Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-17
Peaceful Revolutions.


1t is pleasant, in the midst of much that is
discouraging, to observe the progress of pub
lie sentiment in the border slave states. New
York listens for the moment to treacherous
counsel and drifts backward. Missouri lis
tens to her true patriots and goes forward.
The one places itself in hostility to the admin
istration and to the great measures of public
policy which will secure ultimate peace, and
make it illustrious in history. The other
places itself cheerfully by the side of the adj
ministration, and bids it God speed in its good
work. Delaware is also loyal to the best acts
of the administration. The sentiment of the
leading loyalists of East Tennessee is unmis-
takably for emancipation. The proverbially
backward state of Kentucky, the dark and
bloody ground of ideas, is also the scene of a
moral struggle in which the views of states
men like Holt, and soldiers like Rousseau,
bear no mean or hopeless part. The tenden-
cy in all these states-slow, irregular and
sometimes unaccountahle in its waywardness
is still FORWARD.
Democratic successes, like those in the
Sleat hlAuuic Stdless discourage DuC 90 not
overcome the efforts of loyal men in all the
central slave states to place themselves in the
line Of the policy of the government, and
right before the world. The good seed is
sown, and it must bear fruit These peaceful
revolutions. gong on almost unconscious
ly while the strength of the nation is absorbed
in different work-this reformation of ideas
while the power of the country is engrossed
in preserving its forms, are signs of healthy
progress and Frightening skies.
They are the more cheering as the time APP
proaches when the policy of freedom is to be
the fundamental law-to be executed as the
constitution and all wise laws are executed,
by their own virtue if possible, by the arms
of true and loyal men if necessary. There
is no question-it is written alike by the laws
of economy in the tables of the census, and
by the laws of Cod on the consciences of
men, that slavery is a universal injury. 1t
touches nothing which it does not defile. How
great a curse it has been to this nation will be
told for centuries in the mournful traditions
Of this bloody war. How great a curse it is
to the soil on which it exists is seen in the
desolation that is sweeping southwark like a
poisonous blast, destroying in its path every
green thing. How great a curse it has been
to the many millions who have gone down to
death under its heavy yoke, and is still to their
children who bear the accumulated burden
with the wonderful patience OF their race, can
never be known till they lift their unfettered
hands in judgment before God
To suppose that such monstrous burden
could be permanently borne is to suppose the
laws of God could be permanently suspended.
The country preferred war, threw off the
load and took up its guns. The people of the
border slave states are preparing to take the
same course, but without resorting to that
fearful arbitration. And we may thank the
docile and submissive temperament of the
African, and his patient waiting for justice,
that he has not claimed his right with the
strong arm. But whether through peace or
war Justice is sure to be done. Men who be-
tray it may postpone, but cannot escape
punishment. Judas will sometime crouch
with his silver where the martyr is now slain.