Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-07-21
[For the Civilian and Telegraph
The End of the War-Again.


We are doubtless as individuals and rs
a nation now learning -.any things, al
belt it is cry dear school We are learn
ing in One of the poihts Of our learning
may be ne to INV fAT we are to biindly
follow cur leaders, and approve all that
is done by the powers that be, without a
murmuring or dissenting voice If you
feel in your heart that you are good
Union man and detest Secession and Sc
cessionists, and desire this war to be car
ried on in earnest, you feel that you have
at least as good right to doubt the sin
cerity of others as they have to doubt
yours. We in the United States have
never been trained to submit our opinions
to others and to yield in silence, and it is
hoped we may never be so trained as to
be trucking tools to tyrants. We hold
that it is cur right to find fault! have
admired the spirit of the leading editorial
in your paper of the 18th inst, on the
conduct of the war, with special reference
to retaliation, ETC., and doubtless you
have noticed and may publish an article
from the N. Y. Tribune, headed, "War
in earnest, "etc. 1t should be the duty
of all loyal newspapers in these times to
endeavor to stir up the people, to arouse
their dormant energies, so that thus
through them our rulers and leaders may
also be stirred up and aroused and en-
outraged We claim that we are giving
the best evidence Of our "loyalty" when
we End fatlt with tardy movements Or
military blundcra. Thus at this time we
nave reason to be indignant at the train
Of circumstances which has permitted the
Rebels for the third time to cross the Po-
tomac in force and even to threaten Bal
timore and Washington, and generally to
produce most disgraceful panic through
out our borders besides subjecting our
citizens to immense losses. Whether this
late raid with all its disasters has been
owing to military blundcrs, or to the want
Of militia organization, or to any other
cause, it matters not. The effects are the
same, and are tracesble to that want of
earnestness on the part of our leaders
which we condemn.
1t is high time that not only our mill
tia was thoroughly organized. but that
our armies in the field were greatly en-
larged. 1t is high time that all rebels
among us were compelled to take their
choice of emigration south or Of imprison-
ment, 1t is high time, as is stated in the
article from the Tribune above alluded to
and which l trust You will publish. that
this war should be put through by
daylight. Triling is perilous; equivoca-
ton is ruin"
But there is another consideration in
connection with our present national trou-
bles which | fear is too generally partially
ignored by our people, and for which we
find parallel iii the ancient history Of the
Jews--t. c. The oceruling Propideace Of
God. God is in this war, and if we as
nation would, as the Jews of old often
did, humble ourselves earnestly before the
Lord, he would fight our battles for US,
and help us, as he often helped the Jews
in their calamity. And are not we in the
United States also his chosen people p
Have we not been favored in times past
as no other nation has ever been favored?
And what return have we made for all
this2