Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-11


1T has been the source of wonder with many how
easily the arrsnt Republicanism Of the North has
iapsed into the most truculent despotism. COnsid-
cred IN its true light, there is nothing IN that sudden
revolution 10 create wonder for depOtism aud an
pseudo TepubIcanism bear remarkable resemblance
10 each other, and are convertible terms. Each
takes its origin from the source. As despot
ism is the evidence Of fear degradation and igno-
rance on the part of the people who are its vic
tins 50 is pseudo republicanism the result
OF bgseress, fasehood aud violence OF the same peo
pie Zach tends towards the same results the alb
sOrbing Of the viii aud nationality Of people, and
the consolidation and concentration Of power.
Dsspo,s and demagogues exercise the same prac-
tees whereby 10 compass theiNaims. Deceit; by
pocrisy, fasehood and intimidation are the-weapons
they use by turns against their victims, and
yyher they have succeeded in securing their objects
they at once change their attitude aud their conduct
Where they have deceived and dissmulated, they
use violence aud intimidation. They suddenly throw
OF the mask under which they had hitherto disguised
their character and their motives
1t j., a common saying that between tho iTeest
yoyeamat and the most CALLING despotism there IS
but one step How has it been in Yankeelaud these
,hrec wears Have not those who we're elevated 10
power - the name Of liberty crushed and sacrificed
the very liberties aud lives that people which 1t
WAS tlcir especial duty guard and preserve, and
that too. perpetrated under the guiSe and in the
uIme OF protecting power. II VIII be "a terrible les
son in the Eight of INDICATED individual freedom, to
TeJ-u the history Of the Yankee nation, how the
sbest government that the world ever saw under
stood and praised the sacred boon OF liberty
ILey who had been loudest in their proteStotons Of
humanity aud philanthropy, now speak of-nothlng
5a revenge and the gratiHcatiOn OF the basest and
yes passions. And yet, in presence of such facts,
which are pateut 70 the world Is it not strange Is il
uor unnatural that the civilized world persist in being
blind enough 10 iguQre those crimes committed inIhe
name Of philanthropy and humanity That the
World Ia fact, should be leagued with despotsm
nore CALLING ana more hateful than the most oppres
siye Of tyrauuies, 10 despOil and destroy noble
and brave people under the guise OF that humanita-
-i,nsu the religion Of which is theft and murder,
Tie world upon more occasions than one
has wondered thai that people OF charlataus suuld
-uJlcly proclaim their respect for the very docf
-rinrs which they once 50 loudly denounced, and
that upon questions Of international comfy, theJ
should adopt the very practices which they had
hitherto so consistently condemned. And yet that
civilized world, harshly startled from its prOPrie
tv still keeps alooi and by withholding itScondem-
nation tacitly adhercs TO people that kss become
q b-e-wOrd for contempt and ridicule
Al this would appear strange aud unnatural, did
We not know that the aU-absorbng motive selfnter-
est underes the action Of the great powers, and We
NAV never expect 10 see them adopt different
course towards rs until this influence ueutralized
~CS cJuuteFacted.