Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-09-13

No tight thinking aud benevolent man can
look ut the dreadful effects of war without the
deepest emotions OF horror the inmumernble
woes that step in its train, the bereavement, the
wldowhOod tie orphanage, the poverty, the
lesolatiOn and the lasting decentralization all arc
enough to nrptl one, Were there no other in
ilucnces succeeding bat these, he vino would
counteuanee war would be monster
But tis far different The simple fact that
war is necessary TO maintain human rights ami
liberty and life, against tyranny, and that these
eau sometimes he maintained by the sword alone,
would make q reasonable man accept il MS a
good, direful hut absolute necessity. YET aside
from this there are incidental BENEFITS and those
OF the highest character flowing to peoplr who
are nt war for any great principle.
War is not nil dcmoraliziug. 1t il the part nj
Of some of the uoblest traits of human nature.
II has lis vices, hut these are not as bad or a.
mean as the vices Of peace. time Of lorn
continued peace aud unatcrei prosperity i.
fruitful in corruption aud the breeding oi the
worst forms of character and most dishum. rablc
to human nature. Selshuess, rnmpctcl lust,
extravaganza, Incidence, otlem,uacy nre the
miserable spawn OF days OF peace. On the other
hand, war bringing with it hardship nnl cost.
and calling for sei-sacrlice, courage, endurance,
constancy, fidelity, may BE- the greatest boon
which people at q certain period oi their his
tory could have. Multiplied years Of peace i'm
perceptibly diminish the hold which ones coun.
try ought 10 have over the heart and it IL poss lille
for the emasculation of patriotism to 20 50 far
TINT a whole people shall be deprived Of their
liberty, simply because they have lost all appre-
citation Of its value. Men breathe the pune air..
and so easily, that they forget that il is tor their
lie But when the time comes that demands n
struggle and OH the battle field they are called
to risk their life, and in preparation for tito
pour out their treasure, what was almost out Of
mind becomes inexpressby dear
We have already reaped glorious harvest
from this war If nothing else had been accom-
plished or was to be obtained, this were enough
to compensate for all the expenditure of life and
money, which have been so freely given.-
Patriotism has had glorious remuneration.
We shall reap n still greater harvest in the days
to come. We shall he compelled to bear bur
dens but the bearing Of them will make us
strong. Already Incidence or NJ best selfish
activity has given way to noble and sclf-denyiug
effort Never before has nation assumed
enormous debt and taken upon itself aceumula-
ted taxation with such joyful alacriiy. Selfish
ness has gone up like mountain mist under
this rising sun Of patriotism. The storm of war
has already purified the air.
Perhaps, however, the greatest benefit which
we ore destined to obtain from this war, is a
reverence Tor law anu willing obedience to
government There is nothing 50 potent to pro-
ducc this result as war. On the field aud in the
army, obedience to authority is the main id, a
Here at least individual will gives way to COLI
stituted authority, and the hitherto lawess man
IS compelled to how before the force of law
The soldier from the very fact of his being a
soldier is obedient, and the influence Of this
severe authority is felt beyond the army it ex-
tends Its power over the whole people War il
time when the power which is behind all law.
comes out and shows itself In time Of peace
the people are iu danger Of forgetting that there
y my power back OF the law, and Of necessity
~ ueases 10 nave an abiding hold upon them
~" 'iAt power has stepped out, and its iron
s.nsp y Iel'' anu the people not only see il as
never before, but feel il and learn IN ressrnn o.
u; Inc homan people have given civil io,y n
sll succeeding ages. To day It bolls i,e "ro.
emlnence' They were law abidinr neonlo p a,I
'hey were nation Of warriors. tN "''N
! The war in which we are now cr,,o.,o, H..
areauy produced n submission TO cons,;,n,n1
au'hollly ana reverence for law. utterl, i,
possiole without it. Indeed, the history ~ ,lo
lew past years has made every tbinkiug r,a,
! uemOle' Law seemed to have lost wbo,l,, H.
holu upon the people not only, hut upon its yer.
minister's In this respect the loss of tho hot,ia
| OF bulfs nun, We are inclined Ia believe viii Ia
found to have benefit second to almost nonc IN
| our late history. Before It, the peopla sna,,n i
to have forgotten that there were any rrlc,s on
any authority, they felt free to clamor and Il.
mand, and talked glibly about deposition h"r,
Office, and taking matters intu their own banJ
How the noise has gone down, and how men
now begin to believe that there is such thing
as government, and that il is wsest and hest 10