The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-02-14
What was it For 2
From the N. 7. journal of CONNER

1t would, Of course, be waste Of time
and breath to ask the men who are work.
ing so vigorously in the1cau Of disunion
lat Washington, what, has been the object
|of the vast expense Of blood and treasure of
the past f,ar 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 in a position on
which they may thrive in politics, to. keep
lit as long as possible in that condition.
But it is worth the while Of their constitu-
ents now to ask themselves this question,
and to ask it seriously War is serious
matter. The sweeping away of a million
| Of human lives in the short space Of four
years, by bayonets aud bullets, is no child's
play, no commercial speculation. no politi-
claus amusement. There is an account to
be rendered, first to God, then to men and
| to history, for every drop Of this blood
which has been, shed. What was it for?
American citizens, voting at the elections,
sustaining their representatives at WASH
ington, counselling with them, approvingor
disappearing what they do, are Individually
responsible for this blood. Let them see
to it that they ore ready TO give the account.
II the sacrifice be made utterly vain by the
madness Of radicalism, ifthe rivers haverun
lred for nothing butcontinual strife and long
ldsuuion, then the account will be, fearful
Indeed. For it is not thing past and for
lever settled. There is q heavy responsible
lily yet resting on every man in thu coun-
TRY, to soc to it that this treasure Of human
life is not wrongfally expended.
For what was it given? For what did
! the young men and the old men alike give
themselves? Ifany one be so utterly mis-
taken as to imagine that this war was for
the negro's equality, that these vast sac-i
fees were to place the black man upon a
level with the white man, let him stop the
first wounded soldier he meets, who survives
the conflict, and ask him what he fought
lfor. Let him question those who have
made the sacrifices. 1t will not do to go
Ito the man who has grown rich on the war
and its accessories for lie has had no part
i in the expense, aud knows nothing OF its
objects. ~ % t3si.la
J. From the very outbreak Of the strife
there were many men who designed to turn
lit into revolutionary contest. They
taught and preached that the whole social
fabric was to be reorganized. They deter,
mined to make tia free fight, without much
caring what happened, SO long as they could
bring out oft their pet ideas triumphant
over all the country, North and South.
These men were few, but noisy, and a
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 American social system.
We have again and again told our readers
THAT the negro question lay below the sla-
very question, aud that the settlement
of the latter was of very small account as
g|compared with the other. 1t is plain now
that the abolition ofslavery,ha has but thrown
US into the midst of the other question, and
the status of the negro is to be made the
subject ofpolitical discussion, turmoil, and
future dissension. But, for the present, let
us, if possible, confine ourselves to the
question, what was the object Of the war
for what have we shed 50 much bloods?--
And if we find that that object was the
| Union under the Constitutinn--the good
old Union Of the fathers, and that we car
lhave it now, at once. without weeks de
lay, complete, calm, peaceful; if this il
within our grasp, let us have it. Or, if the
people decide that, having fought for it
they do not want it, and will not have it
/ but demand some new form ofgovernment
some new social and political laws, LEI
| those who thus decide 60 forward, to. tn
ruin Of their country, forever haunted b,
: the pale faces and sad countenances Of thu
dead, who will then have died III vain.