The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-28
A Word to CrUakefs.
PORTLAND, May 20, 1868,

PORTLAND, May 20, 1868.
| Tothe Editor Of the Press
| 1t is painful to observe the little confidence
which some people seem to feel in the Govern
ment. To follow out the natural train OF
thought suggested by many of the remarks
which daily greet the ear, would lead one to
suppose that two years of war had left us back
of our starting point; that we had actually
done nothing. There may be those who be-
lieve this, but their want of faith argues little
| love of country, and less knowledge of its
power and resources.
That we find our task harder than we at
first supposed it could be, does not detract
from the value of what we have done. We
are too apt to underrate our own achievements
while we proportionately overrate those OF
our enemies. A pendulum generally swings
as far one way as the other, and those who
have swung Off from the absurd idea of scar
ing the rebels into peace in three or four
months, are very naturally found at the other
extreme. 1t is no proof of wisdom to be
among the number.
The very ones who croak the loudest, find
them where you will, are the very ones who
have done and borne nothing, or but very lit
tie as yet, to aid the nation in its extremity.
separated; that it were fully understood that
now as of old, che that gathereth not with me
scatteretll." A man is either for or against
his country. And at this crisis the conduct
of each can but prove his position. We are
in the midst of the old conflict between Right
and Wrong. Compromise is impossible be-
cause Intellectual. We have tried it in the
past and may attempt it in the future, but it
will never succeed in allaying the tempest
which now RACES around us. The hour of de-
cision approaches. Either the evil or the
good in our national system must ere long tri-
umph, and can we hesitate in deciding which
shall win the victory?
Our Government is of ourselves More than
the people Of any other nation are we parts of
our country's government, and this fact fear
fully increases the responsibility of each. No
Arthmetical calculations of what States, Soun-
ties, or Towns have done can clear MS if ire
have not done as individuals all that we ear
The man ought to be ashamed to speak again
who is caught complaining of the tardy move
ments of the Government, when he has not
raised a finger to aid its smallest operations.
The call is to each, and every one should feel
himself responsible il he has failed to do some
thing to aid in crushing the rebellion. We
cannot long pursue such disastrous war, tor
war has become a fearfully destructive science
Therefore the hour of onr destiny is at hand.
Let all but resolve that the Right shall be
victorious and we are invincible, but vascilla-
ton, now as heretofore, can retard if not abso-
lutely for bid our progress.
Aid II paper aid II type,
Aid il for the hour is ripe,
And our earnest must not slacken into play.
Not only must the press do its part, but
no man or even woman is free from the duty of
aiding the nation in its extremity. Above all
let those who have hindered rather than helped
the cause learn at least the decency OF maintain
ing a silence as perfect as their indifference to
the country's welfare.
Even those who mean well are apt to over
look the fact that the statistics of what we have
done, large as they may sound, would be doub-
led or more, would each but do all in his or
her power, as who has yet done? II much has
been accomplished there is much yet that
might and ought to be done. Shall we not at
once awake to the sense of our own individual
duti es, and hasten to their performance with
will he hearts and hands, thus proving the
truth of our professions Of love to the noble
Inertia ge bought by the blood of our fore
fathers? &