passages from an old volume of life-第23章
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as a hostile nation on our frontier is incompatible with our peaceful development？ Their wealth； the proceeds of enforced labor； multiplied by the breaking up of new cottonfields； and in due time by the reopening of the slave…trade； will go to purchase arms； to construct fortresses； to fit out navies。 The old Saracens； fanatics for a religion which professed to grow by conquest； were a nation of predatory and migrating warriors。 The Southern people； fanatics for a system essentially aggressive； conquering； wasting； which cannot remain stationary； but must grow by alternate appropriations of labor and of land； will come to resemble their earlier prototypes。 Already； even； the insolence of their language to the people of the North is a close imitation of the style which those proud and arrogant Asiatics affected toward all the nations of Europe。 What the 〃Christian dogs〃 were to the followers of Mahomet； the 〃accursed Yankees；〃 the 〃Northern mud…sills〃 are to the followers of the Southern Moloch。 The accomplishments which we find in their choicer circles were prefigured in the court of the chivalric Saladin； and the long train of Painim knights who rode forth to conquest under the Crescent。 In all branches of culture； their heathen predecessors went far beyond them。 The schools of mediaeval learning were filled with Arabian teachers。 The heavens declare the glory of the Oriental astronomers； as Algorab and Aldebaran repeat their Arabic names to the students of the starry firmament。 The sumptuous edifice erected by the Art of the nineteenth century； to hold the treasures of its Industry； could show nothing fairer than the court which copies the Moorish palace that crowns the summit of Granada。 Yet this was the power which Charles the Hammer； striking for Christianity and civilization； had to break like a potter's vessel； these were the people whom Spain had to utterly extirpate from the land where they had ruled for centuries
Prepare； then； if you unseal the vase which holds this dangerous Afrit of Southern nationality； for a power on your borders that will be to you what the Saracens were to Europe before the son of Pepin shattered their armies； and flung the shards and shivers of their broken strength upon the refuse heap of extinguished barbarisms。 Prepare for the possible fate of Christian Spain； for a slave…market in Philadelphia； for the Alhambra of a Southern caliph on the grounds consecrated by the domestic virtues of a long line of Presidents and their exemplary families。 Remember the ages of border warfare between England and Scotland； closed at last by the union of the two kingdoms。 Recollect the hunting of the deer on the Cheviot hills； and all that it led to； then think of the game which the dogs will follow open…mouthed across our Southern border； and all that is like to follow which the child may rue that is unborn； think of these possibilities； or probabilities； if you will； and say whether you are ready to make a peace which will give you such a neighbor； which may betray your civilization as that of half the Peninsula was given up to the Moors； which may leave your fair border provinces to be crushed under the heel of a tyrant； as Holland was left to be trodden down by the Duke of Alva！
No！ no！ fellow…citizens！ We must fight in this quarrel until one side or the other is exhausted。 Rather than suffer all that we have poured out of our blood； all that we have lavished of our substance； to have been expended in vain； and to bequeath an unsettled question； an unfinished conflict； an unavenged insult； an unrighted wrong； a stained escutcheon； a tarnished shield； a dishonored flag； an unheroic memory to the descendants of those who have always claimed that their fathers were heroes； rather than do all this； it were hardly an American exaggeration to say； better that the last man and the last dollar should be followed by the last woman and the last dime； the last child and the last copper！
There are those who profess to fear that our government is becoming a mere irresponsible tyranny。 If there are any who really believe that our present Chief Magistrate means to found a dynasty for himself and family； that a coup d'etat is in preparation by which he is to become ABRAHAM； DEI GRATIA REX；they cannot have duly pondered his letter of June 12th； in which he unbosoms himself with the simplicity of a rustic lover called upon by an anxious parent to explain his intentions。 The force of his argument is not at all injured by the homeliness of his illustrations。 The American people are not much afraid that their liberties will be usurped。 An army of legislators is not very likely to throw away its political privileges； and the idea of a despotism resting on an open ballot…box； is like that of Bunker Hill Monument built on the waves of Boston Harbor。 We know pretty well how much of sincerity there is in the fears so clamorously expressed； and how far they are found in company with uncompromising hostility to the armed enemies of the nation。 We have learned to put a true value on the services of the watch…dog who bays the moon； but does not bite the thief！
The men who are so busy holy…stoning the quarterdeck； while all hands are wanted to keep the ship afloat； can no doubt show spots upon it that would be very unsightly in fair weather。 No thoroughly loyal man； however； need suffer from any arbitrary exercise of power； such as emergencies always give rise to。 If any half…loyal man forgets his code of half…decencies and half…duties so far as to become obnoxious to the peremptory justice which takes the place of slower forms in all centres of conflagration； there is no sympathy for him among the soldiers who are risking their lives for us； perhaps there is even more satisfaction than when an avowed traitor is caught and punished。 For of all men who are loathed by generous natures； such as fill the ranks of the armies of the Union； none are so thoroughly loathed as the men who contrive to keep just within the limits of the law； while their whole conduct provokes others to break it； whose patriotism consists in stopping an inch short of treason； and whose political morality has for its safeguard a just respect for the jailer and the hangman！ The simple preventive against all possible injustice a citizen is like to suffer at the hands of a government which in its need and haste must of course commit many errors； is to take care to do nothing that will directly or indirectly help the enemy； or hinder the government in carrying on the war。 When the clamor against usurpation and tyranny comes from citizens who can claim this negative merit； it may be listened to。 When it comes from those who have done what they could to serve their country； it will receive the attention it deserves。 Doubtless there may prove to be wrongs which demand righting； but the pretence of any plan for changing the essential principle of our self…governing system is a figment which its contrivers laugh over among themselves。 Do the citizens of Harrisburg or of Philadelphia quarrel to…day about the strict legality of an executive act meant in good faith for their protection against the invader？ We are all citizens of Harrisburg； all citizens of Philadelphia； in this hour of their peril； and with the enemy at work in our own harbors； we begin to understand the difference between a good and bad citizen； the man that helps and the man that hinders； the man who； while the pirate is in sight； complains that our anchor is dragging in his mud； and the man who violates the proprieties； like our brave Portland brothers； when they jumped on board the first steamer they could reach； cut her cable； and bore down on the corsair； with a habeas corpus act that lodged twenty buccaneers in Fort Preble before sunset！
We cannot； then； we cannot be circling inward to be swallowed up in the whirlpool of national destruction。 If our borders are invaded； it is only as the spur that is driven into the courser's flank to rouse his slumbering mettle。 If our property is taxed； it is only to teach us that liberty is worth paying for as well as fighting for。 We are pouring out the most generous blood of our youth and manhood； alas！ this is always the pri
