Object of the war.
According to
Harper's Weekly, the object of the war is to prove that Northern men are not cowards.
We have too much abhorrence of the blended hypocrisy and silliness which sets up such a pretext to argue it gravely.--We have long ago, and on many occasions, expressed our belief that the
North, as well as every other nation, is composed in the main of brave men. Animal courage is the rule among mankind, and cowardice is an exceptional misfortune which is confined to no country.
Having said thus much, however, we may also add our conviction that the
North is not as military a people as the
South; that the opinions and customs of that section do not encourage that aptitude for arms, and that warlike temper, which in the
South are universal.
The
North are a commercial and manufacturing people, and, without disparagement to their courage, that, and not arms, is their
forts.
Instead of this war being waged to demonstrate Northern courage, (to secure the
Northern hold of Southern trade, is its real object,) it looks much more like an attempt to demonstrate Southern cowardice.--The imputations upon Southern courage have been just as common in Northern newspapers as those upon Northern courage in Southern newspapers.
The
Harper's Ferry capture has become a stereotyped theme of sarcasm through the whole
North at the
Southern people, who, they declare and verily believe, are a gasconading and pot-valiant race, one of whose towns can be taken by eighteen men and who will fly at the first blast of a trumpet.
Their assurance of this fact, and their idea that the
South is unprepared to meet them, have a good deal to do with the readiness of many of them to march Southward.--The big stories they tell of immense private subscriptions to the
Government, and forces as numerous as the armies of
Xerxes, are all parts of the same plan, as is also the circumstantial relation of the oath taken by their street rowdies on their knees at public hotels to cut off Southern men's heads.
They must believe that we are dastards to the core, or the most hopeless fools on the face of the earth, to be terrified by such absurdities.
The object of all this is plainly intimidation — not to demonstrate Northern courage, but Southern cowardice.
Gen. Scott, in true military style, pursues the same policy, and spreads broadcast the most exaggerated accounts of his military strength and resources.
But, beyond military policy, we freely acquit
him of any expectation of operating on the fears of the land in which he was born.
He knows
Virginia too well not to know that, brave as he is, there is no man in
Virginia who is not his equal in courage, and his superior in gratitude and fidelity.
We shall not condescend to vindicate Southern courage against the libels of its assailants.
The time is near when that will be vindicated in the only unanswerable manner.
The ferocious threats of butchering a whole people,--of giving no quarter to prisoners,--of exterminating men, women and children, might have some extenuation if they came from those who have been wantonly invaded and who are fighting in self-defence.
But coming from those who perpetrate these enormous wrongs, we have no words to express our indignation.
The annals of civilized mankind might be searched in vain for equal wickedness and ferocity.
They can have no other effect than to fire even the weakest heart, and nerve the arms of even women and children not only to defend our soil, but to visit upon these demons in human form the thorough retribution that their crimes demand.
