The Big blue union. [volume] (Marysville, Kan.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-07
rm p1v1D1KoL LINE.


nothing bat the most vituperative and
wholesale abuse of our Government
whenever they take occasion to speak Of
it, and that is frequent and their sympa.
thizers in loyal comm unities often echo
the voice of their masters so far as to term
the Governments action in putting down
the greatest Rebellion known to history,
usurpation,- and unconsti.
tutional assumptions Of power" Such
Union" men as Salisbury of Delaware,
Seymour of New York, Vallandigham of
Ohio, strike upon this chord of their I'D
die and play sweet music to |" Democratic"
and disIoyal ears. Aud there are presses
tolerated to this day, under the same Gov
ernment protection, which harp upon
string similarly tuned and belch forth their
.reachery in the same insidious and dan
gerous manner. They purposely confound
studied and malicious abuse with just and
fair criticism. and endeavor to make us
believe that the most effectual method to
support the Government is to denounce
that Government. Wise as serpents !"
But there is dividing line, broad dis.
tinction between the criticisms, however
severe, of friend and the croakings Of an
enemy, no matter how strongly he may
profess fidelity to our cause. That we may
not lose sight of this distinction, and to
keep fresh in mind our duties in the pres
ent hour, we here copy from an exchange
portion of an excellent article upon these
points: There are two things which are
vastly important to be remembered now
and throughout this war,-let it last howev-
or long and be attended with whatever dis
couragements. First. that whatever op-
position any one may feel called on to
make to the government or any of its
measures, his leading and controlling spir-
it should be the support Of the government.
Otherwise he fails in the first duty of
citizen at time like this, and plays into
the hands of the rebels. When great ar
mics are raised to make war upon our
country, shall we hold our patriotism in
allegiance, or give forth any uncertain
sound, or quibble and hesitate about the
failure to adopt some favorite policy of our
own, or delay the wheels of our country's
chariot as it rolls forth to meet the foe, for
any reason whatsoever? The great. para
mount duty is, 10 support, animate and
strengthen the government in this great
peril. No man should be satisfied with
himself who 6nds opposition to the gov
eminent his key note now.
The second thing, to which we referred,
is akin to the first. No man has a right
to discourage the hopes of the people or
lower their tone by the expression Of des-
ponding views. Whoever thinks it desira'
bic to maintain the Union, is bound to help
and make others help maintain it in the
only practicable way, viz, the way decid-
ed upon by those who are charged with the
duty Of deciding. Grant that this way is
not the best. Yetit is the way which has
been adopted. Somebody must decide in
such cases. Oppose, # you choose. SO
long Is the question is open and you can
help the rulers to . wise decision warn,
admonish, argue, prophesy evil, 10 what
ever you like to discourage the adoption of
the policy you oppose, or to further the
choice of different policy. But when
the decision is made, let your opposition
cease. Then you mus, rally to the support
of the government. And to go about
croaking and oondemning policy which,
whether the wisest or not, is yet the cho-
sen policy of your country in its terrible
struggle, is not the course Of IN intelligent
lover of his country. Burnside's policy
or McClellans may notmeet the approba.
ton of all or, perhaps, Of any of the Ma
jor. Generals OF Brigsdiers under him; Jet
what should we say of any one of them
Who should hesitate 10 fall in with it, when
once adopted, and carry it out with all the
energy Of his soul?
rs