Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-12
The Obiccf. ofIhe War.

To distinguish, in controversy, betw cen princ-
piles aud those who maintain then. is a great vir
tue. but one winch never possessed by rad-
calsm in religion or in politics. The spirit of
persecution always arose from inability To meet
reason with reason. The faggOt or the
a safe resort for party in power in the absence
OF arg ument, since il not only saved the trouble
of arguing, hut il silenced the opposing force.
The same spirit attaches 10 radicalism in our day.
and wherever argument fails it resorts to person
al abuse, and where IL possesses the power, 10
personal punishment for opinions sake But
such a course has seldom proved successful in the
end. To meet reason with reason and not with
mere defamation. To appreciate the power of
truth and yield cheerfully, detect the cloak of
falsehood and skilluly expose it. this is always
the successful course. A distinguished poet has
placed in ringing phrases the words of the He
brew prOyerb writer. which promise the triumph
OF truth. but nowhere in sacred prolane writ Is
there any promise OF success 10 cause which
finds support only in the abuse Of its adversar:es
and which substitutes for reason and argument the
iteration aud releratiOn of ancient and worn out
phrases of Obloguy
In discussing the question raised by Governor
Shnly's course We admit the superiority OF our
neighbour Of the Erening Post in the use and abuse
OF epIthets aud What Is generally understood "a
bad language We ventuted some DAYS ago TO
speak OF the amenities of AbolitOnism' as Illus
tfated by this practice in its supporters The
LibeT0tOr confessed the habit, and ap0oeised by
stating that its feelings were bad. and no other
language would express them The same ex
cuse must be placed to the credit OF our cotempo-
rary in New York.
Bat we maintain still, that the United States
ought not TO carry on n war to establish negro
schools in North Carolina, that there is no mill
tary necessity calling for them, that Governor
Stanly, in North Carolina, is bound 20 respect all
valid laws OF that State, and that this squabble Of
the radical party about negro school is "A TEN
pest IN very small space.
Nothing has served more plainly than this oc
currence to show the difference between radical
ana conservative views of the objects OF the war
The Evening Post is i'm very discreditable pas
sion at the idea that possibly the war may result
IN restoring North Carolina To- the Union il
was; and. hestating in these times to avOw open
~ the offensive doctrine. nevertheless intimates
very clearly its belief that the is, or ought TO
be- for the overthrow OF slavery. and that its end
ought not to he the restoration of States TO the
Union with their internal laws and institutions
unimpaired. Now let Us look nj the declarations
of the Government and ascertain what the people,
the President. the army are fighting for. In the
beginning of the war it was declared To the peO
Pile of the United States and the world by reso
luton OF Congress-
That in this National emergency, Congress
banishiug all feeling of mere passion or resent
ment. will recoect only its duty to the whole
country; that this war is not waged on their part
IN any spirit of oppression, for any purpose of
conquest or subjugatlOn, or purpose of over
throwing interfering with the rights or estab
lished institutions Of those States but to defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution,
and % preserve the Ulion, with all the dignity
equality. and rights of the several States unim
paired; and that as soon these objects are
complished the war ought to cease"
1t is the great curse of the North that rad cal
ism like that OF our unhappy contemporary seems
determined to make this war of its own aud ex
cude all loyal men-loyal TO the Constitution
from any participation in the results But the
President. bothered and beset as he has been by
radical men, has perSevered thus far with firm
determinati on. that resolution of Congress the
motto OF the war, and has, as We have frequently
shown, received nine tenths OF the men and money
for the from the conservative ranks. whom
the Post roundly abuses in its present moment of
passion, and thoughtlesSneSs.
Its curious record which the ftful course of
radicalism has made since the war began. When
Mr. Blair was moved from bis accustomed calm,
TO brand the Post and its allies tbettors of the
Southern COniederates, he but placed on the
record solemn truth, 10 be before the ewes of
the people IN the swift progress of events,
warning. But even that warning failed The
Government has been struggling against the on
position OF radcalism every hour since that. Ii
Is many months since complaint has been heard
of any other interference with the war in the
North except from these men. They have tram
mele every measure of the Administration
They have even dared to refuse taxes, to oppose
enliStments. TO discourage volunteering. to coun-
sci Northern rebelliOE. To threaten the President
with superseing him, unless he will adopt their
dlsuniou policy. They are to day in every re
spect arrAyed against the Union and are plotting
its overthrow.
We are apparently approaching point Of great
Importance in the future of the country The
issue i made mp by the Abolit'OnistS of the Ere
Hihg Post school IL has not been made 10y
others Let the world bear witness that in no in
stance have the conservative men arraved them
selves against the policy declared by Congress
aud follow ed by Mr. Lincoln but in all that has
been done they have yielded 10 that policy "A
hearty. frank aud effective support; while with
one steIdiast purpose the radical party have on
pOsel 10, have prosecuted the President, have in
voked solemn curses on his head have threaten
Ell revolt, have Interrupted his plans endangered
the cause vt the Union aud arrayed themselves
where We NOW see them standing in distinct en-
nifty 10 the Constitution and tie laws. The i'm
preston Is now gaining is proper hold on mems
minds that 10 restore the Union must adhere
% the principles OF S,rct constitutional law.
The issue made by the radicals. and boldly al
vancri since this petty affair about negro schools
became subject OF discussion, j. the issue upon
which the future of the republic hangs IRE We
10 have the old Union. or some new Union or
new form OF government which is to be reached
through auarchyg
The EreRiag Posi- IS in error. serious error in
supposins that It's furious uvectlve. it, broadside
OF btd words. an names. in short what yester
day characterized a. billingsgaie is the style of
argument with which either eide of this Issue can
oe successfully maintained. The time i past for
that and II recOils ON him who uses il. We ap-
proach the day Of reason. OF law, of reflection
and calm discussion: and the American people
are now Studying dispas,Sionately the political
history which has led Us into war. and will here
after be guided by the light OF duty. and OF safe
national policy We have no doubt that every
man who read the leader in yesterdays Post said
quietly. "lf this Is the only style OF sustaining
radical doctrines they are not for Americans
Let the people understand then distinctly that
tie issue now before them Is simply this. The
radical party insist that the army Of the Union
shall DESTROY the Union by annihIlating State
laws and State Institutions, and by dl>carding
State rights on the principle that the seeding
States are already dead ana their laws dead with
them. The conservative side Of the issue is in
the words Of the resolution OF Congress that the
j. prosecuted mot for the purpose of over
throwing or interfering With the rights or eStab.
lshed institutions of those States but to defend
.ul maintain the Suprem.rv of the