The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-27
BURLINGTON WEEKLY HAWK-EYE.

IKLY HAWK-EYE.
no intermediate point between the rule Of
Constitutional majorities and an absolutel
despotism where men can rest in safety
And that these are the two antagonisms In
human government is proven by all past
history. All nations past or present, have
been Or are, tending to the one or the other
form. They can be stationary only as free
men, governed by majorities according to
Constitutional Limitations, or under q des-
pot. AL intermediate forms are mere steps
Of transition from the one extreme to the
other.
The purpose Of the rebel leaders to get
rid Of the rule Of the majority Il Of itself
an open avowal that they favor and intend
to establish despotic power. We did not
need to be told this by Davis. But possi-
bly, his assertion, - their Chief, may open
the eyes Of some who have refused to Gre
dit tho statements Of lees conspicuous
traitors. he knows his aims and the mean
ing Of what he says. As It is impossible
there should be Republic without the
rule OF the majority Of the people, no words
90 significant Of deadly hate to our institu-
tons have yet been uttered a. those Of
Davis.
~ If it were possible for men to get
rid of their passions and prejudices and
once to see clearly what the real issue is in
this deplorable conflict, there would be but
one opinion in the North. Every man who
has the least desire to be free himself and
desires to transmit equal freedom to his
children, would be OVERLOOKING with zeal
for the prosecution of the war until the
horrible treason were utterly and forever
quelled. He would sustain the Union,
fight for it, or labor for it, according to his
ability, with - much alacrity and earn
estness, a. he would to rescue his child. or
to save his own life, from the devouring
flames.
The truth is that this contest, more d.
rectly than any in the past, il one Of life or
death to US. If We maintain the integrity
Of the Nation, and assert effsctually it,
authority, we secure to 1t perpetuity Of
vigorous life. II We fail in this. the Nation
dies dishonorable death, not only a. .
whole but In all it, parts. There would be
no vitality left to 1t anywhere. Disentegra-
ton admitted once would become univer.
sal. The Union once severed the parts
would inevitably become fragmentary.-
The bonds of cohesion being destroyed,
Chaosand Anarchy would rule throughout.
It would destroy tho Republic and also re-
publicanism and its possibility. For in
the convulsions which would follow q sep
aration the worst elements OF society
would secure rule, and those liberties We
profess to value % highly would be sacri-
feed to the 6rst usurpsr. It cannot b
otherwise however much mon may hone
for better result. The political machine
once broken would destroy itself By it,
own momentum, just a. certainly - would
. more material machine. II We once o.
face the National idea, there Il nothing LEFT
to ~ Of cohersnce but rel or fanciad ma
terial interests, which w arc - Il sly to
interpret falsely as correctly, and::are q
apt to become jealous OF each other and
seek an ininitude Of rspulsions q Of the
opposite.
II men would seriously consider what
must come il we do not put forth our
united efforts to completely crush the rebel
lion, there are mono 80 insane a. to With
hold their earnest support Of that purpose.
The trouble with many 10 that they are
blinded by passions, deluded BY their most
bitter enemies, and therefore fail to zee the
real issues to be determined. II the rebel
lion should unfortunately at last make
good it, purposes, the large proportion Of
those who now follow the Northern Con.
spirators would be among the first to feel
and lament their present folly. It would
crush them with the rest OF Us; but they
would have to endure the further pang Of
having been the willing instruments or
their own ruin. They will not be able to
enjoy the consciousness Of having done
their duty-of having exhausted their abil-
ity in the effort to sustain the Constitution
and laws, to maintain and perpetuate the
liberties with which theU MON blessed them.
They will know that through their aid the
Nation fell from its high estate, and that
the ,calamities resulting therefrom are
their own haudiwork. Why not pause and
reflect while it is not too late? Why let
passion rule to the ruin Of ALI How can
Republicanism, which is simply the Law
Of the People, stand, unless the people
unite in its enforcement?- How?
-
The SEvEN-THIRTY LoAN.-we have
often recommended the Government loans,
Of various kinds, to the people. The Gov
eminent is bidding high for the small
savings Of the people. The inducements
offered are such as ought to draw every
dollar from the people that can be spared.
And the fact is that no man can anywhere
do 80 well as by lending his savings to the
Government which protects his person and