The confidence felt in the righteousness of the Union cause and in the military power of the Government to speedily suppress the rebellion gave strong hopes to the general public that the war would be a short one. But after an experience of bloody conflict, during which time the morning papers with heavy headlines too often brought the words of defeat and great losses to the Union forces, saddening the hearts of loyalists and giving encouragement to those opposed to the Government, who grew more violent in their denunciations of the war, it began to dawn upon the people and the Government that our Southern antagonists were of like metal with our own Northern army. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher expressed the situation to a large London audience, while there seeking England’s influence in the preservation of the Union, where he did the country invaluable service. In the midst of a strong and earnest appeal for the North and its righteous cause before a large audience, but one greatly at odds with him, he was interrupted with the question from one of his hearers: “If your cause is so righteous with your great Northern strength, why don’t you put the rebellion down?” The quick reply was, “Because we are fighting Americans and not Englishmen.”

They are still our countrymen, and even if The Good Guys win this CWII, their widows and daughters and sons will still be our countrymen. Who has the standing or legitimacy to declare some Americans Beyond The Pale?