Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-31
THE EVENING NEWS.
SUPPLEMENT-
Delenda est Cathaga.

There are signs of the most cXtraordina-
~ political freshct ever known. -Four
wears ago it was dangerous even in many
Northern cities to allude warmly to slave
nv. Public opinion was opposed to the
discussion of the subject. Men spoke up
on it at some peril to their lives. And
now it seems that slavery is about TO be
swept away by n torrent of universal
rcprobation. Whoever listens closely can
plainly hear the heart of the country say
ing, at is the public enemy, let it die the
death"
OF course, this is not the evidence of an
entire moral national regeneration. 1t IS
proof only that the hour has arrived,
which always arrives in the progress OF
civilization, and without which, indeed,
there would be no progressive civilization
whatever, when it is seen that what is true
and good is also polite. 1t is in vain that
this is abstractly shown. But when it is
practically perceived great step forward
in civilization is taken. When 1t is gene
rally felt that morality lightcns taxes, a
community becomes moral. In this coun-
try the slave question held us bound so
long and so hopelessly, because we were
so prosperous and the evil was to us at
the North so theoretical, that our sympa-
thies and human instincts pleaded i'll vain
against our apparent interests. The argu-
ment against Mr.. Lincoln, as against every
man whom the slave lords did not sup
port was, that grass would grow in the
streets and blood run i'll the cutters.
What was called the Union party of the
North before the Instruction of slavery
was simply an organization of timidity,
whose argument was, that it was better to
let the Southern policy rule the country
because it would otherwise try TO ruin il.
That was the final philosophy Of all such
movements as the Castle Garden meeting,
and none more than those concerned will
freely confess it. 1t was a question Of
policy, and it seemed to them to be best
to pat and pacify. perhaps l compro-
missed too long," frankly says Mr.. Everett,
in recent address.
Now a great many persons who sup
ported this policy really hated slavery,
and saw the CHASTITY wounds it was con-
stantly inficting upon the country, but
thought they had no right to say anything
about it, They were ready enough to
send an army of missionaries, under the
protection of huge society, to preach
against the religion and convert the native
OF Cochin China and Ihibct-if they could
get there; but they were unwilling to say
that the industrial system of their neigh
bors was wrong. Others declined to hear
or say anything about it, under the con-
viction that they had no constitutional
right to think or say that it was wrong to
imbruc a man, or sell your own daughter,
or whip woman to death because she
pinned when her child was stolen from her.
Still others, and the larger portion, cared
nothing about the matter, except to hearti-
" denounce the Abolitionists as incCnd!-
aries. and fraternize with the "gcntlemanly
and heightened Southerners meaning
the shareholders. The general feeling was
that nothing could be done, even if it were
n bad thing, and therefore it was fast be-
coming the fashion to declare that it was
good thing.
The Kansas troubles opened the eyes Of
the great mass of the people to the fact
that the system was the direct rival 10
every free settler in the country. The
question adds material argument to its
moral appeal, and from that moment the
overthrow of slavery was fixed. But
under the Union its extinction would be
peaceful. Consequently, as last deSpe-
rate resource, its chiefs tried war, counting
upon the timidity of trade and the party
organization of the Free States being
friendly to slavery. Both failed them.
Every day, from the 18th of April, 1861,
it has been clearer TO the American people
that slavery is the enemy of their industry
of their trade-of their peace-and OF
their Union. Every day we have been
moving nearer and nearer to the unanimity
in opposition to it, however we might df-
fer about the method of ending it. The
most unprincipled newspapers and po!iti-
clans see the inevitable and irresistible
current Of events. Even James Spence,
the rebel agent in England, does not dare
to face civilization and plead the cause
for which the rebels are lighting their fell
citizens, and nassacrcing the nobiest
youth. The war is the fierce death-strug-
gle of the monster, and whoever would
end the war will strike at the serpent.
Men of all parties, of all politics, ofall
convictions upon other subjects, repeat
the cry, which long and long go pealed
majestically from desptsed lips, 1t is the
common enemy, let it die the death -
Hdrpers' Weekly.