Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-03
The Duty and Policy OF the Govern
ment-The Future of the Republic.

At the conclusion of the Punic war, when the
Italian Confederacy had been suodued by Rome,
Sylla turned the combined armies Of the Romans
and the Italians against Mithridates. King of
Pontus, and not only punished this ancient enc
my OF the Romans for MS sympathy with the IN
surgent Italians, bat also largely increased the
power and glory of the Roman republic and more
firmly reunited the once divided people. This
Punic war vas in MANY remarkable respects pre-
cisely similar in its causes, it, progress and its re
suit to that now raging in this country; and. 1T
our statesmen will but profit BY the teachings of
history. the parallel between these two great
wars will be continued 70 the sequel In a few
months more the rebellion, now shattered ~ a
series of decided defeats, wi. be entirely sup
pressed; and already the necessities, the proba-
biIities and the possibilities OF the future press
themselves upon the attention Of all those who
are sagacious enough to understand that the end
of the war is not to end all our difficulties, and
that much remains to be done after the work OF
subduing the rebellion by military force is com
pleeely finished.
Within a few days past it has been satisiacto-
rily demonstrated that the recent successes Of our
arms and the almost entire exhaustion of the
Rebel resources make the speedy conclusion of
our civil war n matter of certainty. But, when
the last Rebel stronghold is taken, when all the
Rebel armies are captured or destroyed, and
when the Rebel leaders have either sought safety
i'm fight or are prisoners in our hands, only one
half of our labor is accomplished. Our Govern
ment will then find itself with an immense vet.
eran army for which to provide. At the South
will be another great army of experienced sol
diers, heartily tired of rebellion, but not tired of
fighting. At the North all branches Of trade.
commerce and manufacture will be as seriously
embarrassed by the sudden change from war TO
peace as they were, three years ago, by the sud
l. E-~-. Tho SArrfl
the insane eagerness of the Rebel leaders TO con
~centrate every possible energy upon the prosecu.
ton of the war has left the seeded States desti-
tute of any provision for peaceful times, whether
as regards the cotton, sugar, rice and tobacco
crops, or the usual manufactures in all depart
ments of industry. This state of affairs North
and South, will greatly complicate the difficulties
of the Government in Voviding for the disband-
ed armies: for the Northern soldiers cannot
safely be sent home to add to the d~istresses of q
financial and commercial crisis, and the Southern
soldiers will have no alternatives but TO turn bri
gands and guerrillas or starve. The best and
most expedient course for the Government, there
fore, Is to preserve ana unite the armies of the
North and the South and find some suitable en-
ployment for this tremendous and invincible
force. The example the Romans under Sylla,
at the close of a similar war and IN a similar d.
lemma, is consequently worthy of our imitation.
FOTLQnatciN. ike OYlla, we nave TIE argument
of right and justice, as well as those of expedi-
ency, in support of this course. England and
France have sympathized with and encouraged
the Rebels more openly, zealously and effectrally
than Mithridates encouraged the Italian confed
eracy. Without the expectation of foreign aid,
the rebellion would never have been organized
Without the constant but decisive promises of
foreign Intervention. the rebellion would long ago
have died a natural death. Without the contin-
ual supply OF foreign arms. munitions and manu-
features, the rebellion could not have survived
more than a year at most. From its very incep-
ton up to the present time, England and France
have been participants in the crime of the rebel
lion and have reaped all its advantages. Upon
what p~retence, then, can they claim to escape its
punishment They have been secretly but dill
gently making war upon US for over two years,
and il is quite time that we began to retaliate.
The United States have never provoked a war
with either England or France. They have at
tackled us not only without provocation, but at a
time Shen we were involved in domestic diff
culties and could not protect ourselves effectu-
ally. England deliberately trampling upon its
own laws has followed up its re
cognition of the beIligerent rights of
insurgents by supplying the Rebels
with arms, ammunition and money, and. while
affecting to observe a hypocritical neutrality. has
built, manned and fitted out Rebel priyateers, and
is now engaged in constructing a feet of iron
clads for Rebel use. Our comment upon such
cOwardly and treacherous proceedings should be
a declaration Of war. The Emperor Of the
French has repeatedly urged other governments
to Join him in openly recognizing the Southern
Confederacy, and has only RETAINED from recog
nizing it himself because, having cunning.y
robbed France of her liberty and Italy of her
hopes, he has been attempting to steal part of
this continent while we were occupied with our
civil war, as a smart thief takes advantage of a
street fight to pick the pockets of both combat
ants. The honor and integrity of this republic
alike demand that this imperial adventurer shall
be punished as he deserves.
In a word, then. it is our duty as we'll as our
interest TO attack England and France as soon as
this war is conclud d. The Southern people are
equally incensed against Europe for holding out
false and deceitful promises, not one of which has
ever been fulfilled. and viii gladly fight with us
in such a cause. Thus all animosities between
the North and the South will be lost in the com
mon interests and fortunes Of such a conflict; all
the social and political problems which threaten
to perplex US will be easily solved; all the dam
gers of a too sudden recurrence to peace will be
averted; our gallant soldiers and brave Generals
will be gloriously employed; the military and ma
val talent of our citizens, just beginning to show
itself in numerous Improvements in the method
and material of wars, will be suitably developed
France will be driven out of Mexico and Eng
land from Canada. and the United States, more
powerful than ever before, will embrace this
whole continent, and, like ancient Rome, practi
cally rule the world IN. Y. Herald.