The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-08-01
Confidence.
July 25h. 1862.

The necessity Of giving cheerful and hearty
support to our leaders in the field. and to those
n, the head Of the Government in the Cabinet,
can not be too oiten nor too forcibly enjoined.
50 far forth as that support may be required to
successfully carry on the present war, so thai
with its successful and vigorous prosecution, II
may terminate with complete honor to the cause
Of the Republic. Men, said Edmund Burke,
make great mistakes by acting in relation to 9
state Of things as they would have them, rather
than by acting in relation to the state Of thing:
which really exist. And we suppose there Is
no one who would not greatly prefer that the
questions which now agitate, yes-convulse the
nation from centre to circumference, were I'M
dergoing peaceful solution as Is contemplated
In the Constitution.
But unfortunately such is not the case. The so
luton Of the questions which have agitatcd the
country. which now agitate IL, even the very
existence Of American Liberty. and, certainly,
the unity Of our nation. have passed beyond
the grasp Of the statesman for the present, and
tho work to be done belongs to the soldier
The calm deliberations of the council have
given way to the glories, the strife and the con-
tests of the battle field. Desire to shut our
eyes to the truth Of this as VIC may, the fact
remains that civil and religious liberty, that
noble and exalted liberty which Webster called
american Liberty" has again been compelled
to vindieate itself with the sword.
II Is impossible to magnify the contest in
which this nation Is now engaged. There are
some things which pass beyond the comprehen-
something's which are not merely of the i'm
agination. but which pertain to matters in the
history Of nations and governments. And such
Il the character Of the period OF our history in
which We are living, and which We are making
for ourselves.
With successful end to the war. with rebel
lion crushed out, with the old DAG still floating
over sea and land. indicated from the insults
90 impiously heaped upon IL, its power and ii
blessings respected and received over all oui
vide domains, what man % vain ~ TO thinl
that he can comprehend and paint to the mind
or the Imagination, the glories Of the Republic
Peace and prosperity al home would follow
respect and honor abroad. We can but call Il
mind<he slmonitions and warnings Of all thu
great who have gone before. Washington
Clay, Webster. Adams, Jackson. all the grea
and honored dead. have admonished US that oui
only safety was in unity, in the power Of thu
general Governhen, to yindicate its existence
On the other hand who can tell. who can con-
ceivs the ignohle, dangerous. and dark abys
into which we shall fall. II the result, which
God forbid. should be to break our country In
pieces The admouitions Of those same greal
names again come TO US with ominous meaning
that all Is dark Seyoad. They feared to lool
over the awful precipice into the dark abys,
below. We will not dwell upon It.
In order that the result 30 arden,ly desireS
BIZ every patriot may be secured, sOmsbOd,
must lead; the present Is eminentiy q time 70
great leaders to FIRE the people with an arden
and burning real. And to these chosen leader
.hcsrty and generous support should be given
We have been panied, since the late battle b
fore Richmond. to see 80 much ill-timed. un
generous and even malignant criticisms aime
at the conduct Of the war 50 far As the army
the Potomac Is concerned. And whence arise