The true Democrat., 1854-11-01
The News from Sebastopol.

The news by the Africa creates quite revul- sion in the public mind. Sebastopol has not vet fallen; the Russians have not yet been de- feated and driven into the city; the fortresses, which have been relied upon for the defence of the city, stand firm, and are not even assaulted and the fortunes of the great struggle in the Crimea are still undetermined. The huge stock iobbing falsehoods of these reports of Russian reverses create universal indignation, and ought to be visited, if the author could be detected with the heaviest punishment But the senti- ment of indignation is partially allayed by the general qualification which the news creates; for it is not doubtful that the report of the sudden and complete triumph of the allies gave no pleasure to the mass of the people in this quar- ter.
 We do not suppose there is any liking for the Russian government, or any particular sym pathy with the Russian side of the original con- troversy with Turkey. But whatever may be the issue of these hostilties, Turkey is safe for the future from any encroachments from the Russian side, and would be safer if she had no more to fear from the ambition and cupidity of her allies The war has long since lost the os- tensible character with which 1t commenced, and is struggle between adverse European combinations for political ascendancy among themselves, in which we have no direct interest of assimilation with, or affection for, either Looking to results affecting our future interests, it is becoming and just that our good wishes should be with the adversary of those who are least our friends, and whose increase of power might be turned to our special injury. Nor, are we by any means sure that, in its effects on na- tional progress in Europe, the speedier over throw of despotisms, and the elevation of the L1z e.. IL o11. ! L a more beneficial infence than their triumph in this war.
 IThe contradiction of the rumored Russian reverses in the Crimea is, therefore, generally welcome news here.
 Still the revulsion should not carry us too far If the Russians have not been defeated, the chances upon which we have speculated so often, of successful defence of Sebastopol, are as they were-certainly no better than when we thought them uncertain. The force brought against the place is enormous. A great army has made successful landing and is approach ing to invest the place by sea and land for re- gular siege, which, if the place be defended with respectable amount of force bravelv, is a work of time; but military men say that the issue of such sieges, when the investing force is manifestly superior, is mathematical cer- tainty.
 We are not too sanguine that Sebastopol will be able to hold out successfully against the be- siegers, unless relieved by the approach of superior army. But it was impossible to credit that it had been left by the astute Nicholas so utterly undefended as to fall at the first as- sault He has known from the beginning of this war, that the destruction of his navy was the great object of desire with his maritime rivals and when he withdrew them into the harbor of Sebastopol for protection, he knew that sooner or later they would bring all their force to bear upon it, as the prize which would best repay them for their tolls and expenditures, in the extinction of Russia for the time, as naval power in Europe.
 It is incredible that with this ample time for preparation and his mighty resources, he should not have made the place capable of the strongest possible resistance and provided means for succorlng 1t when attacked.
 We have our misgivings whether the defence will ultimately prevail; but we do not believe there will be an easy victory, or that Nicholas will surrender his best fortress and harbor and magnificent fleet, without determined and pro- tracted defence-N o. Picayune