Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-08-15
BEEN
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN
FIGHTING FORP

DeODle WIFI uIh
disin,eres,ed. gentle and conscientious Is
no army ever ye. was blessed with IN 'uoh
,,rbs,,. we know what soldiers have 70
suffer in hospitals, after bassle-she
wounds the dressings, the fevefs' 'u'
,Iov recoyeries, the many deaths, the o.
reayed families. We do not know we
canno, conceive, indeed, how different all
these things may be in Europe, where the
officers are more careless OF the sunet-
;no, Of the men, where surgeons have fewer
svmpa,hies with the rank and file, md the
eres, masses are so poor that the sickness
or loss of the father is a sort OF living
death TO the whole family. What good
b,. this suffering accomplished to any
bodys Suppose it all to stop just where
/, is, what is settled BY its Nothing,
that we can see, except the power Of the
needle muskets Of the Prussians.
When we fought, we knew what We
were fighting for, and we accomplished it
all, and more even than the most sanguine
had anticipated. AND looking back now
through all the suffering and terrible car
mage of those long four years, all the pro-
perty that was destroyed and the ankle
ties and anguish it has cost, we can feel
that the immense sacrifices made were not
in vain, and that future ages will look
back upon the conflict and say it was
well. 1t preserved liberty in the earth,
and gave a potency and united power to
free institutions throughout the civilized
world that all men and ages must rejoice
in through coming time.
But suppose matters to stop where they
are in Europe. Venetia coded to France
to go perhaps Il Italy. and Sardinia to
France absolutely. Suppose Northern
Germany to become, in substance. Prus-
sian. and Austria too weak and worn out
to be henceforth quite a second rate power
on earth, ye, what good would arise to
mankind from the whole Of thiss The
Prussians have, themselves, for the last
four years, been complaining Of their VIC
torious monarch and his Prime Minister
as the chisf usurpers Of arbitrary author
ity in Europe, the most fragrant criminals
against all representative government but
now the area Of this arbitrary power is
extended through all North Germany.
Many OF the great manufacturing towns
Of Germany are put under this inflated
syrant, who has openly trampled upon all
forms Of constitutional government with
seeming success. Venetia may gain
something, and Sardinia may have the
satisfaction Of being under the most saga
cious Of arbitrary rulers, if it should be
taken and annexed TO France. But as
for increased liberty to the people or
broader and better ideas and administra-
ton of government, but little Of that 10
to be hoped for as likely to grow out Of
the war as thus far it has developed itself.
It is true that the inherent weakness Of
Austria has been demonstrated, and that
she is far, very far, behind the times. It
has been shown, too, that q nation Of ed
ucated men. like the Prussians, may make
better soldiers than the less generally in
structed peassnty Of Austria. But Aus
tria itself had just commenced reforms
far more liberal than the King Of Prussia
could tolerate, and had been carrying
them on since the last peace made with
Napoleon ; so that the very fsebleness Of
the government had caused the shackles
to a considerable extent to drop of the
arms Of her subjects.
The only hopeful fact in the present
history Of mankind is the success Of
American institutions and affairs. The
rising prices Of our securities in Europe
show this. The increasing popularity Of
our Fourth Of July, in both France and
England, show it. The recent letter Of
Professor Goodwin Smith shows it, and
he evident desire Of men such u he
or the closer fraternity Of the liberal
men Of England with the United States
'hows it. Whether, however, England
rise above her aristocratic government
. doubtful, and remains to be seen. IrI
s rather by flight than BY conquest that
LIBERAL men in Europe will have to ffes
themselves, and by emigrating to this
and filing up the great West
hey can best strengthen the cause of lib
'rty On earth.