Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-07-19
From the Bos,on Journal.
Tho Contest In Missouri.


There are many who will be apt 10 regard
the contest now going on in the sou,hwes.
crn corner Of Missouri as local or provin.
cIal affair. This 10 great mistake. The
battle there has wide. almost Continental
proportions. They are lighting for tho key
10 the growing nations on tho Pacific coast.
Let us imagine for amomens that the Union
men Of Missouri should DO ovcrpowered.
Unless they could be relieved by loyal rein
forcements, q wall would be intsrposed DO
tween the Union men Of tho Fast and West.
A powerful force. enbi,tered by old recol'
iec,ion.. would destroy the loyal commnni.
ties Of Kansas without tho least mercy. The
Mormons from Utah. not yet weaned from
their rcbell,ous attitude toward the Govern.
men.. would soon bs leagued With the trai'
tors. Nebraska would have no power Of
resistance. The Indian Territory would b
speedily occupied, and all ITS tribes poison.
ed in their disposition toward the Govern
mcnt. Tho loyal minority in Texas would
be able to neither move hand or foot And
thus from Iowa to the Gulf. all the Western
side Of the Mississippi would DO closed TO tho
Union cause, cutting OF our land communi.
cation with California and Oregon, and eI.
posing them to tho dangerous wiles OF the
con,pirators.
The truth is. the great contest in which
we are now engaged will be brought to a
decision in but few localities Is is posi-.
bic. indeed. that Richmond. New Orleans
end Southern Missouri may be the real bat.
tle-Geli. OF the war. That tho latter 10 to
be rcekoned among the decisive theatres OF
action, 10 evident from the course Of the So
ces.ionls.s, Already. Ben MeCulloeb, the
most rowing OF tho di.union spirits, has
turned up in that quarter. having witnessed
the slaughter of his braggart followers by
the veil handled cannon Of Col. sieeel. liz
dia not Wal, ior the termination Of the local
contest in Missouri. but hurried 70 tho ros-
cue with his Arkansas troops. and issued
orders for the rapid transfer Of many more
The Southern papers intimate that heavy
force had been dispatched 10 the Northwes,
from the peighborhOod OF Memphis, Tenn
As IL fully aware OF all this. Gen. Lyon ha'
concentrated tho Union forces. TO the nun
Der Of a, least Ten thou,aod strong. in ib,
same vicinity, and the resalt OF nm impor
tant collision must DO soon before the pub
lie.
II the Union army IL triumphant, as vi
canuo, doubt u will bc. Is will not LEI th'
grass grow round its shoes. Men like Lyor
and Sies,l will make the most OF wha,e'ei
advantage fortune b-.tows upon them. The,
viii. probably return McCullosh's Invasion o
Missouri by visiting tho rebels OF Arkansas
They will NEE, with but feeble resistance
from poorly armed and discouraged rebels
and tlf Mr. Ru.,. words were true =, Oh,
beginning OF the las, session Of Congres')
with hearty welcome from large Unior
population. They will restore confidence Il
the Indian tribes in the con,iSuou, terrific
~. They will advance IN the rear OF. ap'
easily take. those rebel batteries which mr.,
.aid to be scattered along the west bank o
the Mississippi. thus preparing the way for
or cooperating with, Gen. Fremont. col
umn. which is TO 90 down tho river. Pos
.ibly they may continue the cooperation
I'LL the city Of New Orleans behold, tn
CLEAN Of their musiets. and witnesses ihei
victorious junction with that other colum'
r,a Richmond.