Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-21
" ORCEST E R:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 81, 1854.


The mass meeting of the citizens Of Brook
Ign, n. Y, last Tuesday, which partook
something of the character of the Union gath
erings of the spring of 1861, adopted the fol-
lowing declaration
We do not believe that the emancipation OF
the slaves of the southern states would cause
them to flee from the freedom given them at
home to the states of the north; and the idea
sometimes thrown out amongst lis that eman-
cipation would interfere with the laborlng
population of the NORTH is neither wise nor
started with loyal intent
This is gentle and commonplace enough,
but it indicates progress. 1t is worth some
thing for a conservative community to come
to the belief that an oppressed people will not
begin laborious migration the moment their
oppression ceases. That stumbling block Of
selfshness and abSurdity out of the way, the
logical steps are easy which lead to emanci-
patton itself-immedate and universal.
1t is time to tread upon the sophistries Of
those whose aim and purpose seems to be to
postpone this inevitable national policy. Who
that watches events doubts that it must come?
Who that desires the speediest and most ettec-
live measures of war doubts that it ought to
come? The opponents OF such policy have
fought it with every argument which ingenui-
ty could devise; but one by one they have
been overcome by the necessities of the hour.
We have been told at once of the imbecility
and of the ferocity of the blacks when their
restraints are removed. But wherever freed
men have been brought into notice they prove
to be neither imbecile nor ferocious, but do
cile and obedient, and intelligent as men
could well be from whom Gods light has been
for many generations shut out
1t has been insisted upon by some reputable
and many disreputable journals that the poll
cy of emancipation would revolutionize The
labor system of the free states. But that idea
which the conservative people of Brooklyn
pronounce unwise and started with disloyal
intent, has very nearly gone by. But the as
sumption which has had the greatest weight
has been that to extend the privileges of free
dom in the direction OF slaves to whom alone
larger freedom is at this time of any earthly
consequence, would detach the border states
nun ttltlI anu VIII tIittl lhCtt lic
patience of the country is very nearly ex-
hausted.
Since the war begun the prophets of eman-
cpaton have remained in the back ground
with its destinies in the hands of men like the
free state statesmen of the last quarter of
century who have feared everything and dared
nothing. 1t is impossible for them to remain
there. There is work for them in front.
Victor Hugo says in Les MiserableS, speaking
of the great CONFUSION OF 1898, THAT the
revolution should come was necessity.
But it was not enough that Montesquieu
should foresee it; that Diderot should preach
it; that Beaumarchais should announce it !;
that Condorcet should calculate it; that Arouet
should prepare it; that Rousseau should pre-
mediate it. Danton must dare it."
Daring in good cause is no less a necessi-
ty than in a bad one. Ours contemplates no
bloody work, like the French revolution, but
the use of liberty to save the republic against
slavery, banded to destroy it. 1t is possible
that in long and exhaustive war, the revolt
ed states might be so far conquered as to be
securely held in Subsection by a sufficient
force. But that is not the intent or purpose
of the war. 1t is not for the children of this
generation to do garrison duty over people
whom slavery has educated for anarchy rather
than order and submission to just laws, They,
when their gallant fighting is over, if the gov
eminent does not anticipate them, will place
the KEY stone of FREEDOM in the arch which
they have built, and come home.
"iTis the last keystone
That makes the arch the rest that there were put
Are nothing till that comes to bind and Shut
Then stands it triumplal mark