Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-08-23
The Cost Of Defeat.

We have come to point, in the pro-
slavery rebellion, when our capitalists
and business men should begin to com
pute the cost of defeat. Suppose jeff
Davis should succeed in destroying the
union-what then? Suppose he should
triumph in his Internal raid to protect
slavery-the mother Of all abomina-
tions-what then? Suppose he should
take the city Of Washington-what
then Suppose he had his army at the
capital and himself in the White House
what then? Somebody must pay
the cost Of this Southern rascality.-
And now, Messrs. Bank Officers, capi-
talists and business men, at the North,
who do you think J left. would call upon
to foot his bills? He wouldn't 90 South,
that is very clear. Would our bank
capital and deposits be safe? No
Would our savings banks be safe? No.
Would our merchandise and our other
property be safe? No. Would our
lands be safe? No. Would anything
but slavery, all over the land, be safe :?
No, Would our necks be safe? No.
Nothing would be safe. The South
know very well that unless they sue
ceed now in destroying the government,
they are made utterly and hopelessly
bankrupt. They began by fighting for
slavery. Now they are fighting for
slavery and to save all the money they
have invested in the rebellion, and they
will fight with desperation. They have
no hope in a separation. It is too late
for that. They have reason enough,
and they are wise enough, to summon
every man who can bear arms to come
to their help Immediately To delay
is to lose everything,
If the North should fail, which may
heaven forbid, the cause of freedom
will be put back century. If we fail,
we shall also become bankrupt Our
gold and our silver, and everything we
possess, will then go into the hands of
the rebels. Our very lives will be at
their mercy. Remember-thc men we
are dealing with, inaUgurated this re-
bellion by stealing. They stole the
money in our custom houses and mints.
They stole our Government stocks and
bonds. They stole our post-office rev.
enue. They stole our firearms and mu-
nitions Of war. They stole our ships,
and everything within their reach
These are the men we are dealing with,
and it is high time we understood the
matter fully. Yes, we are dealing with
banded thjeces and robbers-with mur-
aerers-those who coolly fired upon
Sumter, and dared to spill the blood of
peace-loving, lawabiding citizens
What can we expect from such men :?
1t is time, now, for the North to begin
the war. Shall our property be sunk,
and lost for ever, or shall the South be
the losers? Shall we spare the rebels
while we freely suffer and pour out our
loyal blood in defense Of our country :?
That has been our policy. We have
fought, thus far, like the indulgent ten
derhcaIted mother. who said to her
darling, rebelious child, II tell you
you young rascal, III conquer YOU if it
takes every bit of sugar I've got in the
house to do it.' That is the only kind
of talk our "Southeln fliends'5 have
heard, and IT is high time to stop short
Ito turn over a new leaf. Now let us
begin the war:
lst By DRAFTING ONE MILLION
or MEN.
ID. By PRoCLAtMING UNINER-
SAL EMANCIPATION.
Sd. By CoNFIsCATING ALL REBEL
PROPERTY.
4th. BY DEALING SUMMARILr WITH
! TRAIToRs.
Such course, in our opinion, would
be the safest, wisest, and cheapest, and
it would, within 60 days, put an end to
the rebellion. 1t would scare the reb-
els at home and abroad, and teach in
terventionists to mind their own bust
ness. Shall we begin the war? Who's
ready ~ y Independent.