The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-12
W hat was IL Eorl

| 1t would, OF course, be a waste OF time anS
/ breath to ask the men who are working =,
! vigorously IN tue cause Of disunion at Wash
lngton, what has been the object of the va-t
expense OF blood and treasure Of the past -four
years. They would not pause to think OF an
answer. For them it is enough to seize the
opportunity OF the hour, and finding the
country III Ia position on which they may
thrive In politics, to keep it as long as posi-
BILE In that condition. But 1t Is worth the
while vi tneir constituents now TO ask them
selves this question, and to ask II seriously.
War is serious matter. The sweeping
away OF a million human lives in the short
space of four years, by bayonets and bullets.
Is no caild's play, no commercial speculation,
no politicians amusement. There Is an &C
count 10 he rendered, first to God, then TO
man and history, for every drop OF this blood
which has been shed. What was it for p
American citizens, voting at the election,
sustaining their representatives at Washing
ton, counselipg with them, approving or dis
approving what they do, are inG!vid ually re-
sponsibe for this blood. Let them see 10 it
that they are ready to give the account If
the sacrifice be made utterly vain by the
madness OF radIcalism, /! the rivers have run
red for nothing but continual strife and long
disuuion. then the account will be fearful in.
deed. For it is not thing past and forever
settled. There is heavy responsibility vet
resting on every man in the country, to see
to it that this treasure of human life is no,
wrongfully expended
For what was it given? For what did the
young men and the old men alike give them
selves 1T any one be so utterly mistaken as
to imagine that this war was for the negro's
equality, that these vast sacrifices were TO
place the black man on u level with tho
rbaE ! !
soldier he meets, who survives the conflict
and ask him what he fought for Let him
question those who have made the sacrifices
1t Will not do to go to the man who has
grown rich on the war and it's accessories
Tor he has no part IN the expense, aud knows
nothing of it's objects.
From the very outbreak of the strife there
Were many men who designed to turn il into
a revolutionary contest. They taught and
preached that the whole social fabric was to
be reorganized. They determined to make
1t free fight, without much caring what
happened, so long as they could bring out of
1t their pet ideas triumphant over all the
north and south These men were
few, but noisy. and great many followed
them. and believed in them. 1t is now time
to reflect. and see whether it is the intention
OF the people TO reorganize the Aneri,an SO
cIal system. We have again and again told
our readers that the negro question Law below
tue slavery question, and that the settlement
OF the latter was of very small account as
compared with the other. 1t is plain now
that the abolition OF slavery has but thrown
us into the midst of the other question. and
the status of the negro is to be made the |
subject OF political discussion, turmoil. and |
future dissension. But, for the present, lei
ls. If possible, confne ourselves to the cues
.ion. what was the object of the WARRIOR
|" hat have we shed so much blood And if |
we mud that that object was the Union under |
he coDstitution-the good old Union of tie
Fathers, and that we can have il now at
'nce, without weeks delay, com plete, calm,
peaceful; If this Is within our grasp. let us
lave 1t Or, if the people decide that, hav-
ng fought for it, they do not want it. and
Will not have it, but demand some new form
government some new social and political
avs, let those who thus decide 20 forward.