Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-13
'The PhIIoaophy OF victory.

lhueT tuis ucuuluB, tne 1hihuclPhle
Age has q most excellent article, which SO
entirely sccords with our own sentiments
upon the subject treated Of, that we take
great pleasure in transferring it to our coll
umns.
We have no doubt the views therein ex-
pressed will meet with the cordial sane
tion Of all high-minded and patriotic men
North and South. 1t is true there are
some to be found who, like the editor of
the Abolition organ here, are prompted by
innate feelings of hatred and malignity to
counsel contrary course Of policy. But
they will soon find their level, and receive
as they should, the scorn and indigns-
ton of all good men, Tho Age says
/ 1t seems to be too generally received opin.
/ ion, that victors have q right TO impose what
conditions they please upon the vanquished.
/ This is a mistake AT least, when viewed in
1 the light Of civilized and Christian philosophy,
! il is a mistake The victors may have the
mower, the might to force upon the conquer.
wv
make the act right. The savage may capture
rival aud eat him, as one of the conditions
| incident to his triumph The ambitious mon.
arch may blot out from the list of nations his
conauests, as has been done This is the ef
feet OF power, not the operation of right and
Justice Attila, with his 'imminentid peccd-
| forum fagellG,' had the poloer to scar the
country over which he passed with his hordes
of barbarans as with consuming fire, TO kill
and destroy men, women and children yet
his right to do so will scarcely be argued or
maintained at this day. The victors in all
Christian lands are bound by certain well-as
certained and declared principles, the philoso-
ply OF which must be in keeping with the spir-
! il Of the age and those considerations of re-
gard for the good OF mankind which are par
amount in oil governments which claim to be
based upon the popular principle
Assuming this to be the true doctrine what
duty does it impose upon the victors in our
own country Upon what principle must
they make their conditions of peace2 In the
the first place. they must be in harmony with
the Christian and humane spirit Of the times
1t viii not do to turn back the dial OF time,
aud attempt 10 impose conditions now as
basis of peace that would have been rejected
| in the dark and bloody ages. Such an at
tempt would be an insult 10 the intelligence
of The people, and meet with the seorn and
reprobatioG Of the civilized world. Beside,
if the safe path of Christian philosophy be
departed from in the smallest degree by those
who are to act as negotiations in this matter,
who can tell where the innovations may end2
II might alone is TO be consulted, the evil
passions and heady ambitions Of bad man
may induce them to impose conditions which
| xyoulH T,aka a and a diqOrana IN
the nation. But the path of safety is that
bordered by the humane and enlightened
principles OF Christian brotherhood Con-
ditions imposed in that spirit will be readily
accepted, will act as oil upon the troubled
waters of strife and contention, aud bring
about such a state Of things as will open the
door for reconstruction under the Constitu
tuition ana the laws faithfully aud honestly
administered.
Again, the conditions imposed must be
adapted TO The end sought TO be attained, the
agent must be fitted for the task to be accom-
plished Now, as peace is desired as a means
of restoring good will and harmony between
the sections, and Of leading in this manner
! directly to a reunion OF the States, it follows
as a matter Of course that all means used to
bring about peace must be at the same time
calculated to lead the people again under
the authority Of restored Union and re-
: established Constitution. This position will
be accepted by all who are really desirous of
seeing all the States reunited in concord and
: peace. The idle talk Of subjugation and de
struction, of wholesale hanging, of disfran-
chisement, of robbing men of their property,
is calculated to do infinite mischief. 1t can.
: not do good. 1t cannot aid in restoring the
Union; and a peace followed by such acts
could not produce the fruits which
are desired by the real friends Of the
, Union and of the continuance of our
: free form of government When armed
resistance to the authority of the nation
ceases, what excuse will there be for further
use of iorce2 Why use the bayonet when
the people desire to talk over the points Of diff.
ference, with view to their settlement Our
, Government is founded upon the idea of jus.
tice, right and equality and hence all condi-
tions for the restoration of its lawful aud le.
gItimate power over all the States must par.
take of those elements The people will be
satisfied with such basis Of settlement and
: after peace is once made permanent, the thou
sand other questions can be determined and
adjusted in the courts of law, in the halls OF
+ local and national legislation, or left to the
sure hand Of time, which, through good and
i'll at last makes all things even. What we
7, want most at this critical juneture, is some
! wise, humane and statesman-like announce.
ment of the base on which peace can be made
a practically, which win bridge over the
chasm from the sword TO the ballot. box from