The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-07-23
From the Courier des Etats Unis, June 2s.
SIMPLE REFLEGTIONs.

h8fh SIMPLE REFLECflONb.
The American situation has arrived at a
point where it would be we'll that the sin.
cerely patriotic voices should be raised for
the purpose of imposing silence on the pas
sion Of party, and calling the nation TO the
calm examination Of the prospect before ii.
From the triple point Of yiew--military, f.
nancial and poitical-the march OF events
is Of a nature TO inspire anxiety rather than
confidence. The desired end seems more
distant every day; sacrifices are accumolat.
ing; embarrassments are augmenting, and
the difficulties Of the future disclose proper
tions beside which those Of the past are as
nothing. New complications arise each day,
and like the entrenchments of the C0nfede-
rates, new obstacles reveal themselves be-
hind those which are overcome. The eighty
days which Mr.. Seward demanded on the
50lh Of November, 1861. to annihiIate seces-
sion, have more than doubled, and far from
the promised result being attained, the per-
spectye has clouded instead Of clearing up,
the advantages gained have only served to
reveal the extent OF what yet remains to be
done. The desired end itself has ceased to
be very distinct when we consider tie cir
cumstances which make reconstruction a
task much more arduous, and indeed much
more problematical, than was at first antici-
pated.
In this situation, we repeat, there is du,
ty 10 be fulfilled 10 the people. other than
that Of encouraging them in haliering illu-
sons Of magnilying the yictories-of exlen-
uating the reyerses-of concealing the blum
ders-and Of blindly approving everything
that is done. This fatal system has alre ady
produced sufficient evil, and it is high time
that il should be abandoned, and the people
placed face to face with the real truth. Tn
fortunately. the saying this has become 50
thankless task, that those most convinced
Of lis necessity shrink before the denuncia-
tions Of the temporary unpopularity which
they would have 10 confront. The AmeTi-
can political edneAt.sn. uIiiSh uossted Of.
appears 10 hare formed very small number
OF men capable Of comprehending that the
real way OF serving ones country is not al
ways 10 follow The current Of public opinion,
but rather to refuse, courageously, 10 err
with it--eyen at the risk OF displeasing il.
The right OF free speech is now monopolized
almost exclusively BY the organs OF the par
" Of extreme measures, and if, nov and then,
a voice is raised IL opposition, silence is i'm
mediately imposed upon il by moral intimi-
dation, il not BY material oppression.
This j. but one danger The more added TO
all those by which the American nation finds
itself surrounded We should probably be
correct in saving that il is the greatest of
all, Tor there is no worse condition for peo-
pie Than for il 10 be marching in path when
the ligh. IS obscure, and when. SO 10 speak,
il does not plainly sec the spot on which IL
sets It's foot More than one traveller has
1,erished IRON having followed road, al
each turn Of which he expected TO find an out,
LEI, cxhaus.ing himself In effort after effort
against continued obstacles, and finally hnd.
ing bis strength worn out at the foot of an
insurmountable precipice. We do not say
that this will be the fate reserved for the
American nation, but ne DO dare to say that
the moment Is come for ii to look fairly
where il Is going, and what road II is follow
ing.
10 induce il 70 take its situation into con.
sideratiou il would hardly be necessary to
recall to il what IL has so often said In past
times about analogous events which were
happening in oiher countries. During the
long years Of its easy and dazzling prosperi.
iy i has frequently had occasion TO be
spectator Of Revolutionary conSnlsiOns which
sgitated certain countries in Europe. II
condemned with unresersed yehcmencc tho
policy Of oppression, the domination Of The
strong hand, the confseation OF properly,
the 'fsstrictions upon The freedom of the
press, the acts Of rigor towards robellious
and most especially against the
feminine portion Of them. Il was indignant
about the Surveillance over strangers, and as.
sumej tone Of menace al the slightest want
Of respect showr 90 any 81 It's diplomatic or
consular agents. IL sustained that 70 subju-
gate people was TO enter into a perpetual
strife Wits them, TO inaugurate an odious
and perpetual tyranny, to purchase an un.
certain and fruitless domination at the price
Of ruinous sacrifices. Il claimed fer every
insurgent nationality the right 70 be indie.
pendent and 70 govern itself 10 its own way.
Ii demonstrated, in fact, BY placing is own
example in iuxtaposition with that of Euro