The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-12
A scURRILoUs. scANpALoUsA RTICLE

In al other column We print this morn
Ing an editorial article from the New
York Times Of last Monday, which is
very great surprise TO us. The Times has
FOR a number OF years past been in tho
habit Of treating the South fairly. justly.
and even in a friendly way. but the least
we can say Of this article is that IL is
n malignant disparagement Of the South
that would seem 10 indicate either that
there has been hypocrisy in the Times
past treatment of the South. or that this
article has found It's way into its edi-
torial columns by accident II is an utter
pervcrson Of all the truth and facts OF
the case to say as the Times does. ANA in
the sense In which 1t uses the language,
that NO one doubts now that slavery
was at the root Of the rebellion Of ISL"
The war was fought over the question
whether a State did or did not have the
right TO secede from the Union. and not
over the question whether slavery should
or should not exist When the war COM
menced the United States Government
had never given the faintest indication of
any Intention 10 commit itself TO the pro-
position that slavery should be abolished.
ana the war had lasted more than year
before single step was taken that look
ed TO committing the Government to that
proposition The sole question at issue
when the war was commenced was
whether State did or did not have a
Tlght 10 secede, and the war was fought, |
therefore, to determine that question.
We never deal With questions disingen- |
uously, and we shall, therefore. make no !
effort TO dodge the real relations which |
slavery had TO the origin of the war. 1t |
Is undoubtedly true that the southern |
States believed that if they remained in |
the Union the Abolitionists Of the North |
ould IN the end fuse public opinion |
there into a determination TO destroy |
slavery. and that all their property in |
slaves would, therefore. be lost 10 them |
i his apprehers ion determined them TO re-
sort to their right Of seccGrg from the
Union. Slavery may. therefore he said TO
have caused the southern States II nut
theirs 10 resort 10 when they please1
and that is the entire inference which
slavery can fairly be said 10 have had +,
blneins on the war. Eut when the issue
was once joined ii was TO fight out the
question whether the southern States
might or might not withdraw from Tho
Union at their pleasure: and. WAGER of
battle having been Joined on that cvc,,y
slave In the South might have been svaI-
lowed up IN the earthquake. but tho
southern States would not. nevertheless
rave relaxed one single effort IN cet,h-
iish what they claimed as their right. thar
is the right 10 secede from the Union
"heh they pleased. The war was fou,.ht
therefore, over that question. and not
o'er the question whether slavery should
be abolished.
To mind bent on finding analooios
between things that are wholly nniiso
'"eie may be certain seeming analogy
'''"eeh the position Of the southern
people during the war and that OF Debs
NV hut II Is an analogy In appearance
D"'y' ana OF no further practical vouo c
nan ,o'lufnish man who has nendieh T
'"'e IN ms heart against the sontbo,, 8
~ win preteNt and excuse for con- d
;, 'heir actions with Debs I'm orlo, a
'" a., ne may brins odlum upon them Il
southern people did own e,o,,os d
-r, ' propose TO continue ownino, tha,, u
:, - iact and The Times may ,,,,po W
"'o'' Oi II. Dobs IS undoubtedlv MIR o.
-" course which forces the wor,<in.,- q
""o submit 10 his guidance and u
,oa.,'., o'neiS also. into state and II
'onoi'ion which carries with II man, ' ~ OF
','e ATTRIBUTES Of slavery. Hut 4, =. II
wy since HIS followers submit, -. Do
army 10 what be puts ON tbo,, -"
. ~, save having been q chat, ''i ~ :"
,re,a, se o' 'he law. had no Will IN tho y,
,o,n, 81. - inc south had carried It's 81,
'o'n' 'here would have been s,,yar,. s'
'ure and simple here. II Dsns 'eiS Ill
w point there will be notbi,o -, re-
NJ slavery. at least in the ,,s,i,,,,,1", l"
ohoi''on OF things. since there win ha -. Dy
0tai overthrow OF all law. and Ia,y g. ~
iolspensaoie to the idea Of slavery o.
60 toat the suppo cd analogy betyoao %
70 TWO cases breaks down absolu,.,,, -