The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-18
CAUSE OF THE WAR.

Alex. FL. Stephens has published a book
entitled as above. It is not intended to be
history ofthe war, but rather discussion
of the principles involved in it, and its effect
on the character and from of our govern
ment. In his introduction, the first chapter
OF the book, Mr.. Stephens makes the follow
ing general statement of the opposing poht-
cal principles out of which the war arose -
at is postulate with many writers of the
present day that the late the result Of
two opposing ideas, or principles upon the sub
ject OF African slavery. Between these, accord
ing to their theory, sprung the tirrepressible
fict, in principle, which ended in the terrible
conflict of arms. Those who assume this postu-
late, and so theorise upon it, are but superficial
observers.
Thet war has its origin in opposing principles,
which, in their action upon the conduct Of men,
produced the ultimate collision Of arms, may be
assumed rs an unquestionable fact But the OPP
posing principles which produced these results in
physical action were Q very different character
from those assumed in the postulate.
They lay in the organic structure of the gov
eminent of the states The conflict in principle
arose from different and opposing ideas as to the
nature of what is known as the general govern
ment- The contest was between those who held
it TO be strictly federal in its character and those
who maintain it was thoroughly national. twas
. strife between the principles of federation on
the one side, and eentralism, cons olidation on
the other.
Slavery, so-called was but the question on
which these antagonistic principles, which had
been IN conflict from the beginning, divers
other Questions, we're finally brought into actual
ana active collision with each other on the field
of battle"
In the opinion that slavery was not the
cause of the war Mr.. Stephens ia right. The
real cause of the war was about the Same
that had caused many a war before it. Hos
tility to selfgoyernment-to the right of the
people to govern themselves-wa. at the
root of the whole proceeding. The abolition,
lists of the north and the secessionists of the
south both denied the right of the people of
the territories to govern themselves. Men
who deny to others the right of self-govern-
ment, are the enemies of free government,
and you can't make anything else out Of
them. As they wouldn't agree, either north
or south-we mean the aboIitionsts and Sc
cesslonists-that the people of the territories
should govern themselves, the next question
was, who should govern them? The abo
litionists of the north said thea woodland
the secessionists Of the south said then would
On this issue the war was made. Slavery
had no more to do with making the last war
than it will have with causing the next one.
1t was war commenced with the mutual
consent OF the foes of selfgovernment, to
see which of them should be the ruling pow
er, as both of them denied the right of th.
people 70 rule. 1t was not a war to pu
down slavery--for, while it freed the negroe.
it enslsved the whites. 1t was simply 9
struggle for power, as almost all other wars
sre.--Quincy Herald.
An advertisement of Mr.. Stephenss bool
will be found in this paper, and we doub
not that the book will have an extended sale
No man in all the south is held in so higl
esteem, in this section of the country, by al
parties and all classes of people, as Alexan
DER d. stephens, and his opinions win b.
read with great interest and respect, ant
perfect confidence in his intelligence aus
his candor.
The publishers, Messrs. Zeipler. McCurd,
Il Co., Of Philadelphia, in their c;rcular
say:
The bare announcement that this dis
hnguished statesman had determined TO write
book, would, of itself, be sufficient to kin
ole hvely and widespread interest in aI