The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-12

NATIONAL UNIrY-How 1T IS TO RI
MAINTAINED.-The Catholic Telegraph, OF
this week, has long article on national
unity. 1t commences with sketch of the
extreme people Of the North and South be-
| fore the war and is continued and conclud-
ed in these terms:
/ Such were the two extremes OF our ma
ton, ere the war Of races and opinions be-
gan. The people Of the Northwest with q
grander foundation Of character than either
lamented the disruption. Had the South
been less giddy and impulsive, they might
have been arbiters between the extremists,
but they became impatient under threats,
and with characteristic energy took up
arms TO defend the flag, the representative
| Of their national honor.
| 1t is no wonder that people so antagOnls-
tic in their views should have come into
fierce collision. Pride on both sides urged
them on. Religion had no control over
| either and fanaticsm in the South was
worse than in the North. Had no war TIA
ken place some other calamity must have
befallen us. The South was impatient
she hated and despsed law and order in
her ambition to become a nation. She took
the sword and she will perish by the
sword. She inangnratea from the start q
reign Of terror, she was determined TO de-
stroy the national unity. A feeling Of dis
content had III consequence, penetrated to
every house, and when the first blow was
struck and the heart of the free North was
convulsed by the treason of the South
there were few men who did not say with
in themselves, either Slavery or the Union
must be destroyed forever. The war has
come. and on its result depends the nation
al unity. The sword is q nerciless but de-
cisive arbitrator. II the North tniis, oar
De u succession OF patches, each claiming to
be an Independent government. Little tyr
a'ansies wiN multiply, and Mexico or Central
4 paerica sCH be oar prototype. But the war
is a great analyZer-it separates good from
bad-it distinguishes between sound and
unsound opinions. 1t implants ideas, not
by the gentle process OF reasoning. but
rough hewn by the sword on the intellect.
1t commands, and nations obey. Thus
this very curse OF slavery which divided
the people, which separated North from
South, and struggled 10 make the separa-
ton eternal, has persisted in the path of our
armies. Men who thought little about it
before, have been incensed by its stupidity
and malice, and the attempt of its friends
10 destroy world for its preservation
What the point OF the pen has been labor
ing 80 long 10 subveri, the point Of the bay
Onet has annihilated at once. No matter
whether the South acted wisely or not in
forcing the conflict or the nation, the war
has solved the enigma. Antipathies and
r
slavery is removed, and If we return again
to the Union, it is the sharp lesson which
the war has taught us that we are To thank
for the result. Thus from evils the most
Stupendous God can draw the blessings Of
social progress. When the present war is
over, the North and the South will not be
in hurry to provoke each other again.
Southern pride will be known no more
hereafter and with the barrier of slavery
broken down, what is good in principle in
the people of the two extremes will flow
into each other, and there will be coali-
ton of opinions preparatory 70 coalition
Of hearts.
But all other political advantages become
Of minor importance when we reflect on the
consequences which must flow from ma
,ional unity. 1t was the possession OF this,
though in many ways imperfect, which
made our previous history q succession of
triumphs. Those who represented the en-
ergy and mind, whether good or bad, of
other nations were mixed in the great cru.
chile Of American life with the native ele-
ment, and 3 national character was formed.
which, if not treacherously assailed, would
have accomplished the grandest results for
humanity. This unity was the source Of
our power, and until it is restored there can
be no cessation of hostiliues. Unity or per-
petual confusion; nation great in its con-
ceptions and its power to realize them, or
chaos OF factions, in which no man will
be safe. Such is the alternative. In this
great work we must prove our devotion to
the country. II we abandon the Govern
~ in the nation religion will suffer with the
State. As Christians and patriots, it is the
duty Of all to aid in it's restoration.