Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-07
FOR GOVERNOR,
SELDEN CON NOR
What Would have Been.

What Would have Been.
In reading the reports of the splendid
celebrations in all parts OF the country OF
the one hundreth anniversary of our ma
tons birthday, we are naturally led to
think how changed the condition of things
would have been had the Southern Con-
federates succeeded in accomplishing
their plans.
First of all the Union would have been
completely destroyed. The United States
would no longer have existed as nation.
The Governmt Mt established by Washing
ton. Hancock, Adams. Franklin and the
other revolutionary fathers would have
been splendid failure. The Declaration
of Independence would have become a
bye-word and reproach. The granite
shaft on Bunker Hill would have been a
monument to declare the disgrace of the
present generation of Americans. There
would have been no Centennial to cele-
brate, no Fourth of July" to awaken any
but feelings of humiliation and shame.
The States which seeded from the In
ion would have had government OF
their own, the chief corner stone OF which
would have been Slavery. The govern
ment itself would have been despotism,
no matter what the name it might have
assumed. The slaveholding oligarchs
would have controlled it completely,
naming its rulers and fixing its character
and policy with a power as despouc as
that with which the CAESARS ruled the Ro-
man Empire. 1t would have contained
more than four millions Of people in the
most absolute bondage, slaves to every
interest and caprice Of their masters, their
chains doubly secare by separation from
the North and the erection of govern
ment that would guard the Institution
vigilantly with both army and navy.
In the North We should not have been
able TO retain our republican institutions.
Gradually they must have given way to a
government like the majority of those in
Europe. We should have been forced to
keep a standing army and powerful ma
Wy to protect ourselves against the Cana
das of the North and the Confederacy on
the South. Custom houses would have
stretched across the continent, involving
vast expense. hndering commerce, and
making line of division destined to be
colored again and again with the blood of
hostile armies as we See in the Mexi-
can and South American States.
So long as the Union remained
dismembered and divided as it would
have been by the Southern Confederacy,
war would have been the principal occu-
patton on both sides of the line. There
could be no stable peace, no prosperity,
no safety for individuals or communities.
The channels of trade, our rivers and
railroads, would have been severed or
choked up, while the wheels of business
would have been disastrously checked,
sending grief to farmers, mechanics and
laborcrs in all occupations.
We glance at what would have been
the condition Of things in this country on
the last Fourth of July if the rebels had
carried their point in the last war, in Or
der to awaken lively sense in the minds
Of patriotic readers to the dangers which
we escaped in crushing the Southern Con-
federacy, to the debt which they owe the
republican party for the salvation of the
government, and to impress upon them
the fact tina, there is still danger Of the
overturn Of this government should the
democrats succeed in electng Samuel j
Tilden President and getting the control
of both branches of Congress as they
have of the House. Had the democratic
party had its way during the rebellion
the Southern Confederacy would have
been established beyond doubt. AS
consequence our glorious flag would now
be trailing in the dust, our Centennial re-
.joicings would have been changed TO
mourning over thei destruction OF the In
dependence our fathers achieved. and the
despots Of the Old World would have
been exulting over our downfall.
1t is impossible that any patriot should
fail TO remember as he witnesses the over
flowing joy of our people at the anniver-
sary of the nation, how much is due to tie