Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1862-06-25

| VI pIcsCht toibuucS, WHEN the stars nj
obscu:ed, and casting our minds into the flu
ture, we fail to discern by the light of reason
and political science, whittier we wander. ant
where may be the pitfalls: we have but t.
allow our memories to open the past, and the
path becomes distinct, and the goal is visible
afar off,
Revolving the possible effects of the present
invasion by the enemy, one of those lessons OF
history has occurred to ourselves, strikingly
applicable to our own condition; and the more
SO now, since recent events about to ex
hlblt the everlasting tendency of history to
reproduce ITSELF whilst man is human.
Opposite the old Church of ST. Casters, in
the city of Coblentz, stands fountain, upon
which are two celebrated inscriptions, which
contain it all.
The fountain was erected by the city, then
a part of the French empire, rs a piece OF
adulation to the great emperor. 1t was ut the
time of the movement of the Grand Army.
The first inscription bears date in 1912. and in
the French language reads as follows: I'm
memory of the Russia campaign, under the
|
how the campaign so exultingly celebrated.
came to an end.
Two years afterwards. the second inscrip-
ton was added, and reads thus: ssSeen and
approved by US. Russian commander of the
| city of Coblentz." 1t was terrible sarca sn;
craven in stone. The grand army had brought
the Russians to France; but the end was not
yet.
The traveller who now stands near this foun-
tain, reading these inscriptions, is surrounded
and passed by crowds, whose costume is nei-
Their Russian nor French, and whose language
is not the language of the fountain: they are
Germans; and Cohlentz now, as before the
rise of the French Empire, is German city
The lesson is ended. France and Russia had
successfully taken and held Coblentz The
waves of 10th armies had dashed over it sue
cessively, past it, and far upon the face Of
their respective territories and, after all,
when the storm over. and the waves had
receded, each Of these powerful nations, who.r
contest shook the worl |, occupied their orr ii
nal territory, and Cobcntz was again, in gov
eminent as in population, German. rs ut first
Nations acquire and hold vacant territories
They sometimes, but with difficulty. conquer
and hold the countries Of savage tribes with
out first DISCRIMINATING the people, as in Mex-
CO, South America. the Indies, and Ireland
Civilized nations SOM times harmonic and
unite, did England and Scotland Govern
ments, in negotiation, barter slips of territory
and small provinces, inhabited by n people
Indifferent to their masters. as is constantly
done in Europe. Thus geography is changed,
and the grandeur of nations rises and wanes
But once, an the Aisto. y Of The ,porld.
has one civilized people conquere another.
aud held them in suhject;on to the laws of the
conqueror. 1t is the grand political lesson
taught by the fountain hefoFe the porch IF the
old church of ST. Casters
Take the map of Europe, as Il existe three
hundred years ago. Compare it with the map
published last year. Reflect that IN all that
period. through the wars of the Reformation,
the wars of Napoleon. and in many other wars,
nations have struggled with each ether. in
very death throes, for conquest and mastery.
Mark, then, how nearly the lines Of king .on.s
and municipalities still remlin the SAM. Con-
slider the causes which have made the varia-
tions which exist, none of which are conquest:
and if you still fear people may be conquer
ed, then you have read history to little purpose
The powerof the old Union, could not (without
annihilation,) permanently subjugate and hold
the single State of South Carolina. No states
man, unbiased by passion, would advise or
attempt it.
Truly spoke the preacher-he of old who bad
proved all things
The thing which hath been, il is that
which shall be: and that which i. done, is
that which shall be done: and there is new
thing under the sun. Is there any thing
whereof it may be said, Sec, this is new p
1t hath hecn already of old time, which was
before u.s.
One year alone has passed aipce jubilant
cheers, and fcastS, and ringing Of bells, and
much loud heralding of all the journals. pro-
claimed the departure of the grand Amy
of our Western continent to occupy tie South.
The immediate fate of that army, too, is now
matter of history; and the sure historical
consequences are already rumored through
the land, and if not already realized, viii most
assuredly be. 1t will bring the Southern
| army to Washington and, perhaps. some
fine morning. Washington journal + ay
appear with copy of its old jabilations and
exultaut farewells to the ''grand army un-
derwritten, Read and approved by us.
Stonewall ia ckson, Confederate Commander"
The whole war is a folly upon the Part of
the North, underta ken under a delusion which,
when dispeliti, will be succeeded by despair,
The same lesson of history which renders it
| an article of faith too strong to be affected by
reverses, that no people can be conquore |,
must be clear to them also. They never
would haye hoped so much, and do not now /;
but they were nisled by the belief that the
heart of the South was With them, and the
mass wouid arouse fo. tire OIL Union. Conh~
dent of that they plunged the caantry into a
civil war. They have gone too far to rctract.
To return is worse than to proceed. Nothing
is left them but less disgraceful peace, and
fer that they still oYerrun our country and