Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-08
MAKING A TEST.

If a stranger, who has been tamei TO
think well of the patriotism duselts,
had dropprd into Boston any Pi-ts,h at morning
early in October, and had sought in the Jour
nails of that enter sing tawn for evidences
of the untcd, cordial an 'magnanimous 10y
oltv If the He dis commonwealth, he
wouia struck with amazement and
hem he would have found
laborious tses Of passing events to prove
tt ti-of those who have been known
as republicans ale secretly hostile 10 the gov
eminent and only await the power, TO com
PASS its drstruciior In another, whose clio
qucnt appeals in behalf Of the Union and the
war have ior nearly six months commanded
admiration Wherever They have gone, he
would have been assured that the late con
vcntion in this city, representing more than
one hundred thousand voters in this common.
wealth, pursued a disl0yal policy, and that u
considerable minority OF its members were
cioarly enemies to the country In still 9th.
crs, accustomed to mider forms OF expression,
he would have discovered the same injurious
more quiet, but scarcely less engrossing
STRENGTHENING him, in his ignorance, of the
true cause oi their criticism, TO infer that even
here in Massachusetts we are a divided people
a, to the preservation OF the Union, and the
great issues of the war. II he failed to re-
member that we are approaching an election
in which 10 some extent the policy OF the
commonwealth upon Incidental questions
is thought to be involved, lie might,
upon the evidence before him, well despair oil
our perseverance to the end OF the struggle.
Blu: it fortunately happens that these new
tcst-makers who have sprung up with
50 sudden aud miraculous vigor have either
misunderstood or miSrepresented the purpose
of those whose counsel and influence for good
they seem 10 have united TO destroy. Ii is
true and ey ident that among those who have
heretofore recognized the constitution as the
law Of the land there is no class, nor any rep
Iespnlaliye OF Il class, from Cape Cod to Berk-
shire who maintains that the abolition of
slavery and not the defence OF the Union is, or
should b., the purpose OF the war. Charles
sumner whom it is now easy and popular to
assail--the same Charles Sumner, whose cour-
ageous and consistent devotion to great prin
cples has remained mistaken whether the
people have been with him or against him
Charles Sumner himself advocates emancipa,
lion, not now on the broad ground of duty, not
rs is wrongly alleged as purpose of the
war, but as the best means to secure
the safety OF the Union and the restoration OF
peace. On that point it is possible for good
patriots TO differ The various shades Of opin
len depend eiii Tie Tie egfeeof confidence in Tho
fgth OF tire government and tie power o
its arms to contend against the rebellion, will
It's home guard of nearly or quite one million
able bodied slaves behind it. If it is pos
siblc to restore the sway OF the constitution
The power of the government 10 what it was
before the slave power betrayed ito bling
back the rebeous states to their loyalty
leaving their social system TO the ncurable
processes Of decay-there is nothing which The
government shall ask Of Massachusetts to ac'
complish it, that we shall not give without
question or dissent. But if in the good time
Of the government, and of those who control
the war, whose hands we are at all tunes
bound to strengthen and uphold, it shall be
deemed essential to the Union in any section
TO proclaim liberty to slaves, that, too, will be
welcomed, and not a voice in Massachusetts
will be raised against it, For the government
is first OF all essential to the security Of intelli-
gent and wellregulaed liberty.