The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-25
Apathy efthe People.

and journal OF Commerce are particularly
haunted and troubled by the fact. They
can account for it only upon the theory
that the nation is foredoomed to homeless
rum and that they have brought their lam
en!auons and warnings to a poor market,
Like the children the parable speaks of
they have piped to the people and thew
would not dance, and now they mourn to
them and they will not lament. There
seems to be no course left open to these un-
appreciated prophets but to hang their
harps on the willows and set down and
solace themselves by weeping over the
apathy of the people; and that metaphor
caIly, il what they are trying to do. though
not with much success or apparent SINGER.
ity. - -
1t is no:thatthep people are Indifferent about
the successes OF the war, the salvation OF
the Union, the destruction of slavery. or
any of the great matters that engross men
OF genuine patriotism. that brings grief to
these afflicted men. In point Of fact, these
are not matters that they concern them
selves much about. What TROUBLES them
IS that the people do not see, and cannot be
made to see, that they are losing their own
hberties; that there is already no freedom
OF speech or the press lett, and that if things
20 on IN this frightful way, in a year or
TWO more, the white men on this continent.
will all be slaves and the negroes all mas
ters, or else the two races will mutually
deyour each other and the land will be ,les-
oiate. Daily and nightly, in all possible
forms Of horror, has this terrible picture of
the intuEe been drawn and set up before
Inc people for th0ir warning, and they 60
staight on, enlisting in tie army, paying
taxes, giving their money to all sorts OF
enterprises tor the aid and comfort of the
soi6iers, weeping over the dead, rejoicing
Ut every victory, praying confidently for
final success, and crying out, some of them.
''God bless Abraham LincOln.'e ana
only here and there. a man sees that
all this leads to ruin, THAT s's old
Abe" is a despot, and that We are
destroying liberty and the Union by fight
ing for them. Have not two copperhead
papers been suspended for two days each,
at loss of fifteen or twenty columns of
abuse OF the Government, and have they
not appealed TO the people to rise and vim
dicate the liberty of the press. and yet the
people stupidity refuse 10 see it? Have not
several traitors been shut up in prison
without due process of law, for attempting
to stir up revolt by free speech? Has not
a New YORK demonstration against the
negro policy been put down by military oc-
cupation? Has not the Government sur
rendered Cuban negro thief to his Gov
eminent without a treaty to that effect?-
And is not the despotisin of the Govern
ment SO rigid that no honest trader can
ship cargo OF powder or bullets to a
Southern market without hazard to his
person and property? And the people see
all this, and hear the constant bowls of the
copperheads over these outrages upon lib
erty, and remain as dumb and apafhetic as
SO many posts. Yea, verify, and when the
radicals and the Germans and the late Ma
jor General Fremont repeat the outcry and
the warning, nobody takes it to heart. No
loyal man seems to feel that his liberty is
in danger, or to understand that any body
else Is not as free now to do any lawful and
loyal act as he ever was. Ifthis be apathy,
it is terrible indeed. But there is still a
consolation t0those whose eyes are open to
the alarming condition OF things; they
have after all one right, one privilege, left
they can abuse and nisrepresent The adj
ministration, and lie about it even, and
magnify the disasters and difficulties of the
war, discourage enlistments, stir up mobs,
and give all possible aid and comfort to the
enemy. With this much Of freedom left
and in daily and vigorous exercise, these
anxious ones need not wholly despair Of
the future. Let them peg away, and keep
up what pluck they can. They shall yet
enjoy all the liberty they covet.-Sprng
field Republican. :
AN. Iowa GENERAn-The Cincinnati
Gazette is the mos. faithful historian OF
=
our exchanges outside Of this State. Its
correspondent with Snerman's army,
writing from near Dallas, June Sd, in
detailing the operations of McPherson's
command, tI9s4spesks of Major General
<s.Haraly had tie AIRS, bali hours fight
ing ended, until General Dodge made his
appearance at Walkers battery. carrying
before him on his horse box of canister
He had heard tina. their canister was gone,
and unable to find the proper officers in
such u melee. he went himself and carried
all be could. He also seized two wagon
loads of infantry ammunition, from the
10Th corps, which were passing, and sent
boxes up to the front line, so that although
at the beginning there was but forty
rounds to tne man, these were not gone I'M
Ill bountiiui supply was at hand" ~rs
That's the kind of men Iowa sends to
fight the battles of our country, MIR. &C.
sette, and we are happy to say that you
have correspondent that aims at justice
in his letters. The same letter makes ia
vorable mention Of Col. Rice, of the 9TH
says that a portion OF the 9th Iowa was
surprised and captured while at breakfast,
on the 27th.-Muscatine Journal.
A WORD TO MARRIED MEN.-We mean
you who spend your evenings down town,
playing billiards, smoking, drinking and
gossipping, when you ought to be at home
with your families. Do you remember
what fine promises You once made to the
woman who now sits, night after night,
with heavy heart but busy fingers, making
or mcnding garments for the little ones,
{your children while you are dissipating,
with other idlers like yourself, the very
means for which they stand in need. You
complain Of hard times, scarcity Of work,
and want of money; and your wife works
herself sick to economize and reduce the
household expenses. Why, you miserable
grumbler, 1--WE were about 10 say hummer,
YOU spend money enough foolishly every
month Of your life to, clothe and educate
your children, and leave nice little sum
to lay away against rainy day. Wife
wants a new dress. "Can't afford it." no,
but Won can afford to spend fifty cents OF
a dollar every day for lager, cigars, bill.
iards, or something worse. And then what
q somiuable lies You will tell your wife
and she, innocent soul, believes every
word q gospel truth. When she asks you
in that kindly manner, " Husband, mas
YOU 20 down town to-night7 get tired
and lonely without you,"-how You pos.
itivelv aver that "imp0rtant business
a.I,, rn,1 q vavs md then as If uniltv al