Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-04-19
The Time for Action.

L
1T -----------------.-------
The Time for Action.
Sumter has fallen, Treason is triumphant
and the rattle-snake bunting flaunts in def.
ance Of the Federal Government. To the
question, How win this matter end ~ there
can now be but one answer 1t must end in
war, -tcrrible, devastating wal, AL the more
terrible because wagcd between those but
lately bound together by the ties of a COM
mon country and common interest; war
where those but lately friends will meet in
bloody strife, and where it is more than prob
able that those united by the ties of consan-
guinity will fall by each others hand But
terrible as the results appear; horrible and
sickening as is the idea of civil war, in the
present case we do not see how it can now be
avoided. The South has seized the property
OF the U. s. Government, stolen its money,
hcaped indignities beyond number upon its
citizens, spurned its laws, passed acts Of a
reasonable nature, made formidable military
preparations with the avowcd purpose Of re-
sisting the execution Of the laws, and then to
fill the cup of treason to the very brim, has
fired upon the national flag, Star Span
ged Banner,-and compelled the gallant
commander Of one of our national fortifica-
tons to submit to the humiliation of lowering
to band Of reasonable secedcrs the flag
that floats on every sea, and which the whole
world has learned to respect, honor and fear.
There is but one course left for the admins
tration to pursue, and that is to assert the
supremacy of the government, cost what it
will. four forefathers deemed the formation
Of the government Of sufficient consequence
to lay down their treasure, and their life
blood if necessary, to place it upon perna-
nent foundation, how much more important
is it that we who have experienced the wis.
dom and the justice of the government they
established, and who have witnessed our I'M
preccdented growth and prosperity among
nations, until to-day we stand foremost
among the governments of the world, should
use every endeayor to perpetuate it. If we
do not, we shall prove ourselves. unworthy
sons Of worthy sires, and deserve to be strick-
en- from the proud position Of American free
men to that of slaves Forbearance, concili-
alton, and even concessions to treason have
been made, and all without avail The gov
eminent has been defied, outraged and in
suited, and now when all hopes Of peaceful
adjustment have failed to be realized, the
only course left is for the administration to
put down treason at whatever cost of treasure
or blood. The administration supported by
twenty millions of frccmen at the North, can
and will assert the supremacy Of the govern
mcnt and this is lesson the South has yet
to learn, and to its sorrow and shame. We
are not among those that think, however,
that the secession movement is to be put
down easily, and without any very formidable
measures upon the part of the government.
The South is bound to fight, and it will fight
hard before it succumbs. The minds of the
people are inhamed to pitch Of excitement
that only blood can quench But desperate
Diseases require desperate remedies, and the
North has the ability and the will to furnish
the ureall for Southern troubles, and what
is more, will do it. The present crisis in our
national affairs is an event to be regretted by
every order-loving and law abiding citizen !;
but while deplored, it is an emergency that
must be met promptly, and it is the duty of
every American citizen to sustain the admin
istration in the discharge Gifts functions. The
work before us should not be rushed into
with the blind zeal of fanatics, but be per-
formed with that GOODNESS and dcliberation
with which men are apt to discharge solemn
duty, for the correct performance of which
posterity will hold them responsible. God
grant that this matter be settled without
further blood shed; but God grant, also, that
the North never give up the fight till the South
returns to its allegiance to the Union.