Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-11

ed, we can defy Europe. Let tb. so,,.h l..
concedlng emancipation, secure the s1n,,94ty,
and the permanent services of bar 81 III
non OF laborers, without action of ou,.4. thor
throw INTO the scale against us the thirty nil
lions OF England, the forty millions of France
and who shall say how many tens of millions
besides ?-and what chance for success. or for
reputation, shall we have, struggling for moth
ing nObler than self-existence, in e0uivocal
attitude before the world, matched against
opponents who shall have forestalled us and
assumedthe initiative of progress?
While the contest assumes no higher char
acter than that of portion of great nation
desiring separation from the mother coun-
try and forcibly casting off its authority, what
more sympathy can we expect from Europe
than we ourselves gave to Spain when she
lost Mexico, or to Mexico when Texas struck
for independence? Until the issue is changed,
so that the great question of human liberty be-
comes involved in it, we must expect from
European powers at the best only indiffer-
ence; coupled, probably, with the feeling that
as Mexico succeeded against Spain and Tex
as against Mexico, so will a southern con-
federacy finally maintain itself against us.
That declaration Of emancipation was not
issued year ago, l do not regret Great
changes must mature in public opinion before
they can be safely carried out. Extreme
measures, to be justified and to be efFectual,
must often be preceded by long tried concia-
ton. Yet in national emergencies it may be
as dangerous to disappOint as to anticipate
public opinion. And l confess my fears for
the result if decisive measures are longer de-
layed.
Stand where we are we cannot; and to 90
on is less dangerous than to retrace our steps
We ought never to have proposed emancipa-
ton with compensation to loyal slave-owners
nor declaredto the disloyal, las by law we have.
that their slaves shall be liberated without
compensation, if we did not intend to follow
out the policy we commenced. We have in
CURED the odium: let us reap the benefit
Nor do perceive how we can free the slaves
OF rebels, yet reasonably expect to retain
slavery IN the border states, even in case they
persist in refusing the offer of the president
Having interviewed so far, extirpation of slav-
cry, the only edectual policy, becomes the
safest also.
All men in the north will not acquiesce
Neither did all acquiesce when the war was
commenced; yet who that is loyal opposes it
now? And what would have been the result
had we waited, ere we commenced the war,
for unanimity? Some will fall off SO be
1t There is small loss in that. And there is
some gam. Better an open enemy than a
worthless friend. 1t is time that men were
taking sides. As things now stand | see no
use in conciliating the half loyal. He who is
not for us is against us.
L think the people are ready. I believe
that the loyal citizens of the north, with such
small proportion of exceptions as in radical
national changes must be dsregarded, are to-
day prepared for emancipation. They have
paid for it in treasure, in blood; not by their
option. They feel that the sacrifices they
have made, and have still to make, are too
vast to have been incurred, except in pur-
chase of great pledge of perpetual safety
and peace.
Rejecting men feel, too, that such pledge
is national, not merely northern necessity
The south, exhausted and suffering, needs it
to the full as much as we. She will soon
perceive, if she does not already, that two
parts OF one nation, or even two coterminous
nations, can never again exist in amity on
tins continent, one slave and the other free.
She cannot but see that fugtive-slave law
difficulties, if no others existed, would suffice
to prevent this.
1t is not the question whether paper de-
claration, easily issued, will or will not be fol-
lowed by thousand practical difficulties
The uprooting Of an ancient and gigantic
abuse always involves such, Nor should we
be called upon to predict in advance (for who
can entirely foreseeY how each of these will
ultimately be solved. The true question is,
whether greater difficulties, even insuperable
ones, do not beset any other policy. Pressed
home as we are, to avoid obstacles is impossi-
bic. We can but select the least formidable
The lives of the best of us are spent in choos-
ing between evils.
When dangers surround us we must walk,
IN measure, by faith Let us do what we
can, and leave to God the issue We may
best trust to Him when we enter His path of
progress. He aids those who walk in it.
feel assured that final success awaits us in
pursuing such path. And l see no other
road out of the darkness
ROBERT DALE OWEN.
New York, July %, 1862.