Boston, July 28,1862.
My Dear Sir, —
Hardly a day passes that I do not see some article which ought to be
republished in each of the loyal States: Evarts's letter, your New York
resolutions, one day, something from the “Evening Post” or “Tribune,” another,
something better from the rebels, proclaiming themselves “aristocrats and
masters bound to rule us.”
It seems to me that we need a publishing committee with
headquarters in New York, and a member at each principal point. When anything
good comes out, it can always be copied without cost, and a quantity of slips
struck off at insignificant expense. These should be sent with the indorsement
of a member of the committee to each important newspaper. The chief cost would
be in postage, and this might fairly be obviated to a large extent by calling
upon members of Congress for franks for an object of such public interest. If
you approve of the idea, perhaps you will talk with Mr. Bryant and other
leading men, and act. I shall be away all summer, but I suggest for
Boston James B. Thayer, a lawyer, brother of W. S. Thayer, formerly connected
with the “Evening Post,” now consul-general to Egypt. Party and personal
interests ought to be carefully kept out of it, and the vigorous prosecution of
the war made its chief object. Such an article as I inclose would just now be
of great value in raising recruits, and opening the eyes of the people to the
real nature of the contest, aristocracy vs. popular government, and
slave labor vs. free labor. It is pretty clear that your leaders are “marching
on” in New York, and it is now mainly important to enlighten the working
classes.
If they could see where the real support of the war lies, it
is my belief that they would force the administration and the generals to fire
into the enemy's powder magazine, and then we should soon come down to Mr.
Seward's sixty days' duration of the war! Please return me the inclosed
cutting, which I mean to make worth several recruits, and oblige,
Yours truly,
J. M. Forbes.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 324-5
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