Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-08
From the Boston Journal, April ~ /
LESSONS OF TILE WAR


The public has learned much since this re-.
bellion broke out, with regard to the charac-
ter and designs Of the Southern oligarchy. and
It was believed that the grea, mass of the
people of the South were loyal--that they had
been carried out of the Union by designing
and ambitious politicians The large slave
holders were supposed to be conservative, and
the commercial classes most deeply impreg-
mated with secession We had to learn that
slavery, and not visions Of commercial great
moss, was the virus which had poisoned the
whole soci'l system Of the South. We had
TO learn that the leading and influential class
es-all who were interested in slave labor
were disloyal We had to learn that Parson
Brownlow and Gov, Johnson and Gen. Ham
ilton were the types Of the only truly loyal
men Of the South, and not the border State
politicians who held back the government
from dealing effective blows at the rebellion.
We had to learn that this is conflict Of ideas,
aud not mere struggle for political suprema-
cy. And having learned all this by the sac
rihce of some OF the best blood Of the North
by an expenditure Of treasure and resources
which no other war ever equaled, and by the
loss Of precious time and opportunity which
can never be recalled, it would be strange in
deed if opinions as to the manner Of dealing
with the rebellion had not been materially
modified in the meantime. 1t is only those
political Bourbons who forget nothing and
learn nothing that have not arrived at differ
ent aud juster views Of the rebellion and its
causes. 1t is only those who are politically
blind who fail 20 see that the fell spirit on
slavery is the handspring Of this rebellion, as
it avowedly is the corner-stone Of the govern
ment which the rebel leaders seek to found
on the ruins of this republic. In the first
year Of the rebellion it was by no means ap-
parent that we must strike at slavery to save
the Union. But he is indeed blindly pre-
JUDGED who cannot now see that slavery must
be shorn of its power for evil, both material
and political, to save the country. and pre-
serve for our posterity its free institutions
and Republican form of government.
We need not vndioate the Presidents eman-
cipation policy. Time is the best exponent
Of its wisdom, and while many loyal men at
first reluctantly supported it as a government
measure, its policy and necessity, as well as
its goods results, are becoming more and more
apparent. II it had done no more than TO
avert foreign Intervention, with which that
policy is generally credited, it would have vim
dicated its own wisdom. But it has mater-
ally weakened the rebellion, and as an ear
nest Of more vigorous policy on the part OF
the government, it has largely contributed to
the revival Of public hope and confidence in
the success Of our cause. SO far from having
intensified the struggle. as many predicted it
would, we find no increase of bitterness at
the South, and no disposition to enforce
threats of retaliation but rather an enhanced
respect for the earnestness of purpose Of the
North, and, shall we add, an increased c,n-
tempt for those among us who will not realize
the magnitude Of the struggle and pusllani-
mousy plead for peace which will leave the
real issues undecided. The emancipation
policy leads to the abolition Of Slavery, and
toward Union such as the fathers Of the
Republic designed TO establish.