The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-27


men of all parties to a few plain facts. II
ia in the power of the North to put speedy
end to this rebellion, and the war which II
has stirred up, and to conquer firm peacev
| Why is it not done? Simply because we
are not agreed to have it done, and IN ear
nest to do it, The rapid and easy muster
| ing of troops, when the North itself is in
vaded, shows something Of what we might
| be able to bring forth of military resources
| if we were eager and united. To be sure.
| this is partly to be accounted Tor by the
natural instinct that moves men more
strongly to defend their own SOIL, than 10
| overrun, even with the best reason, the
territory occupied by others. But 1t IS also
due quite as much to the suppression OF all
doubt as to what ought to be done, and to
the hearty and earnest cooperation that
takes place at once among all classes OF
people, We are at work in one direction.
We are busy not to hinder, but to help
each other. IF the same spirit We're to pre-
vail with regard to the whole conduct OF
the war, the fate of the rebellion would be
sealed beyond a peradventure, and the
hour of it's actual and final overthrow could
not be far removed. The process of filling
I'D our armies to march southwark might
not indeed go on so rapidly as the muster
ing for defense at home does. But with a
firm and steady sentiment behind, 1t would
nevertheless be carried forward surely and
promptly.
What we need is real unity OF purpose
Why have we not got it? Partly, no doubt,
because some men among us sincerely be-
lieve that the war ought not to be contlnu-
ed; but that offers Of peace should be made
| to the South, with the invitation to them to
return into the Union on such terms as
could be arranged between us; or the al
tentative Of being allowed an independent
national existence, if they should persist IN
making that choice. There are such men
| at the North. But they are not very nu-
merous; and they alone have not caused
| the failure thus far TO sUbdue the rebellion.
What, then, is the next difficulty? 1t
must be admitted that there is a difference
of opinion as to the manner in which the
war should be conducted; and that this
leads to alienation of feeling between those
who are alike in favor Of its prosecution
This diversity relates mainly to the ques-
ton how far the domestic institutions OF
the South shall be intertered with IN the
process of subduing the rebellion; and the
| fssue is one partly of constitutional right,
nd partly Of expediency.
But we 90 on now to say further that the
main reasons for the dissenslons among US
are political in their nature. They have
! reference to party rather than the country.
They are the results of partisan zeal and
partisan hate, rather than OF any real cl-
| versities of understanding or Judgment
The old feeling between parties still lives,
and the old preiudices and the old rivalry,
and the old personal jealousies between
leaders of opposite associations, as to who
shall rule over US and bear the honors and
take the emoluments OF office. These
things it is that most OF all hinder our
working unitedly together. The demo-
Gratis will not encourage enlistments among
their men because each enlistment takes
away a voter and diminishes the chances
of their success at the next election, and
they will not exchange a democratic voter
for Union soldier, nor the hope Of demo-
cratic triumph for the prospect OF national
victory. They will not do it either be-
cause they fear that If the means OF vigor-
ously prosecuting the war are furnished
under republican direction, such damage
will be done to the slave interest Of the
South as would forever prevent their re-
covering national ascendancy by the aid
of their ancient allies. And they will not
do it, most especially, because they are
!, afraid that if great and decisive successes
are achieved by the national arms during
the continuance of republican control, that
rival party will gain so much of eclat and
prestige as to be able to keep for a long
time, through the momentum Of such an
impulse, it's leadership in the public ad-
ministration.
The Republicans, on their part, have not
! beeninsensible to similar low and unworthy
! considerations. They have been eager il
many cases to put forward for pretermen'
, not the men of tried patriotism, whose
reputation for tirmness in Judgment anC
for sober and comprehensive thinking
pointed them out as most likely to rally IL
their support patriotic men of all classes
but rather such as were known to be thor
ough- going and distinctive Republicans
! They have tolerated, even if they have
not encouraged, a very free use OF Off
cial patronage in the old ways Of favorit
y ism and corruption, by which the gener
Gus zeal of the people has been not slight
+ ly discouraged. And they have also, OF
some portion of them, exhibited, 1t mus
/ be feared, an apprehension lest If thu
war were carried on most vigorously, a.
q war alone, and with no partisan guidance
3 it might terminate in the restoration o
the Union before social changes OF sufl
+ Gent extent should be wrought at thu
l South to make it certain that the Democ
racy could never again find there its &C
: customed ally. and regain control OF TIN
q General Government through its aid. S,
far as that motive has had influence it i
r not to be justified. A sincere love of free
f dom is a good thing; but enmity to tin
q opposition party is not synonymous witt
i that worthy affection. We suspect Their
r are not wanting Republicans, with whom
0 at the bottom of their hearts,, to love
Il slave signifies, being interpreted, to hate
. Democrat, and to hinder his getting office
!. The business we have, or ought to hav
!, now in hand, is to assert and maintain ev
h erywhere throughout the land the Lawful
,, authority of the Federal Government
! So far as this involves the overthrow c
Il slavery, let slavery perish. If it SHOULD
:. carry with it also the destruction OF tn
% Democratic party, let it too perish; or an
,e other party. But such an end must be in
o cidental, and not primary. 1t it is Anne
J. at slavery with the preservation of tn
It Union itself, we shall be apt enough to mis-
10 both.
r. We have not exhausted by any means
, the list of mischiefs that come upon us wit
,e our politics. Political prejudices and asp
81 rations have had much to do with the jeal
e ouses among our army officers, and wit
y the bad discipline of portions of the army
,e With regard to the army Of the Potomac
3 they have had no small share in the max
is ing it difficult, and well nigh impossible, t
h Judge satisfactorily who ought to be il
IS commander. And in thousand other ways
ID the evil is upon us, penetrating all our CON
r munites.
D. Every honest man, who wishes well
m his country, ought now to SethiS face agains