New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-19
THE OBJECT OF THE WAR.

The Troy Wing insists that the War for the
Union has been perverted .n.o War ior Ado
lition. and triumphantly quotes as violated
pledge the following extract from Mr.. Lincoln's
Inaugura:
81 have purpose directly or indirectly to in,srf.rs
believe have lawful right to do So and have no In
elinstion TO do go"
Let US illustrate the absurdity Of this assump-
ton by substituting Shareholders for Slavery,
and reading the sentence afresh:
"Ihs,e no purpose directly or Indirectly to do tn. dare
aode'' harm havs no desire to do 80. and believe
have no right to do go
Now suppose the slaveholding rebels to quote
this with an air of triumph as showing that
the President has violated solemn pledge IN
prosecuting the War for the Union, and you
place them just where The Wing now is.
For the fundamental, controlling fact in the
premises 10, that the War for the Union 10 de.
fensive--that Slavery is the cause Of the Re-
bellion, aud that the War is aggressive on
their side, defensive on ours. Slavery impelled
and began t-needessly, wantonly, wickedIy;
and is involved in its perils by its own net
and purpose. JEFF. Davis, in pretending that
he and his Confederacy are standing strictly
on the defensive, and wondering why the
Union cannot lot them alone, evinces con-
sistency in his audacity which we do not find
in the position Of The Wing.
Neither we nor the Republican party are
responsible for the views Of Mr.. Wendell
Phillips, but if that gentleman ever said that
the result of the War must be "death to the
Union or Liberty TO the Slave" he simply ac-
copied the issue made up for and forced upon
US by the Slave Power. 1t was an instructive
perception of this thas devoted the Massachu.
setts Volunteers to foul and cOwardly murder
in the streets Of Baltimore, and that long ago
filed the loyal States with partisans Of the Re-
bellion. We never saw an opponent Of Slavery
who did not intensely hate JEFF. Davis and oil
his works. We never saw whole-sonled devo-
tee of Slavery who had not at least sneak
ing kindness for them aud their treason.
If The Wig will try to remember that We
hold the object Of the War on the side of the
Union to be purely and only selfpreservation,
and that Slavery is involved therein simply and
solely because Slavery has chosen to be The
core and handspring Of the Rebellion, it will
be saved the necessity Of much vain beating of
the air.
OF course we do not insist that all shall zee
through our spectscles. Some, perhapo, can
not; more are determined that they will not.
What we do require Is, that those who think
the Union ought to be preserved shall rally
around aud sustain tho Government, despite
their minor differences. We did 80 heartily
and in good faith while its policy with regard
to Slavery seemed TO US utterly mistaken and
suicidal: we did so through many weary
months, until it became manifest to tho Pres.
ident and his official counselors that they could
not succeed in at once upholding Slavery and
putting down that Rebellion which Slavery had
inauguratod, aud on which it had staked its
all. They at last reluctantly consented to
strike at the effect through and with the
cause: aud We demand that those who distrust
this policy shall give such loyal and hearty sup
port to the Government as nee gave while their
policy bore sway. Give our mode Of fighting
the Rebellion as full and fair trial rs the
other had, and if it fails, we will acquiesce
in its abandonment. And tha we submit. Is
fair and just.