Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-06-07
The Great Problem Pressing = Q Final b.
lutaon

For thirty years past slavery has b-en the
great problem in American politics. How to
dispose Of il one side. and how to not dispose
of it on the other, have been the leading
questions. despite the efforts Of political quacks
to ignore them. The logic aud conscience Of
the nation have always been against slavery,
hut the power and prestige have been with it.
The anti-slsvery sentiment was inharmonious.
vascillaiing between extremes. never aggress-
i've, too much divided to win anything even by
a calm, consistent and steady assertion Of it,
SELF The pro-slavery sentiment. or interest
rather. was always harmonious. pushing
firmly for one end. always aggressive. never
afraid to assert itself in any manner. The
former never practically and effectively or
ganixed itself till 1856; the latter was always
organized; wherefore the former always lost
and the latter always won. Hence slavery
became power in the land-thc rule instead
of the exception-a controlling element in
stead Of subordinate and Aeeting incident.
Hence it obtained possession of the Govern
ment and dictated to the Nation. At last it
demanded so much that the antislavery senti-
ment, which had asserted itself before only oc.
casionaly and spasmodically, was reused to
active resistance, and formed into two great
parties with definite policy, calling them.
selves Republicans and Popular Sovereignty
Democrats, the former setting an uncondition-
al limit, the latter conditional limit to the
march of slavery. These tw" parties Of anti
slavery and the arrogant third party of slavery
submitted their dispute to tho peaceful arbi-
tration of the ballot box. The Republicans
were victors, the political power Of slavery
was destroyed, and slavery sought to recover
itself by armed rebellion. War has been
more fatal to it than the ballot box, for while
the latter only abated it MS force in the Gov
ernment, the former is destroying it utterly.
Tho Republican party came into power
pledged to respect the constitutional guaran-
ties for its federation in the States, but to pro-
vent its extension, abolish it wherever it ex-
listed within the exclusive jurisdiction of Con-
gress. and SO put it in process Of peaceful,
gradual and sure extinction. Tho Republi-
can party has been true to its pledges. With
all its convictions and desires squirting it to
strike down not only rebels but the abomina.
ble cause of rebellion itself, and with unlimited
rowcr to do this under the plea of military
necessity, it has, while abolishng slavery in
the District of Columbia and prohibiting it
forever in the Territories, let it alone in the
armies of freedom were marching into tho
heart Of its dominion. Fearful Of losing a
single element of strength in the war for the
preservation Of the Government they have been
even timid in their Difference to slavery as a
State establishment and in their regard for
the prcjudiccs of a few loyalists who have an
interest in its security. Doubtless the Ad-
ministration. like tho minority of its anti-slav-
cry supporters, knew it could afford to hold
its henriiest convictions and desires in abey-
ance, and let the war they were waging ex-
clusively for the preservation Of the Union
provide its own mode of settling the issues its
progress was sure to create. The wisdom of
this policy is now apparent. The Admins
tration has rallied to it's support all the une-
quivocal loyalty Of the country, irrespective
Of old political differences; it has triumphed
on sea and land, circumscribed the area Of re-
bellion, driven the traitors to tho wall and
when the hour shall come to settle the terms
Of restoration and peace with the insurgent
States. it will be sustained by the people in
making them comport with tho highest inter-
ests of freedom and conduce to lasting harmo.
ny. Meanwhile. slavery has been destroying
itself Nothing but its relics exist now in the
Border States, and these will soon be abol.
isled by State action. A the Union armies
march southward the inevitable aud long FORE
seen result is abolition. The slaves embrace
the opportunity for freedom with glad alac-
rity that utterly falsi6es the predictions Of
their masters that they could not be coaxed to
quit the bondage. Here and there in our in
sargrnt States, our Generals may be author
ised to stimulate the stampede Of the blsck
s~ns BY proclamation like that Of Hunsss in
South Carolina. Gcorgia and Florida. which
has freed one fourth Of al the slaves in the
Union, a. IT least told them that they may BE-
free. This 10 legitimate exercise Of the war
power. and rrsoss 70 il viii be made sol~ly
as . means to IN end. that end being the
speedy suppression of The rsbrii;ua and the
rsssosaaios of Peacs Cd unity o. Lasting
basis. There can b - oejscsioa 70 il ex-
crpt o. the scoer af exPediesey. sad a that
ths Govesnneas i The brst judec. to whose
decis;oa all trse Anesicans win yield chew
fal obrdicncc. Had thr var bern inanguss-
ted o. the part a ths Gevsnarst With the
prouulgatine a esa<nl sdics a enancipa-
tioa. - so0e hot-AsaAs advised. Il would have
failrd al ito parsnssns and svoved object. icr
sueh eesscs would have divided ihr North
and esassliaaasd sa1 jssifsa TIE Sesth. Pa
tisat f3e,isy 10 Isgsaiaaae purpose. about
which these was 10 di6setnce q cpibica
ameag s1auseA Uaisaisfs. has won 10 the Ad-
ministntina uasninsas support. and Inspired
such esakdsaee h - iaaeeTity and wisdom
that ths nation win sustain Il in vhafsver pol
lev Il nay dssa bsst foe 6nal solutioa a ths
slavery psoblsa end cf I'll questioas growing
out Of ths war Already has the Administers
ton developed whaa that policy viii b.. In.
sxifahlx Il n cQmpellsd. Willy nilly. q meet