The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-02-22
Mr.. Linooln's Progress to the Capital.

Mr.. Lincoln's Progress to the Capital.
The telegraph, day by day, brings US
tidings of Mr.. LrNcoLN's semi.triumphal
progress towards Washington. There is no
improperly, certainly, in any decent demon
strations Of respect which his partisans, or
others, may choose to bestow upon him. A
cordial reception from men Of all parties is
due to his position as the President elect.
There is, however, one feature of this jour-
ney in which the entire community does
take an interest.
Mr.. LINCOLN has at last given public
otterance to his opinions upon the crisis.
For long weary months the people have
waited with tremulous anxiety for this thing;
because it was believed that if any man in
this nation had it in his power by a word to
still the tempest, that man was Mr.. LIN
COLIN. Could Mr.. LINCOLN, three months
ago, have shaken from him the fetters of
party could be have permitted his vision
to range beyond the very circumscribed
limits of the Chicago platform, and looked
out over the whole country; could he have
risen to the grandeur of his position, and
have felt, and acted, and spoken, with the
large patriotism becoming the President of
a great people, and not as the mere repre-
sentative of sectional party,-who doubts
that, to-day, the Government, instead OF
being in progress of rapid disintegration,
would bestanding in its integrity. But Mr.
LINCOLN has spoken at last, and his words
have struck a chill to the hearts of the
people. 1t is but too evident that he has
neither sagacity nor patriotism sufficient for
the occasion.
We have asked for bread, and be has given
us stone. We had a right to expect that
MIR. LINCOLN having been so long silent
and inscrutable as the Sphinx, would speak
to the purpose when he did speak-tbat he
would not insult our patience, and our un-
derslandiDgs, with utterances as dark and
ambiguous and tantalzing as those of
Delphic oracle. Having heard much of
Mr.. L1NcoLN's wonderful unapproachable
honesty, we had right to expect from him
something like common honesty-something
different from the spitefu apology, for an
unmeanipg harangue-that he is not now
prepared to speak-because he does not yet
comprehend the full extent of the mischief
that has been or may yet be accomplished.
What we wanted to know from Mr.. LIN
coLN-aud the question has been borne to
his ear, as the sound OF many waters-is the
use be proposes to make. of the vast power
he controls, for averting or precipitating
the calamities with which, as nation we
are threatened. This question be ought to
have answered with all solemnity and with
all sincerity. We ask him to use bis pow
er to avert the danger, to save the ship.
He puts US off with saying, that be does
not know the extent Of the danger, nor how
complete the destruction will be. 1t is
gratifying to know, that when the storm
shall have spent its fury, and the old ship
of state shall be stranded and broken up,
Mr.. LINCOLN will be prepared to speak
say one two or three years hence. He can
then tell us, how fearful was the danger,
how terrible the destruction. He can also
tell US with what calm and philosophic in-
differance be watched the progress OF events
and gathered the materials for his story.
NERO fddled while Rome was burning.
MI. L1NcoLN's course is therefore not alto.
gether without precedent. Let him still
further initiate the philosophy and the pa
triotism of the old Roman tyrant, and he
may perhaps attain the same desirable i'm.
mortality. AS NERO has come down to us
distinguished for his humanity, so Mr.. LIN.
COLIN may 60 down to posterity distinguish
ed for his honesty. Honest:OId ABE! Hon
oet uopoot Old AprIiI