Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-03-09
RESULTS OF THE WAR.


lobstinately, and, candor eompeis US TO aa-
mi, ,be fact, bravely; but rapidly succeed
mo events point irresistibly to the downfall
of ,beir cause. The cause was a bad one
=, the outset. 1t was the movement of
an aristocratic oGgarchy, endeavoring, not
merely to check the irresistible tendency
toward democracy which is the inevitable
consequence of enlightenment OF the peo-
Pile; but it was an attempt to force civil-
cation step backward, which is social
and political impossibility. In those
States in which the attempt was inaugur-
ated the aristocratic minority was the
ruling element. 1t had been so from the
earliest history of the country; it was so
as natural consequence of 1.-THE peculiar
institution" and it would have remained
so for century to come, had not jealousy
of the slow but steady encroachment of
the democratic sentiment of the North led
the rulers of the South to strike the hasty
and unwise blow which has precipitated
destiny upon them. Slavery, which, TO
use their own words, was 1.-THE corner
stone of their political edi6ce," was strong
" entrenched upon Southern ground, and
was protected by the egis of the Constitu-
ton. There was too much Of conserva-
tism and too much respect for solemn
guarantees among the democratic masses
and democratic statesmen of the free
| States to disturb the institution within
its ,lawful limits. To restrict it within
those limits was the extreme of the antag-
anism which the South had ever been
forced to combat in any political party.
The eventual destruction Of slavery was
inevitable; but so long as the South re-
manned in the Union, the decay must have
been but slow, and only keeping pace
with the development of q democratic
sentiment among the masses Of the South
ern people. That sentiment was slowly
undermining the edi6ce; but the fall
thereof would not have occurred in the
lifetime of the present generation of man.
The hot-headed representatives Of the
doomed institution sought, by striking
the first blow, to avert destiny, but they
precipitated it a generation before its time.
Four years of war is long time in the
life of an individual; but four years is
but a brief period in the history of a
nation. In that brief period has been
accomplished the work of generations
of peaceful progress. The history of
those foar years needs not the pen
| of the historian to revive It IN the
memory of men now living. 1t is craven
| in the hearts of all christendom it Is
burned into the brain Of every American.
The history of this four years of war we
know; its end is at hand; its issue is be-
yond doubt or question its results are
in the future, and are the subject of legiti-
mate speculation. Its first great result,
the abolition of human slavery, has been
fixed fact from the outset, and has kept
even pace with the advance of the armies
of the nation. Existing only by virtue Of
constitutional guaranty, those who cast
aside the Constitution destroyed their only
hold upon man as chattel, and as the
armies of the nation advanced over the
soil Freedom marched beneath their VIC
torious banners. Whenever State has
been disenthralled from the rebel yoke, its
people have destroyed slavery Of their
own motion, and erected upon its ruins
the nobler edi6ce of free institutions.
The abolition of slavery is not the only
result of this war, but is the great result
out of which still greater results naturally
flow. The destruction of slavery is the
destruction of that aristocratic domination
which has kept down and stihed the
spirit of progress and enterprise which is
/ the characteristic of the Caucasian race
under free democratic government. 1t
is unnecessary to point to the difference
between the Free and the Slave States in
wealth and power and population and AL
that constitutes greatness. That difference
is patent to all; it stares the world in the
face. In geniality of climate, in fertility
of soil, in navigable streams, in capacious
harbors, in all the natural requisites for a
great and prosperous nation, the South
excels the North at every point. That
/ the North has become mighty, while the
South has remained stationary, has been
the consequence of free institutions in the
former and of slavery and aristocratic rule
in the latter. The soil and climate of the
South have invited foreign immigration
and Northern enterprise, but the laws and
institutions have repealed both. The free
institutions of the North have invited and
encouraged both, and they have triumphed
over inhospitality of climate and sterility
of soil. This war and the resultant march
of freedom, nave removed the old-time
| barrier; and henceforth the white mans
enterprise will develope and make power
/ full and glorious the Eden which the
chained negro has kept wilderness.
There is another result which will fol-
low naturally from this change in the
character of the political institutions Of
the South, and that is the assimilation of
the American people. Heretofore there
has been q marked and essential
difference between the people of the
free and the slave States. The difference
in their political and social institutions,
has made them two distinct people; jeal-
Gus and distrustful of each other, there has
been little of sympathy and nothing of
similarity and no feeling Of common ma
tionality, save firm alliance offensive and
defensive against foreign foes. The rude
jostling of this long war has made them
better acquainted with each other; and
the breaking down Of the old political