Smyrna times., 1861-06-27
Civil War a CiViliZer.

The New York Sun argues IN tOrclble
usnuer that civil war is, in a certain sense, a
.,,izer. aud that there is vast amount o
.,tsu the subject which will not stand scru-
,;av. There is denunciation SO sweeping as
"A asey 10 societies and nations the necessary
us.as of seif-defence. The laws of every
,;viIized community protect its members from
,bs sggresslons of the assassin and the mid
nigh, burglar; bnt if these combine together
and threaten the existence of the whole com.
muuity, il surely has the same rights against
ibs combination that it before had against the
,arts. and can infiictahe came penalties. The
everyday operations q the police courts exhibit,
in miniature, the principles involved in civil
var. They exhibit the operation of the same
.w against individuals which is enforced
sgsinst rebellion to law by armed multltudes
History showes us that nations do not grow
good and great naturally and perfecuy-like
Iura;ps. The path Ofprogrsss has been always
marked with blood. Il would seem as if, like
the we'll known mechanical laws of resistance
TO force. the opposition TO national progress
lud Improvement was in proportion to the
good to be derived. Hungary and Poland
A ow they cannet obtain their liberty by mere
Iy asking for it. Whatever there is of value in
English liberty to-day was won through peril
and bloodshed, in spite of opposition and even
Of defeat. Magma Charta was only achieved
BY the armed knights Of Runnymede, backed
BY the mighty power fthe people, overawing
svacllIatlng usurper. The Great civil war Of
Eagland began in l642 and lasted nine years.
Ths names Of the meu engaged in it-Milton,
Cromwell. HamPden, Pym, Waller, Algernon
Sydney aud Seldom, are the brightest upon the
pages Of History.
This war involved all the noble qualities of
the English people, and gave the nation an
increase Uf vitality and power which il still
retains. The history Of France for thousand
years 10 q continued series Of civil wars, cuimi.
nstIng al last in the great Revolution of 1893,
which gave the nation unity and freedom. Ii
10 true. terrible excesses were committed in
that eivl war, but these evils were only local
aud evanescent, while its benefits are uuiyer.
ssl and enduring as the earth Itself Who, in
this land at least, will soy that Garlbaldi is
nota Friend to Humanity; yet he hesitated
MOTTO take arms against his counirymen who
were leagued against freedom, and already
Italy aud the whole world jolce in his fame
and arc proud TO record his praises.
We are yet too near the passions aod pre-.
JUDGES engaged in this contest TO be able to
fOrssee the benefits that are likely to resul,
IRON 1t. Washington and Jefferson, in the
Revolutionary war, could not have dreamed
OF tbs great empire that in seventy years woulC
srsleh from ocean to ocean, across this grea
continent. Yet this. vast as i. is, is but a
hOihlsg compared with the amount of individ
Ual happiness and prosperity that has sine,
been experienced in every home, and evden
eed IN stately palaces, in great cities, and il
ships whose sails wbiten every ocean, anC
which has made the United States the refuK,
The oppressed and the hated of the oppressor
throughout the world.
We are too near our own time 10 recogniz,
me vast principles involved in this great civl
var. Future ages will do US Justice for tho,
viii reap It's benefits. For US the dust anc
the smoke OF conflict ore reserved, aud W,
ct endure the actual shock with whateve
Ne can of hope Tor humanity, and trust in Gsd
we dOa't know who may be our Ham pden
cor sFCrOHwell, our Washing gIon-our Preserver
"0sre all are great it is Impossible to dscrim
'h'ts. Bat we may be sure that humanit,
WI not soon cease to bless the men Of thi
generation who, each in his appointed way
'0s' have contributed Ought. by word or deed
q" preserve from the attacks of traitors an,
Paf'leIdss this fair Inheritance of Free
dom."