Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-10


We most heartily give our patriotic aud
statesmau.like assent to the sentiments ems
bodied in the subjoined article from the Phil
adelphis Press of Thursday last:
If the fortunes of war should put this ma.
ton face to face with some humliatng
truths within the next twelvemonth, it is to
be hoped that manliness enough will be mus
tered TO carry us creditsbly through the Or
deal. Truths sometimes descend with all the
energies of thunderbolts irving false customs
and timid policies into chaff, and working
radical change in every thing not firmly
based. TIE good, however, ,isindestructible, is
while evil, like chaos, is fsted to retire and
give place to the creation and establishment
of better things.
II is sometimes wisdom to resch forward
and grasp the inevitable. This war ia q great
and unprecedented innovato or upon the thee
ries Of our political institutions, as they have
been held and expounded. It is something
more than a ruffiing of the smooth waters OF
national prosperity; it threatens to leave
shadows where before were deep waters, and
deep waters where before were shadows or
dry land. But innovations are not to be
feared as such. Properly directed, they may
be made to pare away the dead and the use
lees, and thus give greater scope to the quick
and the living. Powerless to destroy the
latter, they may yet hold them suspended in
function, if there1 be not decisive and vigor-
ons action on the part OF those who are, for
the time being, the consorvators of the COM
mon welfare.
Declarations Of principles and prociama-
tons OF policy on paper are insisted upon by
some as vitality essential even now. But the
policy which will master our difficulties al
make these times famous, need not, we ap-
prehend, be put on parchment. twill cumu-
late in series of prompt and effective deeds,
and oulmiDate in the establishment of peace
The historian will trace it in the progress of
our armies, rather than in the suggestive dis
Gussions of legislative bodies. Could we
reach forward and control circumstances.
we might, perhaps, make laws for all time.
But we can not do that. Laws are the de-
mand of necessities which can not always be
foreknown. 1t would be idle to form radical
laws, to take effect at some future time. 1t
would be folly to arm our generals with
statutes before cannon and rife have told
their bloody and effective. story. We want
action, not theoretical law making, Go
among the people in the loyal States. They
are looking to Congress to provide the means
of action, but they expect action from the
armies in the field. They ask no impossible
things; no strRiniDg to provide for conditions
which may never prevail, but which can be
met promptly whenever Lney DO prevail.
They understand that when Missouri shall be
empted of traitors, the laws of the United
States would prevail there, even were there
no State laws. So of Virginia, of North
Carolina, and Of every seeded State. We
must subdue those States before we make
laws for them. This did Rome, aud this did
Greece. They subjugated their neighbors
before they gave them laws. They smote
right and left, and hewed their way through
and through the States they invaded; and
having smoothed the way with the sword,
gave the conquered laws, and taught them
manners. Those were sturdy men in sturdy
times, hut they taught practical lessons.
Let US have policy that shall roll up on the
swords edge.