The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-17
From the New York Herald

Alter t1c fn3uHuIhtIOu VI ticsiucht
Lincoln, In 1851, and while the newspa-
pers and the politicians were still
preaching and predicting peace, the
Herald printed an article which proved
prophetic. In calm and dispassionate
language we showed that the march OF
events was In the direction of war, and
proclaimed that soon the tread of armed
men would be heard In our streets.
How soon that prediction was verified
is now a matter of history. And as
history often repeats itself we may pre-
diet civil war to-day as confidently as
we predicted It in 1861, unless, indesd,
the struggle is avcrted by the Withdrew
al o { its exciting cause. Mr.. Calhoun
well understood, in 1882, that q high
tariff for the South meant war against
the North, and If the South had rot
been too weak for battle then the civil
strife would not have been deferred III
1861. Slavery meant war from the no.
ment it was felt TO be an antagonitic
system OF labor TO that which prevailed
in another part of the country; co'se-
quenily Mr.. Stewards "irrepresdble
conflict meant if 4 meant anything
that sectional antagonism in matters OF
labor or business was the first step to-
ward civil war. 1t was not because
slavery was immoral that we fought
over II, but because while IL continued
either slave labor or free labor must be-.
come Improbable. All this slows one
important truth that is startlig in its
reality-namely, that imitation means
war. 90
Imitation means war--civil war pressed
upon the Atlantic States by thew est and
Southwest. Wehaye heard great deal
lately from these sections abolt assert.
ing their power in the Legislation of the
country. If The West has votes enough to
rule Congress and the county we are
satisfied TO be ruled by the West. But the
wildcat statesmen of that indpient EN-.
pire must remember that II Is one thing
TO rule, and quite another thing to ruin.
Initiation is ruin, dishonor, Disgrace
The West shall not rule us In this thing,
making us beggars at home and disre-
putab'e abroad. We demand that the
West shall not legislate to the discrcGit
of the nation, issuing paper and calling
it money, and issuing more paper and
calling 1t more money, under the flip
pant prctcnce that the country. needs
circulation Would pouring water into
the heart send blood through the veins
Shall the West be allowed to consum-
mate this crime against the outcries OF
all the old States which made the West
what il is? Shall every American who
dares to show his face in England OF
France or Germany, or in Spain OF
Italy, ever be dishonored because a
lew estciu uomiaSvS ".e Io"o IHaut
it discreditable 10 be an American
Shall the commerce of our great scaporis
be stricken down and destroyed by a
method that no country can practise
with impunity? Other nations regard
bullion as money-gold or silver
which has Its intrinsic value, whether il
be stamped in the name of the king
or made into watches and rings and
byouterie; whereas we take the pro-
duct of paper mills and make il into
money by the aid Of the printing press
es in the Treasury Department. And
we constantly remind ourselves of our
dishonor by printing the portraits OF
some of onr best fnanciers Of the past
on the wrctchcd slips Of paper which
are the badges of discredit. This thing
cannot last forever, making our disgrace
and ruin deeper as It goes, and 1t is best
TO understand the issue before II Is too
late to avert II. Imitation means war
just as slavery meant war all tho time
from 1910 till 1860. New England, the
Middle States, Virginia and the Caro-
inas do not mean that after laying the
foundations Of the Republic the West
and Southwest shall ruin and discredit
them and the Republic together The
Herald's prediction of the tread of
armed men in 1861 was not more ccr-
tain than repetition Of that prediction
now unless the newly fedged States,
which think themselves wiser than the
Original thirteen" learn wisdom from
the danger Of the hour.
--4------------------------ I'D.
Brevitics.