The Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye

THE BEST TEST.

It was the opinion of Mr. Douglas that this Government with its Democratic institutions was worth the lives of half a million of men—that it was better to preserve civil and religious liberty at this fearful cost, for posterity, than to permit rebels to destroy the Great Republic, the hope and the refuge of the oppressed and the down-trodden of all nations. Did he put too high an estimate upon the value, to us and to our posterity, of our Democratic Institutions? Certainly he did not. All agree in this. Then why cannot all of every party take hold manfully and aid in putting down the rebellion? Why not aid in organizing and equipping regiments and sending them to the field instead of blowing about "niggers," and blathering about violations of the Constitution on the part of a Government that is using all its power and all its resources to save our Constitution and Union from destruction and our people from anarchy and a reign of terror? If General Dodge is so fearful that slavery will be disturbed and thereby the ultimate preservation of the Union jeopardized why does he not give the Government the benefit of his military experience by raising a regiment for the war. The safety for slavery and the only safety, is in the ability of the armies of the Union to crush the rebellion at an early day. The President has called for more troops. Gen. Dodge is a military man. He can raise a regiment in thirty days. They are needed, not only to preserve slave property but the liberties of the people. These are times that try men—times of heroic achievements and devotion to country—times of sacrifice. Gen. Dodge has had honors and offices and emoluments at the hands of the people of Iowa. He has been in office from the time he first set foot in Iowa until his return from the Spanish mission. The people expect something better of him than bellowing in a partisan county convention about niggers and abolitionists. If he has the manhood the people have given him credit for he can find better employment than that of abusing the men who are laboring to save the country and stigmatizing them with unseemly epithets. Let us have some evidence, General, of this much vaunted devotion to the Union as it was and the Constitution as it is. Aid us to preserve the one and restore the other. Help us to raise and equip troops. Give us your countenance and support if not willing to enter the field and fight. Encourage the enlistment of men called for by the President, at least.