Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-10
HAVE THE PEOPLE WON PEACE
THROUGH WAR?

OF assalllng or defending IT. ConSigueu u
sudden quiet, comparatively, after hive years
of desperate anxiety and excitement, having
listened day by day, for years, to the last buI-
letin from fields Of bloodshed, perhaps II
would be too much to expect these savage qoid
9,pncs to subside all at once they would not
be in their element, unless they could hear
that the peace the nation has fairly earned,
was in danger Of being interrupted by new
causes of quarrel, new troubles, in which,
however, they need enact only the part of
mere lookers-on.
And what is this condition Of things, after
all, but the old usageS ampHfed and repeated?
Who has not observed, in his experience, that
every community almost in this very free land
of ours, has ever been cursed with numbers
greater or less--of Individuals who, mischief
makers and disturbers of the peace by proles-
sion, have made it their special vocation TO
set better people by the'ears: when, if fighting
was the result, these men became the mere
seconds; Of if o street fight was the conse
suence the moment the principals drew pi'
tolls, these valorous aggravators Of the quarrel
would Immediately be seen betalling them.
seiyes to the handiest doorway, or around the
next corner for fear their own precious carca-
SEES should suffer in the conflict.
This race Of men, we say, has not diSap-
peared in the late conflict for whoever were
TIE victims they were rot. On both sides,
the very leaders Of these feuds are not only
alive, but they are loudly demonstratlve; and
are the ones, who of all others, are determined
that they will not be lost sight Of if cavilling
and moderation can avail to keep them before
a long suffering public. And so It is that the
Congressional reports are wearisome from the
long TRADES and complaints iFwhich men OF
this class indulge: and the columns of news
papers are burdened with argry diatribes,
when the space is needed for the discussion Of
numberless plans to improve the finances and
trade of the Country.
But the stolid way in which these fierce
harangues are received by the American pco-
pie, is the one great redeeming feature in the
case. Having come 10 the conclusion, appa
rently, that there must he some escape valve
needful to prevent the downright explosion OF
these windy melcontents, the masses take little
or no note Of the war.crics of such; for they
know too well that both sides in the late strug
giles want no more appeals made to the bullet
and bayonet; they are well content to believe,
that the masses are better satisfied to handle
The spade in the peaceful pursuits Of agrcnl-
ture, than in building great Notifications, or
mining and countermining in projects to dcs
troy each other. And so tits, that with their
minds made up, they trouble themselves very
little, comparatively, with what takes place in
political circles. Having learned long ago
that the President isat least the match orthese
designing politicians; feeling that he cannot be
driven from the policy he has marked out Of
letting the good sense of the American people
suffice as the remedy for the mass Of their dis
abilities and evils; they rely upon him; conhde
in him; the country al large, meanwhile, stead.
lily progressingto the healthful condition which
must soon make the evils Of the past forgotten
And now, if the press would only bend its
efforts to discourage political feuds and the
perpetuahng of our eXctements; if the wOrdy
harangues of demagogues could be cut down
as opportunity serves to the smallest possible
space, recognizing The desires of the people
for quiet in this regard the country would
once more, and speedily, be on The high road
to q substantial peace; and we should have
that happiness once more-social and pcliti
csl-which has so long been denied US as cit
liens of republican government. And if the
lovers of peace cannot have thiss-if our con
dition is to be one Of clouds and tempest for
long years yet to come, how much better off
are we than the subjects of despotisms; be-
cause, if these are burdened with other di;a-
bilities, they at least are permitted lives of
quiet.
These are reflections so obvious that we
bring them forward only because, as we have
said, there are hundreds in the community
who seem to have come to the conclusion that
free government means perpetual strife--the
high privilege of eterna ~ wrangiing. We
hope, for one, that the President will still
maintain the attitude he has assumed, Of in
sisting that the peace gained by the late awful
conflict, means peace indeed. With the re-
membrance upon the country, that its history
for the past thirty years has been one of un.
ceasing broils of either preparing for strug-
gle or fighting it out, must the old men of the
land, after peace has been so long won and
proclaimed, go to their graves in o storm; and
must those newly entering upon the active
duties of life be commended only TO appar-
emily unending strites? Ii the old fear of the
revolted States is to be acknowledged incurs-
BILE, where is the courage of the twenty odd
millions lately pitted against them? If indeed
victors, let the majority dismiss their fears,
and act as if we are to be one people.
The fight for the Union and the GROWING
victories meant for US peace; free government:
those blessings which for SO long a period
subsequent to the war of the revolution, made
this the happiest country on earth And ii
secession meant-whicl it did-continued dis.
indignation, an endless breaking up of com
nunities and States, these continuous dis
putes, now that the war is over, mean no less
Whilst the rebellion held out, we were fos
fighting it with the whole power of the Gov
ernment-aye for twenty years, if that had
been needful to maintain the prerogatives OF
a system bequeathed to us by Washington and
his illustrious compeers.
We believe thoroughly III the Government
in its right to defend itself against all assal.
ants; and could VIC see any thing that pointed
to new revolt, we would again advocate the
same measures, to beat off those who would
destroy 1t. But we insist, that the indulgence
OF unmanly fears, such have possession of
Stevens, and Wade, and Sumner, now. are
behind the times, utterly; and not shared hv
the President, by the best part of his cabinet
or by Grant or Sherman, the men 1cho ,ro, The
fght, should be dismissed, that the country NAV
again have that freedom from agitation, essen
tial to the payment of the national debt, and
its reputation for unity and power with the
other great nations of the earth. We believe
in this Government--we repeat-against alt
assailants, domestic or foreign; and if there
is any better Unionism than this, we haveneyer
learned what it is. Once for all--let us have
peace
MEETING OF THE FACULTY OF
MEDICINE.
We understand the physicians of the CITY of
Baltimore will convene this afternoon, at the