crimes, even made the basis of an impeachment, should the mass of the populace be dissatisfied with his proceedings.  It is easy to find fault, easy in positions devoid of public responsibility to think we see how errors might have been avoided, how powers might have been more successfully employed and greater results achieved.  But the American Executive is surrounded with difficulties too little appreciated by the public, while an almost merciless criticism, emanating both from injudicious friends and vigilant foes, follows his every action.  Criticism should not be relaxed; but it should be exercised by those only who are competent to undertake its office.  The perusal of the morning paper does not ordinarily put us in possession of sufficient information to enable us to understand, in all their bearings, the measures of the Government.  Something more is required than a reading of the accounts of battles furnished by the correspondents of the press to entitle one to express an opinion on military movements.  It should not be forgotten that the officers engaged in the army of the United States are better judges of military affairs than civilians at home; that the proceedings of the Government, with rare exceptions, possibly, are based upon a fuller knowledge of all the facts relating to a special case, than is obtained by private persons, and that its judgment is therefore more likely to be correct, in any given instance, than our own.  The injury done to the national cause by the persistent animadversion of well-intentioned men, who cannot conceive that their judgments may perchance be incorrect, is scarcely less, than the openly hostile invective of the friends of the South.  The intelligent citizens of the North, especially those who occupy prominent positions as teachers and instructors of the people through the press, the pulpit, and other avenues, should ever be mindful that the political liberty which they possess of free thought and free speech, has imposed upon them the moral duty of using this wisely for the welfare of humanity, and that they cannot be faithless to this obligation without injuring their fellow men and incurring a heavy moral guilt.

THE BROTHERS.

AN ALLEGORY.

DEDICATION, TO ONE WHO WILL UNDERSTAND IT: 

  ’I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
  I love thee purely, us they turn from praise
  I love thee with the passion put to use
  In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith;
  I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
  With my lost saints,—­I love thee with the breath,
  Smiles, tears, of all my life!—­and, if God choose,
  I shall but love thee dearer after death.’