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Suppose； however； that the prospects of the war were； we need not say absolutely hopeless；because that is the unfounded hypothesis of those whose wish is father to their thought；but full of discouragement。 Can we make a safe and honorable peace as the quarrel now stands？ As honor comes before safety； let us look at that first。 We have undertaken to resent a supreme insult； and have had to bear new insults and aggressions； even to the direct menace of our national capital。 The blood which our best and bravest have shed will never sink into the ground until our wrongs are righted； or the power to right them is shown to be insufficient。 If we stop now； all the loss of life has been butchery； if we carry out the intention with which we first resented the outrage； the earth drinks up the blood of our martyrs； and the rose of honor blooms forever where it was shed。 To accept less than indemnity for the past； so far as the wretched kingdom of the conspirators can afford it； and security for the future； would discredit us in our own eyes and in the eyes of those who hate and long to be able to despise us。 But to reward the insults and the robberies we have suffered； by the surrender of our fortresses along the coast； in the national gulf； and on the banks of the national river；and this and much more would surely be demanded of us；would place the United Fraction of America on a level with the Peruvian guano…islands； whose ignoble but coveted soil is open to be plundered by all comers！
If we could make a peace without dishonor； could we make one that would be safe and lasting？ We could have an armistice； no doubt； long enough for the flesh of our wounded men to heal and their broken bones to knit together。 But could we expect a solid； substantial； enduring peace； in which the grass would have time to grow in the war…paths； and the bruised arms to rust； as the old G。 R。 cannon rusted in our State arsenal； sleeping with their tompions in their mouths； like so many sucking lambs？ It is not the question whether the same set of soldiers would be again summoned to the field。 Let us take it for granted that we have seen enough of the miseries of warfare to last us for a while； and keep us contented with militia musters and sham…fights。 The question is whether we could leave our children and our children's children with any secure trust that they would not have to go through the very trials we are enduring； probably on a more extended scale and in a more aggravated form。
It may be well to look at the prospects before us； if a peace is established on the basis of Southern independence； the only peace possible； unless we choose to add ourselves to the four millions who already call the Southern whites their masters。 We know what the prevailingwe do not mean universalspirit and temper of those people have been for generations； and what they are like to be after a long and bitter warfare。 We know what their tone is to the people of the North； if we do not； De Bow and Governor Hammond are schoolmasters who will teach us to our heart's content。 We see how easily their social organization adapts itself to a state of warfare。 They breed a superior order of men for leaders； an ignorant commonalty ready to follow them as the vassals of feudal times followed their lords； and a race of bondsmen； who； unless this war changes them from chattels to human beings； will continue to add vastly to their military strength in raising their food； in building their fortifications； in all the mechanical work of war； in fact； except； it may be； the handling of weapons。 The institution proclaimed as the corner…stone of their government does violence not merely to the precepts of religion； but to many of the best human instincts； yet their fanaticism for it is as sincere as any tribe of the desert ever manifested for the faith of the Prophet of Allah。 They call themselves by the same name as the Christians of the North； yet there is as much difference between their Christianity and that of Wesley or of Channing； as between creeds that in past times have vowed mutual extermination。 Still we must not call them barbarians because they cherish an institution hostile to civilization。 Their highest culture stands out all the more brilliantly from the dark background of ignorance against which it is seen； but it would be injustice to deny that they have always shone in political science； or that their military capacity makes them most formidable antagonists； and that； however inferior they may be to their Northern fellow…countrymen in most branches of literature and science； the social elegances and personal graces lend their outward show to the best circles among their dominant class。
Whom have we then for our neighbors； in case of separation；our neighbors along a splintered line of fracture extending for thousands of miles；but the Saracens of the Nineteenth Century； a fierce； intolerant； fanatical people； the males of which will be a perpetual standing army； hating us worse than the Southern Hamilcar taught his swarthy boy to hate the Romans； a people whose existence 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