crimes, even made the basis of an impeachment, should
the mass of the populace be dissatisfied with his
proceedings. It is easy to find fault, easy in
positions devoid of public responsibility to think
we see how errors might have been avoided, how powers
might have been more successfully employed and greater
results achieved. But the American Executive is
surrounded with difficulties too little appreciated
by the public, while an almost merciless criticism,
emanating both from injudicious friends and vigilant
foes, follows his every action. Criticism should
not be relaxed; but it should be exercised by those
only who are competent to undertake its office.
The perusal of the morning paper does not ordinarily
put us in possession of sufficient information to enable
us to understand, in all their bearings, the measures
of the Government. Something more is required
than a reading of the accounts of battles furnished
by the correspondents of the press to entitle one to
express an opinion on military movements. It
should not be forgotten that the officers engaged
in the army of the United States are better judges
of military affairs than civilians at home; that the
proceedings of the Government, with rare exceptions,
possibly, are based upon a fuller knowledge of all
the facts relating to a special case, than is obtained
by private persons, and that its judgment is therefore
more likely to be correct, in any given instance,
than our own. The injury done to the national
cause by the persistent animadversion of well-intentioned
men, who cannot conceive that their judgments may
perchance be incorrect, is scarcely less, than the
openly hostile invective of the friends of the South.
The intelligent citizens of the North, especially those
who occupy prominent positions as teachers and instructors
of the people through the press, the pulpit, and other
avenues, should ever be mindful that the political
liberty which they possess of free thought and free
speech, has imposed upon them the moral duty of using
this wisely for the welfare of humanity, and that
they cannot be faithless to this obligation without
injuring their fellow men and incurring a heavy moral
guilt.
THE BROTHERS.
AN ALLEGORY.
DEDICATION, TO ONE WHO WILL UNDERSTAND IT:
’I love thee freely, as men strive
for right;
I love thee purely, us they turn from
praise
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s
faith;
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love
thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and,
if God choose,
I shall but love thee dearer after death.’