Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-07-21
The Insane Argument 1t is the inv

The Insane Argument 1t is the inva
riable custom of abolition orators, from tht
highsstto the lowest grade, 70. o.appeal, op sl
occasions, TO their auditors to know if ihey
are willing to stop the war after the immens;
Sacrifices Of blood and treasure" wbisb have
been made iu its prosecution
This appeal is made with the insanity o.
the desperate gambler who, having lost hall
his money, imagines that it would be the very
heighth of madness in him to quit the gam
ing table until he has retriyed his fortune
Bpt jthe msq Th9 ,aFgPs ,huA lYg, the e9nHHu
ance of a Bloody and destructive civil war,
represent u phase Of madness infinitely more
dangerous and inimical to the pu lie welfare,
than is that OF the individual cited to his pri.
vGte interest and fortune.
If the war is right and if it is weged for a
purpose which, if accomplished, will repay
and Justify its cost, then it should only be con
tinued provided it appear certain that the end
in view cannot be accomplished IN a better
way. But to ask, without any reference to
these propositions, if we shall stop such a war
as the present simply on account of the ap.
palliug sacrifices we have made in its prose.
eution is an Gbsurdity that admits of no pal
iation.
I'll The most ardent lover Of the Union, If lie
be a reasonable man, wil.scqrc.ly claim that
it is worth what it promises to cost us at pres
ent rates of outlay and progress Neither
can he deny that we are paying too dearly in
blood, aud tears, and treasure, for the best
Union likely to result from the means em-
ployed and Infinitely too much, for pros.
pect 80 meagre as that which is now before
US, that any Union at all is possible
If syhst We shPgss pfeaieatea s9f JsinpRls
reasonable man be true, what shall We say Of
one who to an enlightened reason superadds
an enlightened conscience, and who tests all
things by the peaceful nculcstions, and stern
iniunctions Of the Saviour - who truly be.
leves in his word, aud implicitly obeys it
Such an one must "pray for his enemies, and
"love" them, and seek to earn the blessing
that is promised to the peaee-maker. In short,
hesmust lsympathizs with0rebsls, and aasSume
all the Attitudes Of q itoPpefhead 81"
The sacrifices (and they are shockingly
great) which have been made in the prosecu.
ton of the American war, have no bearing
whatever upon the question of lis continu.
ance. If war is consistent with Christianity
under any circumstances; aud if our war is
jGs4 sPd cenSstVStfwith thsl tkeogY Of pup
government, and waged in good faith for it's
restoration, and is the only means possible TO
be employed to accomplish the end proposed
and if the prospect of success is greater than
the probabilities Of failure, then the war
should be prosecuted to conclusion But il,
on the contrary, war is essentially a violation
of Gods Law; or if our war is incompatible
with the rights of the States and the theory
of our Government; or if it is waged for any
other purpose than to bring back the recus-
ant States to their original status or If there
are better means to accomplish this end or
If the means employed are more likely to fail
than TO succeed, then the war should never
have been begun, and the duty Of stopping It
has grown more imperative and pressing with
each day Of its prosecution, and with each
Iifs that has BEEN sacrificed and thrown away
10 its progress. -''n'''-
These are the questions to be discussed by
those Who honestly wish to impress correct
conclusions upon the public mind The ain |
sane Atgament' is foul and Irrelevant, and
proves no more than thst he who attempts to I
impoasit ppOp ths people isafandnASIa 10 foo
Or knavs,