War — short, Sharp, and Decisive — we must Transfer to the country the zeal wasted on party.
[From the Philadelphia Enquirer]
Unless the people of the loyal States desire the
Rebellion to go on until they are impoverished, bankrupt, and exhausted, they must cease to mix up their personal fends and their party tactics with the question of a vigorous prosecution of the war. We can never move with one hearty purpose while angry feeling is excited, or prejudice aroused through the disturbing influence of personal squabbles or party politics.
We can never concentrate our strength upon the one great paramount question of crushing out the
Rebellion, until we cast aside all discussion upon the irrelevant and distracting topics of the past.
We can never strike the
Rebellion with all our power until we are united in heart and in purpose as one man. And until we are so thoroughly united the
Rebellion will flourish, our means will be wasted, and the strong arm of this powerful Republic be paralyzed.
It is no uncommon thing to find men of unquestioned patriotism, men who have given largely of their means, men who have risked their live in the conflict, men whose sons and brothers are now in arms for the
Union--it is no uncommon thing to find such men still standing apart from the Administration, because of their belief that the war was provoked by the agitating Abolitionists.
This is the staple of their replies to all appeals for close, warm, friendly, generous, hearty support of the
Executive.
They overlook the stern and urgent realities of the present to gaze unprofitably at the unalterable past.
They forget or disregard the great, overwhelming, all controlling fact, that
the war is upon us and that it cannot be argued away by these in relating discussions about its origin.
These are the Democrats who contribute material and give personal service in the field as a matter of cold duty, and who infuse into their support of the
Government neither earnestness nor enthusiasm.
On the other hand we have a set of restless, persistent and reckless political propagandists, and noisy, mischief making, office hunting, and contract seeking partizans, who make a decounterpoise for the short sighted and obstinate politicians of the opposition.
Their labor in support of the
Government are confined to the most indomitable efforts to advance the interests of their noble selves.
They exhaust their patriotism in blustering about bar rooms, in vaporing on street corners, in getting fat contracts, and in denouncing every man who does not swear by their doctrines on the negro question as a Secessionist and traitor.
Such are the men and such the insignificant and idle subjects which keep up strife among ourselves, which divide the loyal people, which array patriots against each other instead of concentrating their united, moral, and physical strength against the common foe.--And to what end are these discussions continued?
The war is upon us. We are not dealing with the dead past but with the living present.
Suppose it could be demonstrated today beyond all question that the ‘"Southern heart was fired"’ by
Garrison, and
Giddings, and
Greeley and their disciples, would any sane man regard the absolute demonstration of that fact as a reason why the nation should lay down its arms?
Or, if it could be made mathematically certain at once that negro slavery is a moral, political and social evil, would that certainty remove the obstructions in
James river, batter down the defences of
Richmond, or induce
Jeff. Davis to surrender at discretion?
If not why should we continue these unprofitable and vexatious discussions?
Is there any hope that the war can be adjourned while these and other controverted points in party politics can be referred for settlement to some debating society?
Is there not indubitable evidence that the military despotism that sways the
South intends to fight until conquered or recognized?
Is it not certain as death that the
National Government, backed by an unquestionable and large majority of the loyal States, will never make peace until the
Rebellion is crushed, or the
North is exhausted?
The war, then, must go on. So long as the
Davis usurpation controls the
South, and certainly until the expiration of the present National Congress the war is bound to continue.
Visionary men may talk of compromise and peace, but who are the parties to negotiate?
where is the basis of adjustment?
The National Government can accept nothing but surrender; the
Rebels refuse everything but recognition.
