The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-05-27
Cheap Patriotism.

The country is now awaiting in breathless
suspense the issue Of the campaign in Vir-
GINA. The Government is doing its utmost
to mako that issue certain and victorious.
Rcinforcements are being hurried forward,
and the necessary supplies are not lacking.
Whatever Grant wants, he must have wheth.
or IL be food or moro men. This the Govern
ment is determined to forward him, and the
people will support It in the determination.
Butwhile our thoughts are turned to our
military necessities we must not forget that
the financial necessities Of the Government
must be attended to as matter Of no less
importance.
We have before spoken of the systematic
efforts Of the copperhcads ever since tho war
commenced, to ruin our credit abroad, and
discredit tho finances Of the nation with the
people, that by doing so distrust might DO
fomented, and the necessary capital with
hold from the cxchequcr, thereby efectually
embarrassing the Government rs would DO
tho withdrawal Of several Of our large ar
mics. We arc reminded Of these copper
head efforts by paragraph in the Saco Dem
ocrat Of last week. In speaking Of the 10
40 loan asked for by Congress, the Demo-
orat says:
We understand that these bonds are being
taken up by capitalists in large amounts. and
they certainly do seem to offer great induce
ments to those who have grcenbacks on hand,
and who wish ~ invest in government sccu-
rites. 1.-THE government redeem, ITS pledges,
and pays this loan as IL agrees 10 do, 1t will
provo lucky investment to any one; and
the bare possibility Of this result is worth
some risk.
The Democrat lays no claim to patriotism,
but lest some other Of its stripe may have u
little pride left, We wish to call attention to
little historical incident.
Towards the close Of the war Of 1872 the
financial condition Of Ae country was dcplor-
able. The historian remarks that million
dollars could not probably have been raised
by the Government in any manner. Things
ut last came to such pass that, bya combi-
nation of want Of confidence and want Of
patriotism, the Bankers of the city Of Now
York refused to take the bonds Of the United
States.
In that emergency citizen Of New York
went to Gov. Daniel d. Tompkins and told
him that the harbor Of New York must be
fortified; that il could not DO done unless
money could DO raised upon the national Sc
curitics; and that the bankers would not
take these unless the Governor would indorse
them.
Tho Governor thought moment. He
said, very naturally, "If sign these bonds,
1t will probably ruin me and mine.". Said
Mr.. King, "Thero are emergencies when a
good citizen should risk ruin to save his
country" The Governor said no more, but
he signed the bonds.
Tho reader may perhaps DO tempted to
Compare the patriotism Of the Governor Of
New York at that crisis with that disloyalty
which to-day seeks by every means in its
power to undermine our national finances at
time when failure is utter ruin, which
magnifes every sign of insecurity and con-
ccals every token of prosperity, which mag
niiics our disasters and belittlcs our successes,
which defends what it is pleased to term
"violated southern rights" and has no con-
demnation to utter for such inhuman BUTCH
cries as that ut Fort Pillow, and which be-
trays anxiety les: oil its croakings and pr o
phecies Of national disaster shall not be veri-
fed.