Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-11
Southern Patriotism.

A close examination of the character of
the rebels reveals but few true patriots,
but little military genius, and no states
men. These characteristics were their
chief boast previous to their secession, and
these were attributed to them i'll the
highest degree by an admiring North.
But one quality, inventive genius, have
they shown any capacity for that would
enable them to stand equal among other
nations, and that quality they formerly
protested to despise equally with the
azure abdominals. Their patriotism has
been but display Of passion and petu-
lance. Their soldierly qualities are shown
when we see that "six millions of the
bravest people on earth" are entirely over
come and are of no military importance;
and their craftsmanship has left them with
out friend on earth.
From the commencement of the war,
they have made tremendous threats, that
should the Federals, by any possible
chance, get possession Of Southern city,
which was hardly supposable case. that
they would find it another Moscow as if
the destruction of their own property
would help them any. From that day to
this, they have rung the changes on the
Moscow business, until it is getting to
sound as ridiculous as their old assertions
of chivalry. They would Moscow every
city; there would be general system Of
Moscowing; the entire country would be
Moscowed, and so on. Those that think
the burning of town in advance of its
capture by Union troops, would be the
least damaging to the captors, have learned
their strstegy in a very old school. The
circumstances of Moscow can never be re-
peated in the United States, least of all in
the southern portion. The climate and
isolation of that cold, interior city of
Northern Russia has no parallel in
America.
The attempt to burn Charleston and
Richmond were only acts of diabolism that
could work no injury upon their enemy
but only suffering upon their friends, and
helps the perpetrators on the downward
road to poverty and ruin, even should they
be successful in their rebellion, and equally
ruinous to themselves should they surren-
der to Northern arms. They but aid in
their own conquering. The property was
their own, and in either event Of success
or surrender to the Union, would be theirs
to enjoy, and would aid them in recover
ing from the losses of war. The desruc-
ton of their cities, therefore, can not be
attributed to any sacrificing devotion to
their country, but to chagrin at defeat, and
what is forcibly expressed as innate SOUS
sedness" of. heat. 1t Is the offspring of
the same principle that invited them to
rebellion. Slpremely selfish, they would
destroy, or at least degrade the country of
which they were part, to satisfy pique
ora personal ambition. They care not
for the country at large--the free govern
ment for which their ancestors had fought
and sacrifice to establish-the glory &C.
ouired-its future greatness and prosper
ity-all were obscured to their blear-eyed
/. vision when person was chosen as chief
executive without their approval. Apeo-
pie with such q patriotism should never
be trusted with the destiny of a single acre
of Gods footstool.-R. R. RsrsiHs.