Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-09
Against Popular Madness,

manklnd-ln the absence Of distinct ideas OF
what men should claim for themselves and
what to concede TO others. His opinion ne
cessarily includes the idea that men will not
60 to war for that to which they do not be-
heve themselves to be entitled; or, in other
words, that both parties to a war may be
looked upon as sincere; the occasion of it
being that one or the other, or both, are mis-
taken in respect to the right of the matters
in controversy.
When parties go to war, each party, Of
course, assumes itself to be right, and its
antagonist to be wrong; and as, in its own
view, the merits of the case are perfectly
clear, each consequently charges the other
not only with being in error, but with being
30 wilfully and malicicusly. The dishonesty
which each seems to detect in its adversary
is the occasion of hatred and q desire for
revenge and each readily comes to consider
it its duty, not merely to vindicate its rights,
but TO inflict condign punishment upon the
party by whom they are threatened or
invaded.
1t is always certain in war, that one party
is, and it is possible that both may be, mis-
taken. Each may demand of the other
more than is its right. 1t is the absence Of a
common tribunal to which the parties can
appeal and to whose decision they are will
ing to submit, or which has the power to
enforce its decrees-that necessitates a resort
to the rough arbitrament of war; a mere
trial of relative strength, in which the weak
est party is always the greatest sufferer.
The old idea of war was that of an appeal
to the God of Battles for the justice of the
cause-a litigation over which supernatural
wisdom was supposed to preside irrespective
of the qualities of the appellants; but since
the discovery made by the most accomplished
warrior of modern times, that God is found
always on the side of the best disciplined
troops, the ablest Generals, and the largest
battalions, the reputation for justice of the
God of Battles has perceptibly declined and
nova days peoples and parties seldom go to
war unless they have something in addition
to the goodness Of their cause upon which to
rely. This, however, is depression.
There are three lights wherein the people
of the South, in the war in which the coun-
try is now involved, may be regarded: each
of which has moral aspects widely different
from the others;
AS people contending for their right;
As people innocently in error, contend
ing for that to which they are not justly en-
titled;
Asa people knowingly contending for a
wrong.
Now we, the people of the North, can not,
for moment, admit that the people of the
South are contending for their rights. To
do so, would be to pronounce judgment
against ourselves; and that we can not afford.
Humanity will not rise to such pitch Of
magnanimity and disinterestedness. Eccle-
siastical history does indeed inform uS of one
eminent prelate, who, having convicted him
self of heresy, sentenced himself to be burned,
and-so endst the relation erdt combuStus but
such cases are too rare to allow US to build rules
upon them; and perhaps the better maxim for
ordinary men to follow is one that we saw
recently embodied in holy hymn, now ex-
tensively popular, designed for soldiers and
Sabbath Schools, "Our Country"-meaning
the North-"right or wrong"-a maxim the
adoption of which at once cuts off debate,
and brings moral science to that state of alb
solute positivity which has long been pro-
foundly desired among philosophers.
1t is not popular view of the case, to
present the people of the South as inno-
Gently in error, and through misconception
only, contending against US; and yet, if the
little speck of philosophy with which we
commenced this article is sound, this is the
light in which it is proper to regard them
If they are this, every feeling of anger and
hatred which we feel toward them is un-
necessary and improper, and in entertaining
it we do wrong to ourselves. Can not we
go to war and litigate great question Of
right by an appeal to the highest of all
arbitraments without getting angry and cul-
tivating malice2 Does our cause, either for
its Justice or its success, depend upon the
the degree of popular rage that we are able
to kindle? A great people engaged in
warning for their rights, without heat or
passion, and simply impelled by sense Of
Justice, are worthy of admiration even in
defeat; while people indulging in vim.
dictive and revengeful spirit will, however
| righteous their cause, gain no respect, even
in victory. There is nothing in which man
kind, individually or collectively, take SC
abiding an interest as in each others charac
ters; and in times of disturbance, men and
peoples are ever on the watch for demonstra
tions upon which to pronounce. We are or
trial before the world, and our responsibility
in its esteem will, in great measure, de
pend upon the temper we exhibit. If w
are Just and magnsnimous in our onduc
we shall stand high if we are unjust ant
malicious, boast of our greatness as we may
we shall be despised.
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