The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-02-26
English Opinions ON America.

English Opinions ON America.
| England is very much exercised about
America. 1t is sad thing to see the
| vast amount of sympathy and morality
| wasted upon this country by the writers
in their public press, the speakers at their
| public meetings, their members OF Par
| lament, their statesmen and politicians
We are told that we have great country
| that we have been happy heretofore /; that
it is terrible thing we are not happy
now. We are furthermore assured that
the Union is a feat institution that
hitherto we have had liberty and prosper
ity. and that in other times we have been
the terror and the admiration of the earth.
Then we are reminded of our present
unhappy condition according to them
all, terribly unhappy. Our liberties are
lost; we are under the heel of tic tyrant
our armies are In the ditch or the hospital
we are on the high road to bankruptcy
and ruin general Gesolation and despera-
tion are everywhere spreading, aud the
North is little more than an Aceldama.-
After this horrible picture is painted and
repaintcd in darker and deeper colors, we
are asked to confess that after all we are
engaged in futile and Improbable task.
We are implored to stop the war and
acknowledge the Soutl ern Confederacy.-
We are told that we shock the sensibilities
of nations by the shedding of blood, and
that, if we would be known throughout
the world as Christian men, we had better
cease our quarrels, surrender our cause,
and permit the Union to separate into
insignificant and antagonistic fragments.
There is an air Of selfsuficiency and
felicitation about these criticisms that
irritates and provHhes the loyal American
When men talk in this way, there can be
no arguments used to alter or convince
their opinions The contest on this con-
tinent to the English mind is simply sc
mauy dollars and lives-so much money
wasted and SO many lives lost. They see
nothing but disaster, and bankruptcy, and
death. They DO not realize the great
principle that underlies aud controls this
war We claim to fight for liberty and
constitutional existence We recognize
in the struggle through which We now
pass a sublime destiny. There are two
clements of contention-Liberty and Sla
very. Liberty is implied by the Union,
the Constitution, and the Republic. 1t
is quarrel-and its issue must be death.
There were men who thought it might
have been compromised. They were mis-
taken. We might as well compromise
light and darkness, day and night, truth
aud error, virtue and crime. Compromise
means degradation. Liberty might be
willing to accept degradation. but its an
tagoni>t disdains to give the mercy it
would not ask The North might kneel
at the feet of Mr. Jefferson Davis in
sackc cloth and ashes, and ask his forgiveness
and his friendship. 1t would be spurned
from his presence Liberty means strength
and justice and progress, and wherever i:
goes it must overspread and predominant.
1t must eli IN in Richmond; for, no matter
what the issue Of this war might be, there
must be strife and contention and agitation
until the true prevails aud the false is
overcome
We are sorry that EngIishmen cannot
see this thing as it is seen by us. They
can find parallels in their own history for
all that they now. see in America. We
fight for our existence people. Is it
wonderful that we should do 50? 1t is
contrary to human nature and manly pride
that We should be willing to suffer SO much
and endure SO many pcrils and privations,
for our country and our flag, The very
sentiment that English opinion now scorns
and despiSes is that which makes her re-
spected and powerful. Within the memo
ry of men now living, England was com
PEELED to light for her liberty and existence
as we are fighting now Napoleon meant
her destruction, and she only escaped by
long years Of war, suffering, depreciation
of the currency, stagnation OF manuiac-
lures aud commerce. Is there nothing in
these memories to excite her sympathy
and appreciation Is it possible that
people still painting from Waterloo, and
still blessing Gnd for ap unexpected saliva
tion, can find nothing but sneer and
scoff for freemen who undergo all that
they have undergone to obtain peace,
freedom, and national integrity!