The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-31


dishonor our flag and our national fame. They
compel US to ask seriously whether the infamy
of imitation and continued insolvency is not
an evil greater than that of slavery.
Where will it end? Are there no lessons
in the past to admonish our Senators of
the folly and the crime of repudiation-
OF violation Of precepts as old as Sinai?
Are there no lessons in our own compara-
lively brief and eventful history show
ing that commercial and financial ques-
tons may be driven by ambitious men
to an arbitrament as decisive and
bloody as any struggle of royal ambi-
ton or princely aggrandizement? Can our
brethren in the West and South suppose
that we can forever submit to have minority
OF the Union impose upon us O degrading
servitude? For can any servitude be more
degrading than to follow flag which two
sections of the country, for their own selfish
purposes, have made the flag of insolvency
and repudiation? Where must legislation of
this character inevitably end? We must go
with these States, consenting to their debasing
and unnecessary expedients, like chained cap
tives trailed at the car of Reputation, or
what? Once embarked upon this career,
where can it end? To-day an increase
of few millions, tomorrow great many
additional, and in the future-what? Of
what value is our country and its citizen
ship if it only brings us distrust at home
and in foreign lands derision and
contumely? Not many years have
elapsed since we heard the tramp of armed
men, the rumble of artillery wagons over our
streets, the clatter of the horsemen hurrying
to the war. 1t seems only yesterday that we
saw the dreadful bulletins that told from day
to day of the battle and the carnage; brother
armed against brother; the fair fields of the
South channelled and torn by ruthless and
IMPLYING war; fire and fame leading
our armies, desolation and famine in their
train. It seemed only yesterday when the
skies were Redeemed with the flames of burn
ing towns in the Carollnas or darkened with
the smoke Of smouldering fields in Virginia.
Have we forgotten the tremendous and ap-
palling consequences of that strife? Do
We not remember that it was the fruit
OF Legislation Whlcn arrayed one Secuon
against another; which sought to impose
selfish and dishonest alliance upon the
North; which claimed to canonize the wrong
of slavery, as it is now proposed to perpetrate
the crime of imitation? The lessons of that
day should have taught generations to come
the madness of any appeal to spirit of sec
tionalism, especially upon an issue fraught
with the shame that atten DIS reputation and
imitation. Let US weigh well the real meaning
of this situation and apply the words of the
great master when he prophesied the result of
similar sectional strifes in England
Let me prophesyl
The blood Of England shall manure the ground
And future ages groan for this foul act;
Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infdels,
And in this seat OF peace tumultuous wars
Shall kin with kin and kind with kind confound;
Disorder, horror, fear and mutiny
Shall here inbabit, and this land be called
The field of Golgotha and dead mems skulls.
o. you rear this house against this house
1t Will the wofulest division prove
That ever fell upon this cursed earth
Prevent, resist it; let 1t not be SO,
Lest children's children cry against you-WOE