The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-12
Mistellaneolrs.
Good Words from England.

The following article. from the Newcastle
(England) Chronicle is sharp rebuke Of the
British tories who persist in coloring events
in the interest of the rebels:
at is melancholy reflection, that on no
question in our day has 80 much want OF
candor been displayed, or so much dishonest
peryersion been resorted to, as on this ques-
ton Of the American revolt. The origin OF
the war, the object Of the war, the progress
of the war, the spirit in which the war is
conducted, in spite OF the clearest possible
facts, have, one after the other, been disput-
ed, denied, or perverted. When southern
politicians, from Davis to Toombs, and from
Stephens to Spratt, tell us that they design
TO establish government based on the bon
dage of the laborer when the bishops Of
the Episcopal church declare that the 'aboli-
ton of slavery is hateful, infdel, and pesti-
lent and the Rev. DR.. Palmer adds that
.the proyidential trust of the South is to
perpetuate the institution of domestic slavery
now existing, with the freest scope for Its
natural development; when the statesmen,
journalists, and divincs of'thc South join in
one chorus of admiration for slavery, people
among us are yet dishonest enough to aver
that the question of slavery neither had nor
has anything whatever to do with the rebel
lion Of the South; that that rebellion was
simply and entirely question of tariff
PRECISELY the samo spirit is shown in
dealing with the events of the war. When
Sherman drives Johnston into the interior OF
Georgia, Johnston succeeds in drawing Sher-
man from his base. When Grant attacks
Lee in front, he is credited with the qualities
of a bear. When he outflanks Lee he is
afraid 20 meet him in the field. When Inc
ut last succeeds, by strength, courage, or
strategy, in driving him from Fredercks-
burg TO Richmond--why. then we are told
that the Federal general might have reached
that point long ago. While the opposing
armies were on the Rapidan, we had no end
of predictions that Grant would never see
Richmond. When he at length does see it,
we are assured that Grant is fool for not
taking a shorter route. Ever since Butler
landed on the James. we have had almost
assurances that the next mail would bring
us news of his having been driven into the
river. On the other hand, every repulse OF
the Federals, however triding, has been mag
ni6ed into rout; while more than one sue.
cess for the Coniederates has been reported
and Cloried in twice or thrice over.
"If one had read the exclusive news OF
Copperhead newspapers only, one would
have boen sorely puzzled TO understand how
il is that the North is not overrun; that
Washington is not destroyed, and that the
Armies of the Potomac and Cumberland ex-
iss at all. In the same, il Scmmes didn't
take the Kearsarge, it was only because his
shin was out OF repair and his enemy was
chain.plated. Semmes wasn't beaten; he
only committed "a mistake But it the
critics ara severe on tho Federals, they are
exceedingly charitable to the slave owners.
Semmes burns unarmed ships; runs away
from the Federal cruisers; libels the victor
in his first lair encounter, and the critics
celebrate his gallantry and call him hero.
Like kings in the constitutional axiom, the
slaye-owners eau do no wrong. They shoot
negro tcamsters mt Murireesboro; they give
no quarter to the negro troops at Port Hud-
SON.: they burn alive the negro garrison at
Fort Pillow-and never word OF protest or
ccnsurc is uttered by the critics. They chain
cannon balls to the legs Of Federal officers ut
Atlanta; they starve Federal prisoners at
Belle Isle; they make arrangements to blow
up military prison ut Richmond they
slaughter men, women and children in Kan
sas they play at nine pins with the bones
Of the Federal dead; they commit every con-
ceivablc atrocity. and many atrocities that
are absolutely incOnceivable-and yet no
| Confederate commentator on the war goes
out Of his way to condemn them. Quantrel
is an energetic officer; Forrest is an able
commander; and Winder is tho mildest Of
jailers. Such is the way in which contcm-
porary events are chronicled in England"