Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-25
SATURDAY, july rs, 1863.


The Cost and the Compensation.
The immemorial consolation OF defeat has'eeh
that "such is the fortune OF war" The Hme has
at last come when for us it stands for SONG
thing better than unmitigated disaster. In
the beginning the war took the country at
disadvantage-spending its rage upon a house
only provided for summer days and calm,
fair Misunderstanding in at the open doors
ann windows, and destroying what it could
not plunder-the ruin it made being the only
credible warning of its reckless and almost
successful burglary. We say crediJls warm
ing, because, though there were prophets who
foresaw and foretold what would happen-as
truly as Themistocles foresaw the Persianinva-
sion andthe events that were to immortalize the
shores OF Salamis-yet the country would not
be warned by them, and the long-threatened
storm found it unprepared for its coming.
The storm has spent its fury at last, leaving
wide waste of ruin to be recovered and re-
paired. The cotton producing states and
Virginia may contribute fields for irregular
warfare for some months to come. 1t is not
supposable that an army devoted to the Union
and carrying on its banners the ''policy" of
emancipation, can march to the Gulf and re-
turn without meeting resistance and occa-
slonal reverses. But the rebellion, in its as
sumed character of revolution, is reeling in
death agonies, and must soon be resolved
into its original elements-a series of petty
instructions to be suppressed by the ordinary
powers of the government.
While these first faint streaks of dawn are
coming in sight, the country will not have the
folly to forget into what nearly fatal darkness
it was betrayed, nor the meanness to accept
inadequate compensation for its extraordinary
and essential injuries. The government was
so liberal and magnanimous in distributing its
burdens that no whits citizen ever had cause
to complain of injustice. Victories had been
won during many years of peace, in whose
fruits nearly the whole land was rejoicing
All industries were bringing in rewards with
large and increasing magniacence. All arts
were advancing toward sane and vigorous ma
turity. The secure confidence with which
every body trusted in the protection Of his
government, and the faith they had that at
sometime, not far of, it would peaceably and
of its own will become the exemplifcalion
and synonym of perfect justice, encouraged
them to foster and develope all its resources
of wealth and power, and prepare it to be one
of the freest, purest, strongest and best ma
tons of the world.
But rebellion changed all this. How af-
ter months Of stealthy preparation its thun-
derbolts were hurled against the very affairs
of the republic; how 1t has laid waste vast
treasures consecrated by the toll and sacrifice
of many years; how it has swallowed up in
Vulnerable precious lives in its remorseless
fire; how it has invaded every nook and
corner Of the land, and left its blackened trail
upon threshholds when no sorrow had ever
crossed before; how it wounded the pride and
honor Of the nation by every circumstance
Of indignity and malice; and put to the last
peril the experiment of republican liberty in
which rested the hope Of enlightened humanity
all over the world; history has it all written
in characters too bold, too fresh, to be for
gotten.
Surely it would be no compensation if the
defeated rebellion were suffered to Withdraw
to its covert, to appear again in the character
of slave oIigarchy-professing allegiance
while conspiring treason-the smile on the
lips concealing the canker of the heart Such
peace would be the peace of death, in which
the rebellion would have as etfectual triumph
as if had been left master Of every field on
which it fought. ''You may win peace or buy
it, wrote one of the most thoughtful and elo-
quent OF men as if he were writing for us;
twin it by resistance to evil; buy it by COM
promising with evil. You may buy your
peace with silent consciences you may buy
it with broken vows buy it with lying
words buy it with base connivances; buy it
with the blood of the slain, and the cry of the
captive, and the silence of the lost; while YOU
sit smiling at your serene hearths, lisping
comfortable prayers evening and morning,
and muttering continually to yourselves
''peace. peace when there is no peace but
oHly CaptlNlty ana ueatn Tor you as well as
for those you leave unsaved." Into this Sec
ond danger the country will not be betrayed.
Till it wins peace with the safe condition of
liberty it can not lay down its arms 1t must
keep its faith with the people whom it has
once declared TO be free. 1t must have its
territory consecrated to the influences of
OF free culture, as partial indemnity for the
pact. 1t must have no Earring OF dscordant
systems, still rivalIing each other wltn1n It's
borders, to furnish food for renewed agitation
and material for future wars. Such a peace
must be won and not bought; and till it is
won no citizen is absolved from his duty to
support it, and no shrinking from its require.
ments can be otherwise than unpatriotic and
unmanly.
The MODS and the COnscriptiOn
If was part of the plan of the copper
head insurgents to withdraw public interest
from the more important work of the war, and
to poison the public mind with distrust as to
the justice of the CONSUMPTION, the plan was
ip part successful. 1t is hardly creditable
that these northern outbreaks-formidabl for