The sun., 1908-05-10

memorable opportunity which came b
him as Hncoln's offioial eulogist 10 pro
claim the verdict Of events Moreover
the opinions just quoted we're the random
frank expressions OF intimacy The blog
rapher points out that happily there d
e1tant a much fuller and more deliberate
utterance Of Bancroft's in the first year o
the war touching It's causes and conduct
In July. 1891. Dean Milman had writer
blm long letter expressing the sympathy
OF sound, reflective England with the
/ North, and saying that II would be graft
! flying to hear from good authority such
as Banorofts the true state Of things and
he's far amid the thick gloom Of the future
the wisest might forecast the probable
issue To this request Bancroft replied on
August IS Of the year named. After pointing
out that the disturbing force Of secession
came entirely from an ant-republioan
/ institution he proceeds 10 assert that the
doctrine Of human liberty was proved true
by the fact that II would not be reoonciled
with slavery. This IL an independent
averment Of the thesis that q nation can
not live half slave and half free.
or special interest Is the exposure by
Bancroft had been in a position to
know much for which he could not honor
ably state his authority-of the secret and
ultimate purpose Of the secessionists, which
was not a permanent dissolution Of the
Union but a reconstruction Of IL. In other
words. they designed II triumphant TO
attract all Northern States one by ono
to enter their new Confederaoy all. that
s to say, except those belonging to New
England. By excluding New England the
South would recover it's old preponderanoe
In the Senate and have such weight In the
House as easily to control the national
legislation. Mr., Bancroft adds that the
secessonist leaders we're perfectly conf
dent OF success. They we're quickly iust-
fed in their belief as regards Virginia.
Tennessee, Arkansas and all the States
further South. They felt sure also Of
Delaware. Maryland, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,, they had no doubt that the impor-
lance Of their trade ould eventually attract
Pennsylvania, New York and the North
consider the Mississippi River indispensable.
Finally they we're 30 certain that Europe
must have cotton and that they only could
supply the staple that they counted on
England and France as inevitable allies.
They never doubted Of their being recog-
nized and sustained by those Powers, Nor
In retrospect can we deny, when we con-
slider the large vote cast for Mcclellan In
the Northern States as lately as Novem-
ber 1854, that had Lee gained victory at
Gettysburg and occupied Washington or
Philadelphia the forecast might have been
verified. Writing as he did In August.
1881, Bancroft did not presume to give Dean
Milman his personal judgment az to the
issue. He merely furnished his oorrespon-
dent materials for the formation Of judg-
ment OF his own. Bancroft directed at
tention to the fact that the Southern Con-
federacy had no money and no credit;
that In no one Southern State had there
been an opportunity given for a free eE-
preston Of popular opinion; that the revo-
luton had been effected in every State eI-
cept South Carolina by a minority and
had been subsequently maintained by free |
use Of passion and terror. The fact was also
noted that the slave States had only about
Ave and half millions OF white men, who |
had to detach a part Of their force for the |
control Of three and half millions Of slaves. |
On the other hand there we're nineteen mill |
ions in. the States entirely free, and more |
than two and half additional millions
In the States wherein though slavery eI-
lsted IL was not a dominant factor. So !
with money and credit. with the dominion Of
the sea. and with the North's immensely
superior numbers. Bancroft left his corre-
,pondent to judge for himself Of the rela-
live strength Of the combatants. In one
respect Bancroft showed himself no prophet
did not foresee the reconstruction leEis-
ation and the resultant curse OF carpet
bag government in the Southern States.
Have no fears he tells Dean Mlman.
that after victory we may use the victory
We are more in danger Of
being too eager to kill the fatted calf for
the returning prodigal.'