The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-10-20

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THURSDAY, OCT. 90.
THE rREs lnsNrrAL III xcrl6N.
A French view from the ttRevue Ma.
1iomale.S 1850

E4 49,.
A French view from the stRevue Ma.
1ionAle.o 9Nar
ga JFrom me New York Pes4.I *
The following article, from the pen Of
M. Laufrey, Of the Revue Nationals, on
the Presidential election, deserves circula:
ton as reflective opinion of one of the
most intelligent and liberal journals OF
Europe, which has always shown itsell
friendly to our cause, and forms marked
contrast 10 the articles on the same sub.
jecl which have recently appeared in the
French Government journals and the
London Times and other kindred papers:
1.-The party that is dreaming At this
momentyo of the re establishment of the
Union by mtans of concessions on the
question of slavery, appears to US under
the influence of illusion difficult to be
comprehended by any one who knows the
history of the United States for the last
thirty years. Secession would be a thou
sand times more desirable for the North
ern States than a peace made on such
basis, for, to those who have studied this
past, the word concession can have only
one meaning, namely, the re establish
mentof the sway of the South over the
North. The evil that this sway has done
to the United States lie we'll known; this
it is that has corrupted their Democracy,
debased their Government, introduced
slavery into the new territories, protected
and patronized fllibustcrs, perverted, 10
a word, all the ancient traditions of Wash.
ington to make them cooperate in a
work of iniquity and oppression.
But if the South was able to commit all
these exercises when nothing disturbed it
in its POSSESSION, il merely the inoffensise
propaganda of few isolated Al olitionists
caused it to knock down and cane iegisla.
tors in the very hall Of Congress, must we
not be stone bind to believe that on re.
turning 10 the bosom Of the Uuion with
the honors of war, after the terrible les
son it has Just received, it will content it
self With its ancient influence which was
unable to protect it; to believe that il will
NOT seek, a. all costs by all means, with
the superiority in intrigue, activity and
ambition which characterizes il, to seek
pledges against the return of contin.
gency which has brought it to the very
brink ef destruction.
TIE return of the South to the bosom
of the Union on such conditions is the in
eYitable suhjugatlon of the North, the
corruption oil republican institutions, the
triumph oi absoiutism In America, the IL
rem-Glsl decline of the Uuited States
The south TO day is gangrened BY militia
~ spirit II Is sustained only by dictstor-
ship, i has contracted ell the habis Of
snca a rule, it y i'll lake care not to re-
naupcs so precious an instrument of safe
ty ard viii not feel treasured until it has
introduced it into the Union. Slavery
aud dic'atotship-these are the two pres
ents that it will bring as pledges of recon-
cllllalion..
Ii such fact were destined to be realiz-
ed, u we we're one day to see the free
Constitution of the United States fall into
nothingness, on that day great light
would vanish from the world, for the
American institutions, obscured as they
are by the passing eclipse which they are
suffering, are none the less one of the
greatest testimonials that humanity has
ever given of itself
The vagueness Of its promises is what
constitutes the strength of the concession
party. Ii men had In the United States
clear idea of the results which it is pur-
suing, perhaps without suspecting il itself;
if they knew that the point in question
was not only to lose in single day the
fruit of so many painful sacrifices, but also
to fail inevitably under the yoke of those
on whom so cruel war has just been
waged, the party of concessions would
lose all its prestige a. stroke, and be
nothing longer but the party of discou-
ragement aud detection. But it has known
how to take advantage skilfully of the
WEAKNESS produced by this war. which
seems destined never to end; il has as its
support, sentiments of humanity which
would be laudable if they were not found
ed on an illusion. The military situation
is, after all, far from being Encouraging,
as il appears at first sight Ii the federal
armies have not made great progress in
the direction of Richmond they have en-
croached upon the territory of the Can
fcderats States at several other points, and
despite all the efforts that are made to
expel them, maintain themselves there
with uuconquerable tenacity, like the iron
in the wound. The South, on the con-
trary, occupies no part of the territory Of
the Northern States; il makes only pass
ing incursions, fugitive appearances there;
it is everywhere reduced to the defensive;
by the confession of many men competent
to judge. a great, we'll directed effort
would be sufficient to crush it. But it is
time for President Lincoln and his friend.
to think of this effort, which patriotism
alone can realize; it would be expected
in vain from an army If marrenaries !"