The Portland daily press., 1862-10-29
THE INTERESTS AT STAKE.


No war in history ever had more of the
character OF an elemental disturbance. Winds
rushing from the Arctic and the EQUATOR to
meet in tornado and whirlpool in mid-Atlantic.
might as well be called to order before they
had blown themselves out, as the irresistible
conflict of the two civilizations, both with
every drop of blood in them swelling with an
tlpathy and resentment, TO pause in the lists.
where in deadly battle they have at last found
themselves face TO face. European nations
that once thought or talked of intervention,
did it when neither we nor they fully felt the
provldential fatality of this strife. The upper
and lower milistones would furnish safer quar-
tiers for the millers hand than the contending
elements at war on this continent, and at war
for this continent, to the power that dared to
come between them. England and France
have opened their eyes to this, and they stand
watching, with arms which prudence folds, a
struggle which came not by the will of man.
but by the will of God.
The vast interests at stake-the reduction
OF this continent and nation to homogeneous
ness in the interest for which America origi-
nally stood-the firm replacement Of Liberty
upon the TIN one where she once sat in undis-
puted majesty but now for half century has
shared her place with an intruder that at
length grew lusty enough to grapple with her
Tor solitary possession of her seat--is one too
precious and universal in its relations to be
left at the mercy of craftsmanship or human
will. The sublime and holy providence of
God has taken the war out of our hands, We
watch ourselves as we might watch the winds
or the waves, to know their course. Our So
called leaders follow public sentiment which
follows divine necessity, and happen what
WILL be it defeat or victory, be it delay or ad-
vance, be it bad craftsmanship or poor gener-
alship, all things seem working with about
equal effect towards one result
The complete absorption of both civiza-
tions in the eontest-their absolute commit
ment on both sides to the controversy-the ut
ter and unqualified devotion of each to its own
idea-the fair and square issue, without a flaw
in the unity of either CONFERENCE.-The is the
very condition which experience would have
said was impossible, which an enlightened hu-
manity would have prayed might be realized,
and which history will record as having been
thus early attained by series of astonishing
provldences, which can predict nothing less
than decisive consummation.
CHARACTER OF THE WAR.
Had the South proved, according to the
representations of the wisest weak either in
fighting men, in munitions of war, or in sup
plies of food, it would have been impossible 10
have inaugurated war equal to final subver-
sion of her slave institutions. Had we sue
ceeded in the first great battle at Manassas. we
should have conquered our own defeat as the
champions of liberty. Had the extraordinary
financial scheme of Mr.. Chase 1.-THE most bril-
liant scceess of the ADMINISTRATOR not work.
ed infinitely better than the best and wsest
monetary authorities predicted that it could
so that property has steadily increased in val
ue, and every man of the least means is bound
to loyalty with government bonds IL cannot
say with golden chains,) while the nation has
maintained its credit and warlike expenses
with ease and dignity, we should months ago
have been patching up false and disgracefnl
terms of peace. On the other hand the finan-
cial schemes of the rebels have prospered al
most equally. Their stocks stand at home al
most as well as ours here. There is no evil
dence OF weakness or poverty in their excheq-
uer. In short, the monetary apparatus is on
both sides adequate to develop and move the
whole resources, the whole wealth of both sec
tions-and without this there could possibly
be no war in which finalty would be attain
ed such as now seems inevitable.
The North at first gave only finger to the
fight, then a hand, but is now preparing to
throw her whole weight upon the enemy. Had
there been whit less delay, less success on
the rebel side, better generals on ours, or more
precipitate craftsmanship, we should not now
be in the encouraging position in which we
are, when, without violation of the constitu-
ton, without any bad faith, and without plan
mug diN SUCH Tcsult. we are IalrlN compelled
by Providence, in the form of military neces-
sity, which means the law of selfpreservation
to strike death-blow at the sole enemy OF
our fame, to wipe out the one blot on our
escntcheon, TO exterminate the grand intestine
foe of our peace, our quiet and our future.
THE ANTI-sLAvERY ELEMENT
AT the outset of this war all prudent and
wise men who know the terrible dangers oil
anarchy, were concerned that the strife should
be carried on for the defence of the Constitu.
ton and the Union, and the enforcement OF
the laws; and certainly that was the only pol
icy on which President, Cabinet Con.
gress, sworn each of them TO uphold and de
fend the Constitution, could carry on the war
Moreover, as revolt against the government
was made because the Constitution had led tC
an election unfavorabe to the prospects o
slavery, it was deemed that there could be nc
better antl-slavery action than to maintain and
enforce the Constitution which, by the natural
and honest growth of political power in the
free States, had kicked the beam against ever
the special advantages peculiar to the South
hitherto making minority there more thar
equal to majority here. mean consolda
tion through one great interest-the three
fiffhs representation allowed their slaves-and
their ability to purchase at all times, by politi
cal bribes, sufficient support at the North n