The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-04-03
The Past, Present And Future.


A long and complex article, under this
caption, has appeared in the National
Iatelligencer which, we believe, is to be
understood as foreshadowing the policy
of the Lincoln Seward administrations
We do not mean 10 review the article,
but the melancholy significance Of its IL
tle,at this particular time, leads us to So
berly reflect on the troubles and distrac-
tons which afflict our nation.
During the past six months event has
followed event with such amazing rapid
ity, aud so quick have the "knights" and
"castles," on the great political chess
board, changed places, that the wisest Of
our statesmen have been wholly bewilder-
ed, and their most sagacious "moves"
proved "futility of utilities" And
why this deplorable state of things?-
Perhaps the easiest method of arriving at
n proper solution of this question would
be thorough analysis of the differences
of character and interests of the Amer
lean people, themselves. To the student
of human nature there is, perhaps, no
country on the face of the earth in which
he can trace similar amount of diversity
of character; the same extent Of varied
interest and tho same sacrificing de-
votion TO the common veal as the past
history of this country has furnished
And the present is only the fatal results
of the first departure from that true A
merican principles. For who will for mo-
ment, deny, that had we of the North
held as true to the Golden Rule as did
the fathers of our country and trainers of
our constitution; and had we but exer-
cised, towards our brethren Of the South,
that charity which would fl us for "an-
other and a better world" the "Stars and
Stripes" instead of being the insulted
rag of dismcmbered and fragmental
Union, would still wave the glorious en-
blem of united homes and united hearts.
And yet we cannot, will not blame the
masscs-for the masses are always hon
est-but to the men who, with lies on
their lips; promises which they cannot
peform on their tongues; with no patriot
ism, no heed to the welfare of the coun-
try, nor no thought save their own per-
sonal aggrandizement in their hearts, have
by playing upon their feelings, weaned
them from their constitutional allegiance
to these men can we easily trace the
source of the present deplorablc condition
of our national affairs.
And look what n contemplate position
these men-these leaderS-occupy to-
day! Look, with what despicable mean
ness these "freedom shriekers;" these
"yield not an inch men," these "defers
of tho slave oligarchy" crouch and cringe
to that same "oligarchy," and beg Of
them not to believe they were in earnest
on the question of slavery-nct to believe
they ever meant anything but 20 get
elected, and then fall back upon the SUI
preme, ruling principles of nowadays
politicians-thdt Of doing nothing.
But here comes the difference of char
actor in the two sections Of this Confed-
eracy. The Southern, trained from his
youth to consider his word rs sacred as
"proof of Holy Writ" are incapable Of
understanding how men, occupying hon
orable position, can say what they do
not mean or ever intend to perform
This, we opine, is the leading cause Of
our present difficulties, and whether or
not the weak, cowardly and imbecile old
man who presides at the head of our adj
ministration will win back, by his prtt-
dence, Sagacity and craftsmanship, the
respect and allegiance of our brethren Of
the South, is question we must leave
~ .orxoo c,tu.o obroO;olar