The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-02-21

long q The Ssans Il acton Ore still At hand
The main business is to use these with the=ut-
most vigor. Whena government il assailed, its
proper policyis to push with all its resources
upon its enemy, and to have little concern for
anything else And if severity is to be used
against its subjects, it should fall fret upon such
of them as are its own agents or instruments, and
are false to their duty. Traits to say, it should
be the kind Of severity that is necessary 70 the
removaliof everything that clogs directly its own
action. II must have free use of its powsrs.-
If ANYTHING binders, cut it away. If anything
opposes, break it in pieces. Let lite strength
have full scope at all hazards; dash down and
destroy ever ything for that; and have little care
for anything besides.
This is the iron rule Of endurance for Govern
ments in times of peril. 1t is in fact the one
grand law of prevalence and triumph, alike for
organizations and for individuals, 1t is easy to
see what its effect would be upon our public
policy during the present struggle. All the Or
gans Of the Government are to be employed at
their full capacity. II man that buys horees
for the army cheats in his business, discharge
him hang him if that will stop it quicker. II
q Navy agent is caught pilferiDg hang him too,
if that will be more effective. If Secretary,
at the head of . department has hand In the
fraud. hang him for the third, and let it be done
speedily. If General is idle, or false, or cow
ardly, out of bis place With him dishonor or
death for him. If man anywhere in the SER
vice of the nation has not the capacity for the
place, or il be is disloyal, or if be is dishonest
and tries to serve himself or bis friends more
than bis country, or if he works for his party
with more zeal than for his Government, off with
him, and with al such. Away with them into
obscurity or disgrace or poverty or the prison,
<ho 40 T.
times these are best left alone. Now, the guilty
ones need to be punished. Vengeance should
come upon them, 1t should be swift, terrible,
unhesitsting, unreprieving, utter, decisive. Let
the work be done clean and we'll. Let it make
no stopping for rank, or party, or wealth, or
friendship gfs
This is the kind Of rule that we have. need Of
The nation will bear that sort of severity, and
give thanks. The land has been waiting for 1t.
It would be the pledge OF earnestness and set
tied purpose. 1t would show that something is
to be done; and prove that it is the national
interest to be served, and nothing else The
spirit of the people would rise everywhere, and
come up to the occasion, with that style of au-
tbority over it. We are proud people, and
We want TO be proudly governed. We care
nothing for severity 10 these times. We care
nothing for arbitrary power We care nothing
for law, if the less must perish to save the gres.
ter. But give Us energy, give as force. Give
Us the road straight on ahead, with stiff line
over our backs. We have been champing the
bit TO feel it ever since the war commenced
Work on before is what We are ready for, any
amount of it, and any suffering in it, and any
evil for those who hinder it. But do not let US
be set to shutting up those miserable wretches
| that only stand by and vent their violence in
talk. Letthem 60 down if they will to be cursed
by the devils, that have nothing better to do
1t is not our work. Or, if any regard must be
paid to them, let US at least be doing the other
first, and chiefly. 90 lgatl. I. baa ,al s.9
| We will make it plain what we mean 1t has
been currently reported that Simon Cameron
did make mischief while at the head Of the war
department, and that he allowed his friends to
do more. 1t must be that the President had
the means Of. judging whether these charges
| were true. Suppose that when facts of this
sert first came to his knowledge, he had
stated to Simon Cameron that he was no
longer to remain in that position, that un~
less resolutions were everywhere and in
stantly set about, ne should be shot be-
fore the sun went down on that same day
Docs anybody doubt what answer the nation
would have made? And if policy Of which
this is . type, had prevailed, does any one be-
believe there would now have been divisions
in the free States! The, people would have
swept in to the support Of such a government
with will that political leaders could no moro
have resisted than they could stop the north
wind. ,ags.ras a~ gs.s,e n,sl s.z
The people are not changesble. They are
not captious They are not unwilling to face
privations and hardships and danger They
will do all that ever should be required of them.
Only they want to be made sure that there is
honoot and firm purpoao in ho do Of
their leaders, 10 use all their strength for the
ends to which they give it, and for no other;
and to tolerate no weakness, nor falseness, nor
sel6shness, nor party feeling, nor nything else
among its agents, except the endesvor to
break down the enemies of the nation. Let
the government purify itself, everywhere
quickly, and with fire, and there will be men
enough that will stand by ito the last. 'aE57