The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-03-20


Europe. Her existence would depend on
her being protected by a maritime power
England alone is in condition to guaranty
her sovereignty. This would DO new dan.
ger for free America and for Europe. There
is no navy in the South, and with slavery
there never will be any. England at once
would seiEe the monopoly OF cotton, and
would furnish the South with capital and
ships. In two words. the triumph Of tho
South is the re-establishment OF England on
the continent, whence she was driven by the
policy of Louis Sixteenth and Napoleon.-
It weakens neutrals, 1t entangles France
again, in all those yexed questions Of liberty
of the seas. which have cost us already two
centuries of struggle and suffering. The
American Union, while defending its own
rights. had assured the freedom Of the seas
The Union destroyed, English supremacy
would revive again. 1t is peace bapished
from the world; it is return to.a policy
which has so far only favored our rivals.
This is what Napoleon felt to be true
this is what We forgot to-day. 1t would
seem az If history were merely collection
of pleasant stories to amuse children. No
ono is willing to understand tho lessons Of
the past. If the experience of our fathers
was not lost upon our ignorance, we should
sec that in defending her own independence,
and in maintaining the national unity, tho
North defends our cause us well as her own.
All our prayers would be for the triumph OF
our old and faithful friends. To weaken the
United States will bc to weaken ourselves =
At the first quarrel with England We shall
regret, but too late, that We abandoned
policy which for forty years has been the
guaranty of our own safety. ..t
In writing these pages, DO not expect to
convert those who have in their hearts an in
nate sympathy for slavery. write Tor those
honest souls, who allow themselves to be en-
ticed by the great words of national inde-
pcndence, paraded before their eyes purpose.
ly to deceive and delude them. The South
has never been threatened. To-day she
might come back into the Union, even with
her slaves. II is only demanded of her not
to destroy the national unity and not to sub.
vert liberty. Wecannot repeat it too often !:
the North is not the aggressor. II only de-
fends. ns every true citizen should, tho ma.
tional compact. the integrity of the country.
II is sad that IL has found so little support
in Europe, and especially in France. They
relied on us-in us they placed their trust
and we have abandoned them rs If the sacred
words of Country and Liberty no longer
nwoko q response in our hearts: What has
become of the days when the whole OF France
npplauded tho young Lafayette, us he buck.
led on his sword in the cause of America I
Who has Initiated him, who has recalled
that glorious memory? Have we grown so
old MS to have forgotten all that2 :,
What ,.ili la the iasna of tha WARP IL Is
impossible to foresec. The South may sue;
coed. The North may be divided md ex'
hausted by intestine strife. The Union H.,
perhaps, even now, but o great memory
But whatever may DO tho future, or what.
ever fortune may attend It, the duty of every
man who does not allow himself to be car,
ried away by the success of the present hour,
is to sustain and encourage the North to the
last-to condemn those whose ambition
threatens to destroy the most perfect and
the most patriotic work Of humaniiy-to re-
min faithful 10 the end of the war, and. even
after defeat, to those, &ho will have fought
to the last moment for RigM and Liberty.
.l' EDouARD LABoULAYE.