New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-21
GIVING THANKS.

we shall really have something to be thankful for
We know that the rule of the rigid is that we
must be as thankful in our sorrow as in our sue
cess: but we are afraid, if the Manassas affair
had happened one week before Thanksgiving Day,
that our turkeys would have turned out anything
but tender, and that there would not baye been
sugar enough in the world to have made our pud-
dings sweet. But now, with hardly any but good
news coming in, no loyal diner, young or old, will
/ lack an appetizng sauce; and we confidently pre-
diet that the late Geographic dispatches will, in
some way or another, have a remarkable effect
upon ihe grayies. 1t is pretty dark yet but we
begin to see daylight; aud we have earned the
right TO be hopeful aud equable, though we must
still walk in the shadow of old anxieties. Much
/ has been said and said, as we think, in spirit
needlessly querulous of the importantly OF the
popular mind of the general restlessness for ac-
ton, and of the impotence felt at the hardness Of
the campaign But nothing could be more natu-
raj. The positive fact of defeat, depressing as
il is at first, is blow from which on elastic popu-
lation under the influence of hope and passionate
for retaliation, speedily RECEIVERS. AS war goes
on we learn to be grateful for what we escape as
well rs for what We achieve. But the wsest Of
US want the stimulus OF events; and to read OF
victory which may be ours next January, Is
hardly more exhilarating than to read OF re-
pulse which was certainly ours last September.
All nations have shared in this depression which
We may call an epidemic hypochondria. Ancient
Athens vas more than once in the doleiul dumps,
and her BARRIERS, as they told the bad news,
scraped uncommonly long faces. The panics of
Rome make constant and not very credtabe
figure in her history. There was time during
the sway of the English Elizabeth, when her
throne was hardly worth weeks purchase; and
the merriment of her reign. considering Popsh
aud Scotch Plots, and Spanish Invasions, has
perhaps been exaggerated By the poets. There
was time during the first French Revolution,
when it seemed certain that the allied nurses
would certainly bring back the Bourbon bantling,
and crush out tie new life and liberties OF Paris
There was u time during our own Revolution,
when nothing substantial appeared to have been
gained, even if all was not lost. The croakers
wero busy then as they are busy now; they sighed
aud scolded aud growed until the defeat Of Bur
goync and the capture Of Yorktown put end
To their minor music. But, we cannot always
control our own moods, and as some of US have
smaller organs Of hope than the rest the good
news OF the last few days will be uncommonly well
come TO The responding For though we are not
called upon 10 criticise or 10 prophecy, We cannot
help feeling that the occupation Of the soil Of
South Carolina by the Union troops is, if not the
beginning OF the end ut least an approximation TO
hat beginning. The moral influence of this mill
tary movement will be. beyond computation, yalu-
able. The capture of Charleston by troops of the
United States which is now probable event,
viii put MS in a better position than we have held
since the reduction OF Fort Sumtey. We shall
now Gnd out with an accuracy heretofore unat-
tamable. exactly what leaven of loyalty remains
in that misgoyened State; and how far the Davis
Government is mere ariStocratio usurpation
without the sanction of any ascertained majority.
In other reyoled States, as our arms advance,
there viii be like disclosures. Men will speak
ont when they can do without rleking the yio-
leDce OF a mercicss mob, set on and Subsidized
by a handful of wealthy Catilines. We have
never yet seen any evidence Of the least weight
that all the white people of the Seeding States,
majorties of them are heartily with the
conspirators; and when the upper milestone, un.
der Mcclellan, and the neither milestone under
Gen. sherman, begin simultaneously 10 grind, we
suspect that a deal OF honest " heat will be- de-
ycioped.
Again: il is a good reason for thanksgiving that
we are beginning to understand our own strength
and TO recognize the magnitude Of the work BE-
fore IA. We shall have no reason TO complain
mortifyins as to some extent they have certainly
been Of our reycrses, il they have forced us, in
search of consolation TO contemplate the equity
of ON cause We have all OF us been told from
our first teaching, that right is might; and as We
study history, we langudy adult some such pr!n
ciplc rs dominant in the worlds affairs but now,
through much disappointment and doubt, we arr
Ia learn The lesson upon our own helds and
through tie ultimate triumph of our own soldiers.
We think il was fichte who philosophicaily de-
monstruted that Napoleon must tall, because he
was unjust Day by day, events are proving that
to tie Rebel Army Slavery Is not strength but
weakness. A thousand victories would not make
the Secession cause good cause. Succeed Us il
may. there must always ne The specter Of iaildre
threatening il from thc mnrky fnturc. With
slavery. though We should leave It 10 the tender
ucr,i.s of that alone, the ConledeTacy could