Year: 1861

10 openly avoW the OBJECT OF the present un-
holy war they are now waging against the
South. That object is the total abolition of
slavoey! The Chicago Tribune, by all odds
the ablest and most influential paper in the
publishes the following editorial, to which
we earnestly ask the attention of all our
Kentucky readers:


The IrrepressibIe Conflict.


s'The inexorable logic of events has de-
monstrated the proposition that this country
cannot exist half slave and half free. There
is a relentless antagonism between the prin-
ciple of freedom and the arrogance and as
sumpfions of slavery that waits but the OPP
portunity to break out into active warfare.
The contest has been waged in subdued
form ever since the organization of the Gov
ernment. The Declaration of Independence
enunciated the most sublime truths in rela-
ton to Human Rights that the world had
ever heard. 1t spoke with an energy and
candor that commended it to the souls and
consciences of men. Ii was not mere man.
ifesto setting forth the claims of class or
even of race. 1t spoke for the great
world of humanity. 1t stamped equality
upon the brow of all men. 1t was glorious
foundation upon which to rear a material
structure that should shelter from the vio-
lence of oppressive slavery all men who
might take repose within it. But the mis-
sion of this inspired exposition of the rights
of man was not to be fulfilled without con-
test. The Government that was based upon
it was not true to its principles. 1t sought
in its workings to limit and prevent their
full and free action. / recognized the exis-
tence under it of class who had no rights
who were created only to be trampled upon
and oppressed. And here at once the war
commenced. The North, ever active, ever
earnest, ever hopeful ever seeking an op-
portunity to achieve some good to men, has
been foiled and bsffied at every step. The
country has made an idol of the Unien, and
has sacrificed to it its own offspring-the
God giving impress of humanity. CONNER
cial prosperity has been the mantle to COW
er up multitude of sins, and although we
have become strong, rich and powerful, it
has been with the dreadful cancer Of Slave
ry, consuming all the while our very yitals.
But truth and error, life and diseace, cannot
harmonic; they must always contend with
each other. And hence, the ''irrepressible
conflict has gone on.


Years ago we should have had this very
contest, but for the fact that actual warfare
would unsettle and break up all the COM
mercial interests of the country. Com
merce is always conservative. 1t is not be-
cause slavery has not been aggressive and
insolent, and embracing that which has been
deferred, but because truth and right have
been patient and long suffering. Freedom
has been manacled by the money making
interests of the country.


Besides, the shareholders have been good
paymasters. They have held at their dis
posal all the posts of honor and profit, and
have bestowed them as rewards upon their
defenders. Thus mercenary motives have
permitted this foul blot, this damnable libel
upon the truths of the immortal Declara-
ton, to grow until the time has come when
it will pervade the whole body polite un-
less it is itself speedily eradicated. We
have asserted and we repeat it here that
slavery is the whole cause of the war, and
the war is but the crisis in the terrible dis
ease that we inherited from our fathers
This disease has become deeply seated upon
US. 1t runs through our whole social and
political system, and in treating it there is
but one remedy. Palliatives have been
long enough tried and in vain. The coun-
try has been blistered and purged and ex-
coriated until its constitution has been well
nigh ruined. There remains only THE
KNIFE. The great cancerous monstrosity
must be cut off. The question has come to
be ono of life or death. Life with renewed
and wholesome vigor and energy in all the
members, or death by the foulest and most
corrupt malady that ever fastened itself
upon any nation. Which do we prefer
There is but one answer to the question.
Can our men in Office who are supposed to
do the will of the people hear it? There
can be no peace while slavery exists. 1t
has been well said that if leaving slavery
unharmed We make peace to-day it will be
but to go to war tomorrow. The country
can never again enjoy peace and endure
slavery. Then why do we hesitate? The
knife is already whetted, and it wants but
the strong, steady hand-the.iron nerve oft
''the man. to direct the operation. Eman-
cipation must come as surely as there are
rebels in arms who owu slaves, and with
emancipation as its necessary result, mus
come peace.