Daily national Republican., 1862-11-10
From the Boston Journal.
The Conflict Of Ideas,

We believe II was Fernando Wood who char
acterized the present contest in This country as
n struggle between Puritan bigotry and intoler-
ance and Cavalier lberality and freedom from
moral and religious prejudices. There Is u
germ of truth In this view Of the great conflict
| 1t Is one between the Puritan ideas of morality
religion, and self-government, as represented
by the schoOl-hOnsc, the church, and the town
meeting. and the aristocratic ideas brought to
this country by the free and easy cavaliers of
Charles ], and which find their natural express
sion in the institution of slavery, in the love of
ease and political power, and In the impatience
of moral and religious restraints, so charac-
teristic of the South. Between these two ec-
ments, and seemingly interposed by Provi-
dence to prevent them from coming into direct
and deadly conflict, is the industrious, even
tempered, but somewhat stolid Dutch element
which is 50 largely represented In New York,
New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. II Is the nal
tural conservative power in this country, fiuc
tuating in its drift and tendency, approaching
at times the one or the other extreme, hut never
leading In the march Of human progress or
pronouncing for radical changes.
This clement may have its mission in blend
ing and harmonizing the more radical clements
to which we have referred. II has modified
the conflict of ideas In years past, and Its nfus
ence is felt even In the present bloody struggle
which seems to have been precipitated upon us
for final supremacy. 1t may be that this con-
servative element will again interpose to pre-
vent the ascendancy of either the aristocratic
or democratic ideas in the general Government.
II may be that II will postpone the final conflict
TO some future day and generation. But the
struggle will continue until one section or the
other Is revolutionized, and conflicting ideas of
social, civil, and government policy are har-
monized, either through the silent and peaceful
medium of the ballot-box, or by the sword. In
the light of these principles the recent elections
lao, eiu hup 10
and all New England stand firmly by the ideas
which had their birth upon her soil, and where
ever the New England element largely prevails,
as In Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Northern
Ohio, and in some other parts of the great
West, the Republican ascendancy Is not over
thrown. But where the cavalier element pre-
walls, as in southern Indiana, Ohio, and llli-
nois, the opposition TO Puritan ideas has been
intensified, while the phlegmatic and unimpres-
sive Dutch element has aided In what is termed,
and perhaps justly, conservative reaction.
1t may be that through the interposition
of this element the conflict of ideas may be
postponed to other and more peaceful fields.
Human progress TO higher stages of advance
ment Ia never rapid. War has no lamp of
Aladdin TO complete the work of a century in II
day. The feudal arstocracy which prevailed
In the middle ages has scarcely yet relinquished
It's last grasp upon the masses OF Europe. They
are emerging alOwly though surely into the
llgnt Ol lDtIlN. Inc utllNtTuutt Vi
of Russian serfs, although decreed, is not yet
accomplished. and II may be that, like the
Egyptians of old, the nobility of that land will
not ''et Gods people go" until fire and the
sword have humbled their pride and power.
SO In this country, slavery may temporarily
survive this contest; but u blow has been ad-
ministered to 1t which will inevitably hasten its
downfall, and one of the earliest fruits of the
struggle between Puritan and aristocratic ideas
will be univcra freedom upon this continent
The establishment of this fundamental Idea of
Puritan polity will be the harbinger of a
more rapid advancement in all the material aud
moral elements of national prosperity and great
ness.
~ The New York Times speaks thus of the
suiierings of our soldiers in the recent storm.
Remember the poor soldier;
"The volunteers themselves, how fearfully
they must have suffered, standing guard In the
sleet and hail. creeping, cold, weary, and drip
ping, to their cOuches ON the ground; strue-
Cling with the floods TO keep life in u few Goals
10 warm their scant ration of food. This was
their condition yesterday who left their homes
to fight our battles, and left us to enjoy our
comforts and follow our ayocations in peace.
Did their wives and children suffer by yester-
days wintry teHpest as only the poor do suiierl
II so, how shalt or arms be blessed ?