The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-07

word was the keynote of their success Fear
ana failure were words east out of their cata-
iogne. They put into practice the idea which
Napoleon somewhat later put into Words
impossible Is the adjective of fools"
The frightful excesses, which characterized
the rule OF these men, have had the effect to
dim the luster of their heroic resistance, and
bscure the worth Of their services. The wri-
ter has no wish to become their apologists;
but while we execrate their atrocities, we
should not forget how desperate was the
strait from which they rescued France.
The Republican Government was like some
wild, hunted animal at bay: and it was COM
peled by the law of selfpreservation to strike
terrible blows. 1t took terror aud vengence
IN its hand as weapons, and with them beat
back the forces of united Europe. 1t has left
rs the lesson that all things are possible 10
courage and energy, and that nations need
never despair, where there Is any vitality in
the people. 1t is a lesson we have need TO re-
mind ourselves OF at present. Our situation
oilers not a tithe of the difficulties OF theirs,
yet We allow ourselves to sink into gloom and
dependency. We weary of the trials and
priyations which war imposes. Because we
have discovered that the rebellion is not to be
put down in sixty days." we despair of its
ever being subdued. Most certainly, IL we
despair, it never will be. God has given lib
erty to man only at the price of battles" says
one OF the profoundest of historians. We
need not expect our case to be an exception;
that we can have the blessing without paving
Its price. There is but one thing needed to
ensure success, and that is pdtience. We have
claimed as people to be superior to all ma
tons under the sun; but We are in danger of
falling below them for the lack of this one
quality. There never was a great war carried
on, which entailed upon the people engaged
In 1t so little suffering as this has brought to
us. We have to endure some privations and
more Inconvenience. Certain luxuries are
scarce and dear But so immense are the re-
sources OF this country, that, though the war
has lasted two years, we are yet rich, and
prosperous, and comfortable. There is no
destitution. Instead of the bread-riots, which
II was predicted would deluge the streets of
New York with blood, we have just seen that
city sending of her abundance ship-loads of
food to the starving poor of England: for the
second time in our national existence, fighting
one hemisphere, and feeding another. Yet
with all these advantages, these evidences of
ability, We grow fearful and fant-hearted, and
quake at the thoughts OF imagined perils. In
heavens name, let Us have no more of this
He that endureM unto the end, the same
shall be saved" Will this people suffer it to
go into the eternal record of history, that it
was so weak so e'icminate, so sordid or selfish,
as to let slip the costly birthright bought by
tie blood OF the fathers, when only patience
and energy were needed to preserve ite 1t
cannot be. In all contests between north
ern and southern race, il is shown that the f.
nal advantage has been with the northern, be
cause OF its superior power of endurance.
Are we willing to be the one disgraceful cx-
ceptlon to this general rule? If so, we shall
richly deserve the accumulated sorrows and
humiiiations, which failure now would inevi-
tably entail upon us.
EPSILON.