Vain will it be again to delude European nations into foolish belief that Slavery has nothing to do with the war, that it is a war for empire on one side and independence on the other, and that all generous ideas are on the side of the Rebellion.
In this statement, Sumner critiques the misconceptions held by European nations regarding the nature of the American Civil War.
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Still further: every ship-of-war that floats costs more than a well-endowed college.
Nay, more,--if it would be criminal in these several clusters of States to reëstablish the Institution of War as Arbiter of Justice, then is it criminal in the Commonwealth of Nations to continue it.
According to recent calculations, its annual cost is not less than a thousand millions of dollars.
It is clear that the only question of present practical interest arises from the usurpations of the Slave Power and the efforts to extend Slavery.
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