The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-02
The Great CrfsIs or ehr Nation.

The Great CrisIs OF the Nation.
The American republic Is now passing through
one Of those terrible ordeals from which no
nation in ancient or modern times has been or
can expect to be exempt. Let civil war, and
ell the evils which follow in its train be de-
plored as much as they may be, still, the refec-
ton that our present situation is one against
which perhaps no patriotism or foresight on the
part Of the American people could guard, must
reconcile us to it as one Of the ineyitabities of
our national existence. The people of the
South may be condemned for entering into q
causeless war against government whose
operation was never felt except for good, by
a single law abiding citizen, from Maine to
Texas; and Jet even for them there may be
something alleged in extenustion. They allow
ed themselves TO be swayed by the mad coun-
sells of ambitious demagogues, until they began
to believe that the federal government would
be or might be warped to their injury ard de-
graduation. There never was tue slightest
ground for such an idea: but they believed it,
nevertheless, as they also believed that what
ever they demanded the people Of the North
would concede, and that no measure Of coer-
cton would ever be tolerated against them.
Thus they found themselves entrapped into a
false position from which they can see no es-
cape except in self humiliation or in a deyast-
atipg war.
And 80 war is upon Us. Il cannot be
eyaded. 1t must be met as /. becomes 3
great nation to meet such q oalamityas the
great North has shown itself ready to meet it
Trade may languiSh, commerce be interrupted,
our prosperity be temporarily checked and
sorrow and suffering must fall TO the lot Of
many. All this we must bear, we are pre-
pared to bear, with untalseriag courage and
resignation Private interests and feelings
give way before the public welfare. The enc
absorbing thought to-day in the mind Of every
citizen Of the free States is the preservation Of
the government and the perpetua,ion Of tho
republic in it's integrity. With that one idea,
and with the spontaneous uprising Of the
people to maintain 1t, there need be no craven
fears for the issue. No reverses can shake the
popular resolve, no impedimsnts stop the
| onward tread of our armies to the triumphs
which win restore peace. Party lines aud dis
| tinctions are swallowed up in the one patriotic
thought Of protecting tAe repubIic-the only
difference being that the great heart of the
democracy beats for the cause Of country with
even more generous impulses than that Of its
party antagonist.
Why should we have hoped 10 be exempt
from those fiery ordeals through which all na-
lions pass in turn? 1t might not have been
we'll for our future if this cup of suffering had
been turned away. Our prosperity might have
made us effeminats. Adversity 10 - essential
to nations al to individuals and we will
emerge from our present difficulties purified
and strengthened. Imperial Rome, through
her long centuries Of conquest and greatness,
had 10 pass through many sanguinary civil wars.
But the safety Of the republic was always the
predominant Idea OF her citizens; and whether
Cesar or Pompey prevailed, her territorial
limits suffered no curtailment. The little
republics of Greece, possessed with the States
rights madness OF their times made war upon
each other, but were only formidable when they
forgot their intestine feuds, and under the lead
Of Philip or Alexander, presented united
front to the foreign enemy. England has had
her civil wars, rs France has had, and rs every
country in Europe has had; and the general re-
suit has been to establish their respective govs
ernments on more solid and enduring basis
So lot US hope it will be with the American
republic. The dangers that now threaten its
existence seem formidable, but are in reality
trifing when compared with those which other
nations have met and surmounted. We are yet
in the very youth Of our national existence.
Including the colonial era, we have hardly en-
tered on our third century, not more than one
afth OF tho average duration of great nations.
We could not expect 10 have gone on in unin-
terruptod peace and prosperity, exempt from
the trials which chequer the existence Of all
nations. Our day of trial and suffering has
come, and we must prove ourselves equal to it.
No doubt we shall With the unanimity that
prevails throughout the Northern portion Of
the confcderacy, there need be no apprehension
as 70 tho ultimate issue Of the contest. The
war Is one between government and anarchy;
and, however obstinate and sanguinary may be
the contest, the principle Of government must
finally prevail, and the republic remain in the
! future as In the past, I" one and indivisible."
MILITARY MOVEMENTS Ar THE SorrH.-The
C...lto.r .a,rcola aay ,vory 1;ltlo aho,Y A.