The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-05
THE GREAT HEREAFTER.

THE GREAT HEREAFTER,
A leading Rebel journal asks "Dees reunion
promise unity, peace, and progressP Does It
not rather threaten nay insure, Southern de-
struction?' This query opens a vast field for
historic research. Let US briefly glance at
the precedents of other days, and see if we may
calculate on our beloved land ever again being
blessed with Union accompanied by "unity,
peace, and progress"
The grand cardinal objection urged by those
who argue that "war is eternal separation" is
that the wide breach OF feelings, sentiments,
and affections, consequent upon bloody strife,
win so dissever the hearts of the people Of the
two sections that life under the same poll
teal roof would be nought but scene of
envy, strife, and ultimate destruction. Clio,
the Muse of History, however, exhibits upon
her tablets another tale She tells us that
bygone nations with different ideas than those
existing between the North aud South have
coalesced and formed greater power.
When the United States Government pur-
chased Florida and Louisiana from foreign
powers, they found them both populated by
nations differing not only in government, but
also in language. The musical roll Of the
Hidalgo tongue was all that was ever heard
among the swamps Of the Peninsular State,
while the mouth of the "Father of Waters
echoed only the mingled phrases OF the French
man and Creole. The free Republican Gov
ernment OF America succeeded the despotic
Governors from across the sea. Did the people
of Florida and Louisiana refuse to mingle with
the immigration which poured into their midst
Do we find them divided into distinct factions,
and like oil and water, remaining in contact
though separate? They have coalesced and
formed a mighty commonwealth unit,
and a fragment of more glorious nation,
which is destined to mould the destinies Of
the world. IT, therefore, when separated by
different tongues, two people join, like the
| Saxon and Norman, like the Roman and Bar
barian, like the Moor and Spaniard, why then
should We infer that two sections long united,
speaking the same language, and having the
same aims in life should refuse to again com
bine and mutually advance the interests of the
| Union? II would be a gross iallacy fof any
one to predict otherwise; and when the tide
of passion, incident upon war, and especially
civil war; shall have rolled away, both parties
viii unite in a general condemnation of the
false sentiments entertained by fanatics in
| 1864 We may, therefore, reasonably reply to
our Southern contemporary, that, other things
being equal with Union will come unity.
Let us now glance at the question, VIII
Union bring peaceP When Queen ELIZA
/ Io,v har hoA pI-nJ 90,
name her successor. She replied, "Who but
my cousin JAMES, OF ScotlandP" "But,'
| argued her adviser, will not England be
ruined by union with Scotlaud?' NO"
replied the dying queen; "tor Scotland will be
united TO Britain, not Britain to Scotland"
Time has proved her prophecy to be correct.
| The union was effected, the wars which
had for ages deluged the borders with blood
ceased, and mighty power arose from the
| combination. So with this land. As long as
the two sections were separated, there is a
possibility yes, a probability ofwar but ssoon
as they find themselves under one Govern
ment again, living in the same household,
peace, harmony, and fraternal affection will
take the place of discord and embittered strife.
Let us have Union once again, and the breach
win soon be filed up, the wound healed, and
a nation arise, PheniX-like, which will prove
itself worthy of the streams OF the best blood
of our race which has been poured out as a
libation on the altar of patriotism and free
dom--a nation worthy of the name of free
Columbia, free, indeed, in theory andin prac-
tice. Such is the land which we expect to
shortly call our own. May God grant the
| consummatiOn!
| Will we have progress? During the last
ten years the advance made by the American
people has astonished the statesmen of the
Old World. In wealth, population, aud in
tellect, the strides our people have taken is
amazing to the coutemplatiye mind We Go
not propose to enter into any examination Of
this growth the fact is palpablcto all. If then
such has been done when the lad was divided
in spirit and institutions, and wRn one section
was weighed down by the yok Of slavery,
may we not infer that when il is r(eved OF Its
oppression, when it arises free an, united, 1t
will redOuble Its speed towards pc perfect
light Of civilization?
We viii yet live to the day win all our
hopes will be realized, when our dytad land
will be the one great libeTty-lOving eople OF
the earth; when the genius Of its Govrnment
and people shall be Unity, Peae, ana
| PROGRESS"