New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-08
WHAT IA vmR pxOspRCT /.

- boast as he tbaS tdketn III on III INC p'si"'
ming of oil contests. The habit Of disparaging and
cOntemptuousIy estimating the adversary to be
overcome, is an almost universal weakness OF
Humanity Unreasonable, mmeasurable confidence
of success has ruined too many gallant leader
and righteous cause Let us consider, then, with
all possible impartiaiity, the prospects OF the
Union cause in the struggle now opening.
l. And in the outset, let the folly be utterly
hooted of supposiDg that the rebels Will not
fight. They ,ciH, they must eight, aud that de'-
peratcly. A peaceful adjustment IS sheer in-
possibility and has been from the hour that the
iron hail was first rained on the walls OF devoted
Sumter. The men who planned, directed, exc
cuted and even those who in any manner melted,
that fiendsh act, are traitors to The Ch''ed
States, and as such are instinctyely and IRE
pressibly abhorrcd by every loyal heart They
have burned their ships and retreat Is hcnce-
forth impossible. Any peace that may be made
must involve their signal triumph or their utter
humiliation. If there were no other obstacle 10
a haIfand-half settlement, the position OF the
Army and Navy officers whom they have seduccd
from their loyalty would be insnperable' Here
are great numbers Of sworn defenders OF the
authority and flag Of the Union, from Gen.
Twocs down, who have been dyed in treason
80 black that no Government not utterly broken
down could consent to overlook 1t. Can the
traitors agree TO abandon these officers, without
support or profession, to the cold charities OF
frowning world Could the Government consent
to their restoration to the rank they have Tor
feited, the trust they have betrayed If 1t could,
would loyal and faithful officers consent to serve
with and under them The idea is utterly
inadmissble.
II. Nor will it answer to depreciate the Mill
tary resources and efficiency of the rebels.
Even towards in their position would fight des-
perately, and they are no towards. Most OF
them have been trained from the cradle to con.
slider personal bravery the very first requisite oil
manly character, and skill in the use OF arms
the first necessity of gentleman. The rifle and
revolver have been their playthings from boy
hood, and the duel, or some difficulty inyoN.
ing peril 10 life, are with them themes Of daily
contemplation and frequent observation. And
while We are confident that a majority OF the
Southern People are ct heart Unionists to-day
wo judge that seyen-eghths Of the fighting
force" the " Chiyalry"-of the Slave States
the young, the daring, the ambitious, The dee
perate-haye been drawn into the mcshes OF The
rebellion. They have many Of the very beat
of our late Army officers, and their soldiers VIII
at first be better led and handled than ours.
Such are the advantages with which they VII
enter upon the contest, add to which 1t mus'
be fought mainly on ground which they know
thoroughly and NO very imperlec.ly, IN the midst
Of their resources and at a distance from our''
while ten Of the inhabitants of the seat OF war
will eagerly give information to their leaders
where one VIII venture TO give any TO ours.
H. But, on the other hand, they fight to
divide and bettlc the Republic, while we sirug-
glo TO preserve aud uphold ito integrity. Our
position in this war chimes with an intense
and peryading American instincts, while theirs
resists and defes it, We carry the old flag
with thirty-four stars emblazoned proudly there
on; they iaunt novel imitation which bears
but seven stars now, and cannot have more than
fourteen. Every American long resident IN dis
tant lands is heartily with US; 30 Is every Old
World republican; so is every one who hopes
and prays that all North America shall ulti-
matey constitute one great, glorious Republic.
The value of this identity of our cause with the
spontaneous and feryId impulses Of "Young
America" can hardly be Oyer-estimated.
". The people of the loyal States are far more
unanimous and hearty in the struggle for the
Union than are the people of the Slave States in
seeking its di.membermcnt. We know that there
are individuals in these States whose hearts are
with jeff Davis & Co.; but they are very
uncomfortable fraction Of the whole while in the
South the unerring test of the Ballot, while
voting was still measurably free, proves the
Union still strong in the affections Of millions.
Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee
Missouri, and even Arkansas, have voted SINCE
LincOln's election that they would not be dragged
out of tho Union; and, though that vote has in
most instances been practically circumyented by
the cOnsprators the record still stands. Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, were carried by
the SecessOnists through a desperate struggle;
in Louisiana, the Unionists claim to have east
majority Of the popular vote, as also in Alabama;
while thousands were bullicd into voting Secession
tickets by the CRY, You have repeatedly, ex-
'plicitly, resolved that you would sccede if
" Republican were chosen President now stand
sup to that resolve or confess yourselves liars :"
Thousands voted thus in order TO irightcn the
Free States into concessions which would give
them an excuse for remaining in the UniOni they
never really meant TO break out Of il. Poll the
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