The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-30

article VIII appear III luesuAg i9spV'
What was II For?
Wecopy an article from the New York
.Iourn0l NJ Commerce, which is suggestive
of reflections well adapted to the present
hour. The question: What was the war
fors is certainly timely when dominant
and domineering party are found using
THEFT power to defeat the object for which
the war was declared to be prosecuted.
Our eotemporary does not, 10 our mind,
treat this matter with any more serious
ness than II deserves. Tho remark that the
negro question lies below the slavery quos-
tiou, is one which we have often made aud
the truth OF II is shown by the various
schemes now brought forward by the rad
Gals looking far beyond the adjustment of
slavery. Those who have indulged the
hope that, with that object attained, the
abolition fanatics would cease their agita
ton, must have awakened 10 She fact that
they have been huggmg a delusion. The
radicals have always entertained Interior
purposes and designs which they viii not
abandon though their pursuit may cost the
country more dearly than il already has,
and IN which they can only be defeated by
the conservative sentiment of the country
making itself heard and felt That senti-
ment finds eloquent expression In the fol-
lowing article:
WHAT WAS IT FoR Pit would, of course,
he waste of time and breath to ask the
men who are working So vigorously in the
calIsc of disuuion ut Washington, what has
been the object of the vast expense of blood
and treasure of the past four years. They
would not pause TO think of an answer.
For them it is enough to seize the oppor-
tnity of the hour and, finding the country
ia a position on which they may thrive in
politics, to keep it as long rs possible in
that condition. But it is worth the while
of their constituents now to ask themselves
this question, and to ask it seriously. War
is a serious matter. The sweeping away of
a million human lives in the short space of
four years, by bayOncts and bullets, Is no
Child's play, no commercial speculation, no
politicians amusement, .t
There Is an account TO bc rendered, first
to God. then to man and to history, for
every drop of this blood which has been
she'd. What was IL fOrp American citizens,
voting at the elections, sustaining their
representatives at Washington, counscling
with them, approving disappearing what
they do, are individually responsible for
this blood. Let them see to it that they
are ready to give the account. If the sac
rificc be made utterly vain by the madness
of ralicaism, II the rivers have run red
for nothing but continual strife and long
dSunion, then the account Will be fearful
indeed. For it is not thing past and
forever settled. There Is q heavy RESPONSE
bility yet resting on every man In the coun-
try, 10 see to il that this treasure of human
life is not wrongfully expended.
For what was it givenY For what did
the young men and the old men alike give
themselves? If any one be so utterly mis-
taken rs to imagine that this war was for
the ncgro's equality, that those vast sacri-
fees were to place the black man on Il level
with u white man, let him stop the first
wounded soldier he meets, who survives
the conflict, and ask him what he fought
for. Let him question those who have made
the sacrifices. Ii will not do to go to the
man who has grown rich on the war and
its accessories. for he has had no part In the
expense, and knows nothing of its objects.
From the very outbreak of the strife
there were many men who designed to turn
il into a revolutionary contest. They
taught and preached that the whole social
fabric was to be- reorganized. They deter
mined tO make it a free light without much
caring what Happened, 81 long rs they
could bring out of il their pet idea triunl-
phant over all the country, North and
South. These men were few, but noisy,
and a great many followed them, and
believed in them. 1t is now time to reflect.
and see whether ID is the intention of the
people to reorganize the American social
system. We have again and again told
our readers that the negro question lay
below the slavery question, and that the
settlement of the latter was of very small
account rs compared with the other. IL Is
plain now that the abolitiou7of slavery has
but thrown us into the midst of the other
question, and the status of the negro is to
be made the subject of political dis,.ussion,
turmoil aud future dissensiOn.
But, for the present, let us, If possible,
cOnlne ourselves to the question, what was
the object of the WARRIOR what have we
shed so much bloodY Aud If we find that
that object was the Union under the tom
stitution-tfc good old Union of the fathers,
and that we can have it now, mt once, with
out a weeks delay, complete, calm, peace
ful If this Il within our grasp let us have
it. Or, if the people decide that, having
fought for it, they do not want il, and1Nill
not have il, but demand some new form of
government, some new social and political
laws. let those who thus decide go forward,
to the ruin Of their country, forever haunted
by the pale faces aud sad cOuntenanees of
the dead, who will then have died in vain.
--1--l4 = ~ ilH
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