The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-22
The Game of Chess.


America lies now very much with the press O
the two countries" So writes dstinguishe'
American now in London. The fact is no
new, but it never was so true as now.
EVERYBODY knows the print of the young
man PLAYING chess with the devil |; "Th'
game Of life" The young man going int
the snare of the evil one has laid, is abou
to make the raise move intended for him
His guardian angel despairs, while Satar
smiles 70 the roots of his hair Such is the
game we are engaged in, and the father o.
evil has too great stake in the result tc
leave any chance for US, if, at the critical
point, we allow our passion to master oul
reason.
The great move Oh the board now is to
get US in a war with England, and thereby
ensure the separation of the South, the dis
memberment Of this country, the permanent
establishment of slave empire, slave aris-
tocracy on this continent, fast leagued with
the aristocracy of the old world, for one ob-
Ject at least, to put safe lock on the future
greatness Of the United States Perhaps his
majesty counts too fast if he relies on all
these results, but how foolish it would be, in
moment of irritation, to make just the move
he is waiting for 1t is certain that our diff
ticuties would be enormously increased, and
success Indefinitely postponed, and perhaps
fatally circumscribed.
There is powerful party in England
whose whole mind is turned to find an occa-
sion which shall enlist sympathies of the ma
ton IN war against the United States. This
they know can be only Effected by some false
move on our part. Hence the eagerness
with which every weapon is sought and iorg-
ei that can sting us into some act of impa-
tence or retaliation. Hence the transcen-
dental ingenuity of the sarcasms of the
Ilmes Hence the cry of mad dog raised
upon every pretence. We have shown that
we understand that game, but the great
weapon to be employed for this purpose, the
dangerous weapon in such skilful hands,is the
prlva,eer question. AS to the destruction
of our ships, the rebels know that helps them
little; but it is the most famous recipe in
the world 10 sting US into meas ures that
would render war with Great Britain in
esitable. SO they pl! it with might and
main. Had we yelled to the pressure to
Issue letters of marque, what rejoicings it
would have created at Richmond. They
would have counted the months till war
should be declared. 1t is their only hope.
Let them play this last card in vain, destroy
this hope then, and We may securely count
the months it will cost to put down the re-
bellion. Let US not play into the hands of
these clever jockies. Let us always ask our
selves what do the rebels wish US to do ?"
and do the opposite. Had we followed
this rule since the war began where would
the rebellion have been to-day9
The clever and unprincipled portion of the
upper classes in England, who are thus play
ing into the hands of the rebels, are not the
nation. They are the Tooml,ses, the jeff
Davises, the Slidells of England, more pol
ished, but the same at heart Their object is
the same in England as that of these clever
gentlemen at the South viz. to precipitate
the nation into war on a popular cry, which
shall be a war against all democratic institu-
tons throughout the would, and especially
IN England; great reactlonary war to keep
the power in the hands of the ruling classes.
They know that a war brought on in cold
blood would react on its authors; but that a
war which they could make popular by any
indiscretion of ours would make enemies OF
our friends in England for such, at heart
are the great middle and lower class, and
many of all classes. 1t is in our power to
keep them our friends, and woe to England
if she makes war upon US against the con.
science of the English people and the public
opinion of the world. The proclamation
saved to US the people Of England, and will
save US from war;" Did the rebel leaders
rejoice over the proclamation Did their
friends in England rejoice at it? That i.
the true test of our wisdom and success.