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"The Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872, Vol II."

A few days here would
show you the disgusting composition of the Party which within the
Union resists the national action. Take from it the wild Irish
element, imported in the last twenty-five year's into this
country, and led by Romish Priests, who sympathize, of course,
with despotism, and you would bereave it of all its numerical
strength. A man intelligent and virtuous is not to be found on
that side. Ah! how gladly I would enlist you, with your
thunderbolt, on our part! How gladly enlist the wise,
thoughtful, efficient pens and voices of England! We want
England and Europe to hold our people stanch to their best
tendency. Are English of this day incapable of a great
sentiment? Can they not leave caviling at petty failures, and
bad manners, and at the dunce part (always the largest part in
human affairs), and leap to the suggestions and finger-pointings
of the gods, which, above the understanding, feed the hopes and
guide the wills of men? This war has been conducted over the
heads of all the actors in it; and the foolish terrors, "What
shall we do with the negro?" "The entire black population is
coming North to be fed," &c.


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