Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-12-14

"a and tEst active and earnest uasSsiag~
AZ ss beeEme practically failure among twenty-five
milionu Of people who contemn itA charitable apd
msrcllu 5ecrDes and have iof four years abandtpee
thsmselycs, with scarcely dissenting yoos meenDg
mons.rancs with curses, and with no stronger apol-
cav than that political dominion Is superior 70 the
Gops to an unbridlsd lust for rapne and slaughter.
NAV offend hundreds on both soes the Atlantic BY
what have writer; but time Is surely approaching
when plain things must be stated in plaia amer.
Deans of the steepes OF the churches IN Now York
are surmou ltsd by d gstI q whenc', wheu victory
oroWus the arms Of republic, the Stars and Stripes
aaupt forth. In that you may behold. the ques-
t,on have raised brought 70 Its narroWest issue.
The Stars and Stripes are above the Ore e.
rha Americans claim TO be relg oas people; out
thew plead that patriotism is Q sacred duly. Nay
ask calmly and dispAssionatey, whether patriotism,
scc riding 70 The American aeeeptaton of the term, 10
not notsnt arrogant insatiae desire that the Unite
states of North Amercs should be rep iblc 90 vast
In ner territory, so powerful by her population, her
wealth. aid her industry, "a 10 command the respect
and fear OF the rest OF the world and whether pa
trio ism Of ths kind is no after all only so much col
la,lve self hines. and corporate vanity Religion 10
an VerJ we'll 10 times of peace but when patriotism s
cd religion must 10 the wall. Hypocrisy, how.
eTsr or Q wish to keep up appesr'Lc@, ishot deemed
IN ompaibe with patrIou m, else patrio would have
ts honesty as the reVoluLionsis Of 80 had 10 shut
NO the Chu ch,s nj Abolilh religion altogether. But
DO not lose sghs OF this reservation: parotism, In
a. modsrn sense may have very httle 10 do with love
of county. The men Of rs we're really pure
Il and dlsntsIest patriotic, attached 10 The soil
oa Wb,cl ihsy we're barn, fighting for their
actual nearlhs and homes against that VII on
the couce Cd TO be the ujushable tyranny OF George
III Bat there can be very little sentimental attach
man. 20 ths soil in the pat ioIsm OF "a. II there be-
auv sacred so in dispute IL must be that for which
tue nth are grmly fighting; for they were born and
| bred on it, and il belonged 10 thir great-graLd
tsthe1s. O the pAlroa Nho are Sighting on the side
of thu North many thousands are not Americans 81
al trey ar bllsns who have sold themselves tor Gel.
liam OF III ney. OF the great body of the pubic
Urs 10 VA, rot only tn uAnds, but miliops,
Az. born ishmon and Germans New York IT, In pJLu
iSop the fourth German city In the verdi The sWarn
of republican Hlists settlsd here and Whe are more
farous against the South than tie native Amsrlcanp,
may b patriots bat they are surely rot lovers VI
| q cir country" They have only become ciax,Bs oi
this once free Ispublc since the day before yesterday
and they have abandoned their Own countries to take
care OF themseTts.
Conysrts are always more big0tGd than Tho to the
manner born Of creed, ard 70 tbs ifish and German
pa.riOts their adopted ecu ry may have greater cha
than those Uh they have deserted; the honest OIL
naked uu b being, however, that ldsh and German
p,rios mcsns timp mach sat- fac ion at being il
land Vherc work Is enl fll usges bod, and prov
aon, abundant aud WneEs she os vi population has
= chance OF rising 10 political power and plsce-min
pled With arking spite against their old homes in
Europe, and subdued desire to btl and oVsrass the
cover ment VI der which they we're LrdIy worked,
poorly I'd and shut Gu, thiosgh the existence OF b
or gees sblished sristeerAp OF governing oais
Il ic-I Advancement
7. tnotism ami low, ictu Try s-ifthe VII l,truth
NUT out-oniy questions OF Nomenclature ThS ~.
prem.y governing power m the human N nd 10 sel6sl
ness. ana nine hundred and nJty niue patriots Gu o.
ht usnd love that country the best where they can
make the most aney, and do the most harm TO GhOse
uhOm they late.