Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-23

and final acceptance of cornpro-
mise, believed this only another
and intensified exhibition of
Southern character that would be
calmed as before. The Northern
people abhorred war, especially
an internecine war. They could
not endure the contemplation of
a horrible fratricidal strife They
knew i'll their inner consciousness
that neither themselves nor the
executive they had chosen enter
tanned the least purpose of harm
ing the South. They stood firm
ly and calmly on the righteous
ness of their own intentions.
Yet not for one moment did the
patriotic masses of the North, the
quiet, earnest, purposeful men
who had supported Lincoln i'll
common with those who had sup.
ported Douglas for president
waver in their determination that
the Union must be preserved.
They only requested that every
thing possible should be done to
turn the South away from her
mad purpose, and if blows became
necessary the odiurn of striking
the first blow must be upon her.
The North had given no just
cause for war and would give
none but it would preserve the
Union at all hazards. This was
the calm, quiet, earaest purpose
of the North. Col. Mcclure has
strangely overlooked this.
The attitude Of the border
states called for the exercise of
the greatest patience, caution and
wisdom on the part of Mr.. Lin.
coin and never was so critical a
situation so wisely dealt with.
These states were saved to the
Union, and thus the Unionists
won their first victory.
Lincoln, whose reliance was in
the abiding patriotism of the
masses, knew if he moved slowly
and cautiously the Union cause
would gather strength day by day
until it would solidify in support
of whatever measures he might
find necessary to restore the Un-
ion and quell the tumult. He
never lost sight of, never turned
aside from this righteous purpose.
! To believe as Col. Mcclure, we
must believe that the mass
of the northern people were
devoid of patriotism, without at
tachment to the Union and whel
lily lacking virile courage. It In
wolves believing Lincoln was no
/; sincere, not earnest, not courage
Gus. It pre-supposes that he ano
the people of the North had forgot
:: ten their most sacred political tradi
,, tions and ceased to draw inspira-
ton from the example Of their he
roic fathers whose priceless gif
was the Union.
; Until Lincoln had time to de
velop his policy there was bu
little danger of foreign recognitio,
of Confederate independence
/ The very fact that tn
!, South seemingly had alread,
achieved independence coA.
/ vinced foreign nations that i
was not necessary for them f
hasten in the matter and thus un
necessarily become involved it
possible difficulty with the gov
. ernment of the United States.
: The astute leaders of th,
} Soath saw that everv days della,
Strengthened the hands Of Lin
!, coin and that ultimately the,
nast iagloriously submit or fight
Liucoln's purpose, as avewed i.
f his inaugural, meant that the,
must submit or take the initiativ'
and fight. They did not hesitate
The crisis came and they ceur
ageously chose to fight. Tia
the initiative was taken in Char
lesion harbor is of no cense-
quenee. 1t had to be takel
somewhere and very soon, 70
peacable secession was All abso
luts impessibility and always hat
| heea