The issues of the war might be symbolized by the picture of a great river; the smaller branches forming still larger ones, and these putting into the main stream—unity—itself, as it descends, widening into the great ocean of the future.
These issues might, also, be exhibited in a kind of formula. The following is no doubt very imperfect, but it may be somewhat suggestive. The first includes the second, the second the third:
| I. | Political unity vs. secession: |
| { A progressive civilization vs. a stagnant one; | |
| { A republican form of government vs. an aristocratic one; | |
| II. | { Personal freedom vs. chattel slavery; |
| { General peace vs. diplomatic intrigue and war; | |
| { An enlarged individual freedom vs. espionage, censure, and restriction: | |
| { Common schools and general intelligence vs. partial culture and general ignorance; | |
| { Free inquiry vs. conventional stultification; | |
| { Free speech and a free press vs. the surveillance of a mercenary police; | |
| { The political equality of classes vs. the inequality of | |
| { ruling, servile, and disfranchised classes; | |
| { Respect for the affections vs. disregard for ties of home and family; | |
| { Wages labor vs. compulsory labor; | |
| III. | { The dignity of labor vs. the opprobrium and servility of labor; |
| { A healthy industrial activity vs. indolence and crushing toil; | |
| { The continual specialization of industry vs. industrial sameness; | |
| { Incentives to invention and improvement vs. mechanical inactivity; | |
| { A constantly renewed soil vs. an exhausted one; | |
| { A great navy and flourishing commerce vs. general commercial apathy; | |
| { Great industrial prosperity vs. industrial stagnation; | |
| { Greater variety and versatility in life vs. a narrow and bigoted uniformity. | |
As I close the preparation of this article for the press (November 26th), it becomes positively known that General Bragg is in full retreat. This is a great victory, and splendidly won. There has been no 'straggling to the rear,' no faltering, no serious reverse; the entire three days' conflict, from first to last, has gone right on. A noble victory, and worthy of a noble cause! Soldiers from every great section of the Union—from every State almost—have stood by the side of each other in the perilous conflict. Many have fallen a sacrifice to their country's great cause, unity. Let homage and gratitude from the deep-stirred heart of the nation be theirs; may they long be remembered; and may those who survive, long live to enjoy the fruits of their victory!
The South could ill afford to lose such a battle, here and now. Not long can she hold out in her unnatural struggle against destiny. The tide of a progressive civilization will roll over her, though for a time it must needs be crimsoned with the blood of martyrs.