The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 3, March, 1862Various
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 3, March, 1862
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
It is evident that the present war will have a beneficial result in
making us acquainted with the real nature of this arrogant and peculiar
South-land. It was said that the Crimean struggle did much good by
dispelling the cloudy hobgoblin mystery which hung over Russia, and,
while it destroyed its prestige as a bugbear, more than compensated for
this, by giving it a proper place abreast of civilized nations in the
great march of industry and progress. Just so we are learning that the
South is perfectly capable of receiving white labor, that it is not
strangely and peculiarly different from the rest of the cis-tropical
regions, that the negro is no more its necessity than he is to Spain or
Italy, and that, in short, white labor may march in, undisturbed, so
soon as industry ceases to be regarded as disgraceful in it. We have
learned the vital necessity of union and identity of feeling between all
the States, and found out the folly of suffering petty local state
attachments to blind us to the glory of citizenship in a nation, which
should cover a continent. We have learned what the boasted philanthropy
of England is worth when put to the test of sacrifice, and also how the
British lion can put forth the sharpest and most venomous of feline
claws when an opportunity presents itself of ruining a possible rival.
More than this, we have learned to be self-reliant, to take greater and
more elevated views of political duty, and to be heroic without being
extravagant. Since we were a republic no one year has witnessed such
national and social progress among us as the past. We have had severe
struggles, and we have surmounted them; we have had hard lessons, and we
have learned them; we have had trials of pride, and we have profited by
them. And as we contend for principles based in reason and humanity and
confirmed by history, it follows that we must inevitably come forth
gloriously triumphant, if we but bravely persevere in enforcing those
principles.
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