The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-02

any ordinary kind ofwar. For example,
in the Federal States, our enemies, there
Is no excuse for the slavish subservience
which has 80 basely yielded all State rights,
and rights OF individual citizens, to the ty-
ranny of dictatorship, for their war is of
an ordinary kind; they are not fighting for
their existence, but for the subjugation of
their neighbors; they are not invaded by
hostile armies laying waste their soil, con-
hscating their property, and menacing the
destruction of their institutions.
There was no better reason for yielding
up their liberties for the prosecution OF
this war, than there would have been in the
Mexican war. And we trust that the re-
cord of the Confederates may Away pre-
sent the lllustrious contrast, which it does
up TO this time, of guarding the sovereign
ty OF States and individual liberties even
In the very agony of war waged for our
entire destruction. Here, up to the present
moment, has been no press censorship, no
postofiice espionage, no arbitrary impris-
onments, no universal suspension OF the
habeas corpus by military authority, after
ward Unidentified by acts of servile and
cowardly Congress. Our Congress and
our State legislature still govern the
country, each within its own sphere and
jurisdiction; and any power of military ar
vious law and confined within the narrow
est limits of necessity by the, moderation
OF the Executive. This state of things is a
source Of just pride, and must be main
tanned to the end of the war, if possible.
1t will be also very well, very comforta-
BILE and gratifying, if we can see out this
war without renOuncing any of the luxu-
ries of refined life; if we can all continue
to wear fine clotn, without injury done to
the cause of wrong to the soldiers, or to the
poor; if the ladies can continue to be ra-
diant in silk and lace without paying the
enemy premium for continuing the war;
if they can ride sleek horses without dam
aging our artillery service; if, in short, this
giant struggle for the life and honor Of our
people, and Of our children, can, in some
miraculous manner, be broughtto a speedy
end, and not entail upon us any priva-
tons; not stint us in any luxuries; not
call for even temporary concentration of
all the powers of the nation in the hands of
the military chief. This would be highly
agreeable, but we fear, Unprecedented in
the history of mankind.
Most persons, however, are laZily inclined
to put off the hour of painful effort, priva
ton, self-denial by q sort of vague idea
that the difficulty will be over soon. They
say still-as they have been saying steadily
u
six, will see an end Of the war; that it will
be time enough to do without accustomed
Injuries when we can no longer procure
them that the country is incurring debt
at any rate; and a few scores Of millions
more or less, matters little; further, that
home manufactures are coarse and plebian-
looking; especially, that women, in home
spun are rights.
The fact is admitted that rich dresses are
much more becoming to that amiable sex,
and we should always desire to see them
resplendent in all the rarest tissues of all
the looms of France, or, at least, elegantly
neat in the fabrics of Lowell. Yet they and
all of us, had better consider at what cost
this sort OF style is kept up; not present
cost in money alone-though that is much,
while our soldiers dine on quarter of a
pound of bacon-but a future possible cost
in freedom and glory to our country.
In the first place, the warmay very proba-
bly,, we think certainly, last two years
more at least. In the next place, every
dollar we pay for even the most necessary
articles-to say nothing of luxuries, brought
through the lines, is a dollar paid into the
Yankee purse. The Yankee would lose
that trade if thewar were at an end and our
ports open; so that all the large sums ex-
pended for struggled articles are direct
bride to our enemies to continue the war.
AS for the moneys given in payment OF
English and French fabrics which come to
us direct through the blockade, and which
are not furnished to our market by Yankee
merchants, land it is the smallest portion
those moneys are not indeed gained by the
enemy, but they are lost to us, and in this
way gain to the enemy. They add to the
load of our debt, which is hereafter to be
paid by great sacrifice of our staples.
A certain amount of that ruinous trade
with foreign nations is needful for the sup
ply of our armies with arms, ammunition
and shoes; anything beyond that, for the
indulgence of private luxury and extrava-
gance, is waste of our life and blood. If
the women would but lay this to heart! If
they once could fully comprehend that in
buying articles that come from abroad they
heIpto take bread outofthe soldiers mouths,
to make the arms fall from their hands
finally, perhaps to defeat all their gallant
efforts, which the Yankees cannot do with
out our help; perhaps to fling us at last I'M
der the execrable dominion OF the vilest of
all the white races of this world; to make
our place blot on the map, and our name
IAN hissing''-if they once laid all this to
heart, they would make haste to renounce
the pomps and vanities. and by the mere
act OF refusing to wear foreign garments,
they would do more for their country than
if they built dozen irOn-clad frigates.
In truth we shall soon be forced to put
our selves on war footing in all things
Our tables. our clothes, our very liberties
must be put on a war footing. The Presi-
dent is not of opinion that we shall see
speedy end Of il; and has in a letter lately
published, indicated the nature and extent
of the effort to be made.
We are asking the farmers to discourage
the planting Of cotton and tobocco, for pat
riotism; to form county committees and
collect supplies for patriotism. We expect
the soldiers to endure their hard life and
scanty rations, and take all cheerfully, for
patriotism. Can we do nothing for patriot
ism ourselves ?-Richmond Enquirer 18th.
THE Policy OF CoNCENTRATIoN.-Be-
cause any military venture fails it neither
follows that it was not well planned OK well
conducted. The larger part of the denun-
citation of our commanders grows out Of
unreasoning, childish Impotence. Have
not the rebels also brains, and arms and
munitions of war? And as to men, they
either equal us, or have such means of
moving them where they are wanted as to
compete with us in numbers; and we may