New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-09

apparently treated as secondary affair, mere
Jagateile, or toy for children 10 amuse them
elves with; in scarcely an instance was
/ treated as grave affair, demanding for its prose
'ution the whole strength and energy Of the country
Some doubted is the South would really fight aud 1t
seemed to meny that all VIC needed 10 ront their
armies suppress rebellion, and re-estabsh over the
seeded Stases the suthorty Of the Federal Govern
ment, was large number Of regiments having no
existence except paper or in the imagination OF
hose who wished sport the epaulettes OF colonel
This doiusion has passed away. But still, at the
tine W. are writing il has hardly got through our
heads that we are really engaged in war, aud war
involving the very life or death OF the nation ne
mae of those who really believe we are IN war slli
think the wsr ia one that may be carried on without
any serious detriment 10 ordinary ayoeatiOns Vi
pleasures, and one not likely TO come home TO our
own bosopls and business. Very few OF us see tna'
everything we hold dear in this world Is a. STAKE,
and that ye have TO struggle not only TO deleab
foreign enemy, but to defend orr own hresldes huu
affairs. orr own wives and children, and our own
personal liberty. Country gone, all is gone; and
nnless we become more in earnest than we nave
hitherto been, and put forth civil and military
force and energy which we have not yet displayed,
nor igdged 1t necessary TO display country can
not be preserved.
We chcerfnlly eoncede that much allowance is TO
be made for the Administration in the novel and I'M
expected position in which Il has been placed WIN
no preparation TO meet rebellion a formidable
scale with doubts as 90 how fr the patriotism Of the
loyal States could be relied on, with the army and
navy filed with traitors, with officers Mt best m
different 10 the cause Of the Union, surrounded by
weak, timid and corrupt politicians, and the mpor-
tant though subaen, officers Of the various depart
ments of the civil government filled with men de-
string snccess TO the Rebels, and ready TO use Gil the
opportunities afforded by their position to secure
that success, the Administration may be excused for
having hesitated before feeling the public pulse, TO
n hcld IL nd decisive
crisis demanded. 1t was embarrassed by the legacy
Jeff il by its predecessor and also by the fears, tim
idities hopes, and advice Of the Union men IN the
Border States, who begged it not TO be pre-
cpitate, lest II should plunge those states
also into open Secession. This fear Of driving the
Border States into Secession has been from the first
the bugbear of the Administration, and s chief en-
barrassment II prevented il from taking, at the
ouset, those bold and decisive measures which
would have forestalled the Rebels, and confined the
rebellion TO South Carolina, Georgia, and the Gulf
States. Its efforts since 20 organize and strengthen
Union party in Western Virginia and Eastern
Tennessee have impeded rather than aided It's mill.
tary operations, and Lost it caupeign, without
gaining it any real additional strength.
There is only way Of dealing With rebels; IL is
for the Government TO be prompt, 70 strike quick,
and TO strike hard. II il hesiares it tempoTizes,
if it seeks TO conclate, or shows ihat It fears to
strike est the blow recol upon It's head, II is
only by miracle that it can be saved. It's policy
will be set down either TO conscious weakness or 10
conscious wrong, and the rebels not only gain time
but, what is even more important to them they gain
confidence in their own cause, which more than
doubles their forces, while the frenisof the Govern
ment are dishcartened, rendered tDt, If not alien
ated A bold energetic man at the bead Of the Cow
eminent, one year ago, would have crushed ont re-
bellion before IL could really have come 10 head
even in South Carolina A man ableto create pub
lie opinion not merely TO follow IL, II the head Of
the Government last March, would have confined
the rebellion within the limits IL then had and long
before THE would have reduced Elonda and Lou
isiGna to their allegiance, and thus have broken the
backbone OF rebellion, and prepared DIE way for its
speedy and utter anuililatiOn, HostliOn and delay
in dealing with rebellion, Is the worst policy possible.
That its dilltOry and tluid policy wa on the part
Of the Government, q mistake blundsr, 10 one can
reasonably doubt But il would be mistake, a
bunder no less fatal for the friends Of the Union to
bsLon il forth so rs 10 weaken the confidence OF the
people in the Administration and diminish It's power
for good. The President is worthy OF ell confidence
for his honesty integrity, and paiuotisn; and, IL be
will rid himself Of the embarrassment Of political
iobbers and trckaers, dismiss and visit with ade-
guate punishment all SeCessionisis, traitors, or
lukewarrn patriots ia the employment Of the Gov
eminent, aud put honest and capable men in their
places, men who know their duty, and have the
courage 10 perform It. who love their country, and
are ready II need be- 20 sacrihce themselves for il,
he may retrieve the pas, recover all the ground that
has been lof conduct the war to successful issue,
and fnot precisely the lest fitted 10 the crisis,
vet stand in American history second only 10
IL indeed second even 10 Washing
ton hmself Never had a President Of the
United States 90 glorious All opportunity TO prove
himself q man, q Statesman, true civil hero. He
has, we are sire the disposition, let him prove that
he has the courage and ability not merely TO follow
public opinion, not merely 10 follow tue people, but
to 20 before them, and by kidding up q resistless
in them, lead them on TO victory.
The American people, especially Of the North, are
susceptible people, and feel and respond TO the
force Of genius as readily and rs heartily az any
other people on the face OF the globe. No people IN
the world are susceptible OF deeper oT mors abiding
No people better appreciate the yalde
n good battle-cry; &pd il has been a mistake on
the part Of the Administration not to have better
their real character. IL has failed 10
give them that battle-cry Is has been too cold too
prosaio and has pronounced no spirit stirring word.
n s q d1SSPg Sussa e SS people
stead Of inspiring them 1t has waited for them TO In
spire il. This has been a grave mistake. Men
placed at the head Of affairs placed there to lead
not TO follow TO give On impulse TO the people not
to receive it from the people. II the Administration
has life and energy If II has ability and genius, let
il no longer hesitate 10 them but put them forth
In that free, bold and energetic manner which will
carry the people with them, and command victory.
We insist the more earnestly on this, because the
mass OF our people have long been accustomed to
syInpshze with Rebels, TO aid and encourage revo-
abroad aud to visit with their seyeres de-
nunciations the acts of the Legitimate TO
suppress instruction, to put down reyoluionists,
and vindicate its authority, that they cannot be
rallied with much enthusiasm under the simple ban
ner of Law aud Order. Their first emotion is to
sympathze with rebellion, wherever it breaks out,
even though sganit their own Government. They
hold as principle ~ that on which their very ma
tional independence is based the sacred right" of
revolution because they generally take it for
granted that all rebels and reyoluiionists are the
party of liberty, warning against despotism, and for
The rights of man. Would you rally them and render
them invincble against the foe You must give