The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-08-17
THE OLD UNION.

The memory Of four years ago is as
delicious in these times of war and tur-
moil, as cool breeze in the heat of sum-
mer. The comparison is feeble. No
words can describe the longing of the pa
triot's heart for return to the blessed
times Of old, the days of 1860, and the
years all along before that to the earliest
memory of living men. "What," says
the last of the radicals, who still holds on
TO his idols, and the dreams of radical
paradise" what! would you 60 back to
the old Union, the old Constitution, that
league with death and covenant with
hell ~
Yes, we would return to just exactly
that old Constitution and thank God
humbly and heartily if we might but get
back to that old Union of peace and
prosperity. But, adds the unrepentant
radical sinner, quoting the words Of his
favorite journal, the EVening Post,
"would you really be willing to 90 back
to the Union in which slavery defiled ev-
cry seat of authority, debauched all leg
islation,, defed all law it did not itself en-
act, scoffed at human rights, elevated to
the dignity of virtue crimes that Bom-
ba never equaled," and all that sort of
thingl
Nonsense--oh radical ethusiast-these
words were written for political effect, and
we have drifted away beyond all that
There is scarcely newspaper left in the
land that would risk his reputation to-day
by refusing to accept the old Union, pure
and simple, for settlement of this war,
or by daring to attempt the plan Of max
ing its readers hate the memory of that
glorious time. The hearts of all the peo-
pie are yearning for the good days of old.
Men remember the old Union with pro-
foundest love, with desiring affection. 1t
was the best, the purest, the most benef-
cent government the world ever saw. 1t
was like the sun among the planets,
shedding life and light among the ma
tions. The eyes of the poor, the suffer
ing, the oppressed in all kindreds, turned
to it with aspiring faith. The people Of
the land that il governed were happy
and prosperous. Justice reigned, Lib
erty was preserved, as il must always be,
by law, and law was not CALLING on the
neck, was easy and pleasant to be borne,
because of Liberty. No military fort re-
ceived the citizen, dragged at midnight
from his bed, as in Poland and Russia
and other countries that might be nam
ed. No fugitive from the clutch of
slave trading officials in the land Of the
iuquisition was seized by armed men
in secret and sent back to damp dun
geons under the flow Of tropical tides
All the land was peaceful, every home
was full Of JOY, except only for those
sorrows that are the lot OF man. A gos-
pei of peace was preached in the Sunday
morning pulpits Of all the churches, and
now here on the earth were there so ma
nv houses in which the Inhabitants were
contented, in which men lived and died
so calmly and hopefully as in the old
Union of the American States.
"But, slaveryp says our radical friend.
Young man, in what manner did slavery
effect you? What was its effect on the
sum of happiness in Americai What
was its influence in determining the pros
perity of the countryi Il is good time
for you to think of these questions. Di-
vide them, and ask first what was the ef-
feet of slavery on the black man, and
second what was its effect on the white
man. We shall not undertake just now
to guide your reflections. Think for
yourself, and compare the condition Of
the slave before the war with the condi-
ton Of the freedman now, and with the
prospective condition of the free colored
race after the abolition of slavery, if il
would perchauce bo accomplished by the
war. 1t is not necessary to be pro-
slavery man because You decide that in.
...o..nnou. abolition ,vo,,id - 4. ccx,o A..