
nary difficulties and embarrassments that
have unexuectedly arisen, and that when
ever experience demonstrated that any
particular regulation was erroneous or pref
judicial, it has been speedily corrected.
And now, looking all the dangers which
menace us and the exact position of our
country as fully in the face as possible,
with all the light that the experience of
the last eventful four months affords, who
does not see that the highest interests OF
the loyal section of this country demand
a vigorous and earnest support of the Ad-
ministration in its efforts to suppress re-
bellion, and to roll back the tide of war
upon the wild horde that threatens to pre-
cipitate itself upon the capital, that is
even now seeking to gain possession of
Missouri, and that boasts that 1t will soon
be able to invade Pennsy ylvania, to cap
ture Philadelphia and New York, and to
burn Boston ? We are we'll aware that
this is only an idle threat, but what ter
rible reproach upon US it is to reflect that
more than twenty millions Of loyal people
should be thus persistently and uncease-
ingly taunted by band Of traitors, who
are not sustained by white population
of more than few mlllions-and that
our capitol is daily and hourly threatened
by them We must remember that, no
matter what may be the final termination
of this struggle, our character and posi-
ton in the scale of nations IS now fairly
at stake, and that if we fail in a contest
where the odds are apparently so strong
ly in our favor, our doom is sealed hence
forth and forever, and we will be regard
ed by every vigorous and Intelligent peo-
ple as the veriest belots and towards that
disgrace the earth. If we fail in the dis
charge of our duty, not only will the
Union be forever broken and the demons
of anarchy and discord, or of tyranny and
despotism, reign supreme over our fair
land hereafter, but all our rights will be
Ignored, our power destroyed, our self
respect sacrificed, and our future destiny
will become as miserable, hOpeles, and
disgracefui as our former history has been
glorious, prosperous, and honorable Those
who prate to US of peace when there Is
no peace, seek but to lure US to eternal
shame, misery, and disgrace. They are,
indeed, the men who are doing most to
protract the war and to prevent the re.
turn of the old state of security and pros
perity among US, because they are seek
ing to paralize the energies of the nation
and to destroy its capacity to crush the
rebellion that has produced all our pres
ent calauities. The only safe and true
road to lasting and honorable peace is
that which leads to the overthrow and
dispersion of the insurgent army. War
was caused by the traitors first cCmmenc-
ing series of unprovoked assaults upon
the Southern forts of the nation and by
their efforts to place large army In the
field to capture our capital, Peace can
only be produced by the overthrow OF
their army and the triumph Of the Gov
ernment over those who have wantonly
and wickedIy assalled it. There can be
no other peace which wonid afford US Sc
curity, or that would not cover us with
disgrace. There is no limit to the ex
travagance and injustice of the demands
of the traitors and if the loyal portion of
this country, far superior to them in num-
bers, should be weak enough to yield un-
der the pressure of threats and the power
of the insurgent army confessions which a
sense of justice and propriety impelled it
to deny it could never hope to cope In
struggle with a powerful foreign country,
or to guard itself against unceasing fu-
ture aggressions. :,
1t therefore becomes the true friends
of peace to assist in the vigorous prosecu-
ton of the war. The policeman who at
tacks gang of rioters and seeks to arrest
Il j G Ear tlL, CO l. Lat