The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-07-02
Peace.

Peace, in some form, is the desire of every IA
tiOnal citizen. But peace to one man means one
thing, to another man another thing, and to a
third it has nc definite meaning beyond a mere
cessation of war. People of the last of these
classes are undoubtedly the most numerous, and
undoubtedly they are in the mood of mind to be
most readily swayed by designing men. In point
of fact, at such a crisis as this, the word is one
which should be used only with a clear sense of
its import. Painful as are the scenes through
which We are passing, appalling as they are to
all our better sensibilities, we should bear i'm
mind that there might be peace which would in
crease our troubles, and that we are bound,
therefore, to look to the practical results of the
measures which we adopt. A late number of the
United States Gasene has some things on this
subject which are to the point, and which merit
bordering
But as the pretences of p~rofessed clamorers for
peace have really done some harm, and are likely
to do more, 1t Is necessary to call attention to the
state of things they would bring about. Let us
suppose the preliminaries of a peace with the
rebels named, and a suspension of hostilities.
The very first step In such a movement is equiva-
lent to an assumption of the debt of the confede-
racy, IT there is TO be union, or equivalent to the
creation of an immense permanent military and
naval establishment. if there is to be separation.
Suppose there is separation. Are we to give up
the forts, possessions and property of the Union
on the confederate coasts? If SO, we concede to
them almost an equality of military and naval
Monroe, the Florida forts, and other costly and
important establishments. We must give them
twenty millions worth of property or prepare a
standing armament of great strength to defend
these poets. Neither in yielding nor in holding
them can we any way save ourselves. The only
thing is to conquer all or yield all.
Next, as the financial aspects of reunion
by treaty We must assume the whole of the
Southern debt, say five hundred millions now,
with a hundred millions to add for contingencies.
The losses nf nIfIZpnS INF both sides mnat then ha
paid, and rivalry in claims as well as rivalry in
generosity will make an enormous bill of losses
in every southern State Two hundred millions
of dollars would be required at least. Again, an
equal treaty must bring with it equal pensions to
soldiers. equality of final payment for service in
everything after the initial step is taken. At
that moment the cost of the war is suddenly
doubled on us, for we of the loyal states have it
all to pay. The South had little financial strength
to begin with, and now its internal condition is
frightful in comparison what it was before the
war. The desolatiOn OF u vast conscript system
has made such havoc as we have never dreamed
of at the North. The South cannot pay the cost
of anything after peace.
In either case, therefore, we have n double
financial burden thrown upon US, and the vast
sum of obligations of the government falls one
half IN value at the instant. This is the first
great fact, half partisans who rave about
the Legislatures of two or three of the northern
States now should be compelled {. look in the
face. Do the thousands of holders of govern
ment securities in every class of society wish to
see one-half their property suddenly disappear?
Do business men sufficiently appreciate the dan
ger these brawlers pretending to wish for peace
are bringing on everybody? There is no chance
for escape from the depreciation of values which
would follow. The dav laborer would lose half
his wages, as well as the business man half his
business. The ruin would he universal, all can
see, If the public debt is to be doubled under
union by treaty, or the public resources dimin-
ished, while heavy future expenses are rendered
necessary under separation by treaty. In either
case twice as much is taken from us us now, and
all that is taken, is thrown away.
Let any one who wishes give attention to the
detailed application of this aggregate national
calamity, which submission to the rebels would
bring, and see what the effect would be on him
self. 1t will then be easier to Judge of the real
character of the men who are trying to divide
the North, and to force n dishOnOrable peace.
At the outset they may deceive 4 few who do not
take the trouble to trace causes to their conse-
quences, and they do this the more readily be-
cause SO little has been said to seriously contro-
vert the assertions of the party leaders. Know
ing their hollowness and wOrthlessness, their par
tisanship, which is ready at any time to seize on
anything that can aid them to power, however
much the public are endangered, we have long
been accustomed to pass them over without
attempt at refutation. But now they seek to do
that which at n blow annihilates half the strength
and half the resources of these States, and to
plunge us in utterly ruinous Indebtedness. Look
at the practical results, and see what guilt is
meditated.