The Shasta courier., 1863-04-25
Qualified Patriotism.

trying anu merry oruedi Vi civil war; IN as
serting their right to be classed as distinct
nation or people. We need not go into de-
tsiled history Of the causes which produced
the revolutions of the Roman empire, and
which resulted in the establishment of the
seat of the arts and ssisnces at Rome, or into
the history of England during her revolu-
tions nor need we enter into the causes
which produced the French revolution, and
established it as leading power among the
nations of the earth; for with the history Of
those great revolutions we are not now to
deal; but We as nation have now to grapple
with one of the greatest and most unnatural
contests ever known to history
1t is left to the people of the United States
to write, in the middle of the nineteenth cen
tury, history which shall excel in magni-
tude that of all former wars, and record
therein more cruelty, barbarity and loss of
life than any other civilized people have ever
witnessed.
For over thirty years have the politicians
of the Southern States clung to the fatal dog
ma of State Rights, and to foster and pre-
serve the institution of human slavery, they
have asserted the right of State to secede
whenever they became dissatisfied with the
General Government. This idea. so long
fos:ered by the Southern slave holders, has
at last eliminated in this most damnable re
| bellion.
Notwithstandirg our people have expert
enced all the horrors of civil war for two
years, and.with full knowledge of the caus-
es which have led to it, yet we see men, who
claim to be able to direct and advise the pub
lie mind, through what are called Democratic
papers, in the loyal States, do all in their power
to oppose the authorities, who have control
of our army and navy, and who are using
every exertion to preserve our nation from
ruin, simply because the leading measures
adopted to accomplish this object does
not correspond with their party platforms,
or their ideas of the true policy to be
pursued. We are not now dealing with these
who claim to be in favor of secession, but are
addressing those who claim to be Union Dem
ocrats, and in favor of prosecuting the war,
provided it is done in their own way. The
secessionists have abandoned the old flag, and
now wish to see our nation broken up Not
so with those we are now addressing. While
they desire the preservation of the Union
as cordially, perhaps, as could be wished,
they, by their opposition to the authorities,
hamper and embarrass their action and pro
long the strife. Let us illustrate: We will
suppose that in one of our populous cities a
fire breaks out. The alarm is given, and mem
bers of the fire department and citizens rush
to the engine houses and start the engines to-
wards the fire, for the purpose of cxtinguish
ing it as soon as possible; we will suppose
that only one half the members of the severa
companies are present, and start the engines
on their errand of safety, and while rushing
along in the best way possible with the force
they have, they meet other members of the
companies, who are indignant that the en-
gines are under way and they not having
hold of the ropes at the start, and instead o
taking hold and giving their assistance tt
hasten the machine forward, they say, "Tha
is not the way to run the machines yor
should do this way, or go that street," ant
because their wishes are not complied with
these cavilers for their own way cf doing be-
gin to throw Instructions in the way of tht
engines to .rctard their motion. thus requir
ing redoubled exertiops 10 keep the machine.
moving in the proper direction, and by rea
son of these distractions they do not arrive
in season to prevent a great confagratior
and loss of thousands of dollars worth O
property whereas, if they had met with nc
opposition, and those who opposed them had
taken hold with will and aided as duty re
quired, they would have arrived in season tc
stop the fire on the premises where it origin
ated. The object has been accomplished al
last, but the city is nearly in ruins, s,-whc
is responsible?
We say to all Union Democrats who op-
pose the manner in which the war is being
conducted, that they occupy the same posi-
tion in this civil strife that those dissatisfied
firemen did in obstructing the course of the
engines, and have, and still may continue
to embarrass and prolong the war, and cause
the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives.
but cannot prevent the grand final result
the preservation of our Government-though
| it may be protracted for years.
Our patriotic citizens must be more united
in the common object, and not let each indi-
vidual say, 81 will support the Government
if they do as want them = but we must all,
to the extent of our abilities, assist in what
+; is being done, and when peace is cnce more
restored, we will then discuss the manner in
which our officers have discharged their du-
ties, and hold them to strict account for their
acts. To longer adhere to party platforms is
in the highest degree criminal, and entities
those so guilty to be classed with the enemies
of their country, who are now in open rebel
lion against that Constitution which they
claim to revere, but for the destruction Of
which they are lending themselves in every
act; for by opposing the Administration they
encourage the cause of treason. Let us have
some positive proof that their patriotism rises
higher than their lips, and let us see them
take sides in this contest, so that loyal people
NAV know them from those who stalk about