Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-08

The Cincinnati Commercial, after enumerating
the losses of the government by "acting on the
defensive" condemns the imbecllity and coward
ice of the Administration. and strongly urges al
aggressive policy. In its issue of yesterday, il
inquires-relerring to the defensive policy of the
Administration:
"Can anybody tell us what we have gainedi
We have gained the contempt or commiseratiOr
of foreign powers, and an ever increasing discOn
tent and turbulence at home. The loyal have
been discouraged, and the disloyal have been
stimulated TO new aggresSions.
1t is high time that this should cease. The
people are up, and demand leadership which i:
worthy of the emergency. They are arming
their Government with all the sinews of war, anC
they do not expect it any longer to pursue the
policy of peace. 1t is time for our Government
to begin TO pluck some laurels from the hitherto
victorious brOws os the Confederate traitors
They have hitherto enjoyed the immense adyan
tage of being the aggressive party in the contest
now let the tables be turned, and let them be put
upon the defensive.
Instead of our Government sitting and quakine
in the White House al Washington let it now e
out and strike the enemy in his strongholds Th,
soldiers are ready at Mr.. Lineoln's call; now le
him use them. If the Government has 1.-THE o.
the energy and swiftness of the people it repre-
sents il will crush out this great insurrection.
tensye as it has become, in three months time
The question now-is not, can JEFF. Davis 4 Co
take Washington? but can Washington take JEFF
Davis L Coz The Government must strike righ
at the vitals of the usurpation. 1t must deal it
blows thick and fast and heavy. Before the en-
emy has time to recover from one, it must follow
it up with another. twill never do to make wa
on the principles of the peace society. The NOR
hlood fbara - bod at tha lass vvil
be in the end. The more terrible and DECISIVE
the battles, the shorter the campaign. Let u
have more sentimentalism about :" fratricida
strife" and "fraternal blood" We are dealin,
with public robbers and assassns; and were the
forty times our brothers, we should be false Il
our country did we shrink from the severes
stroke which can be dealt upon public euemy
On their side is rancor, rebellion and remorseles
hate; ON ours is no hatred, but an enforced an
final struggle against traitors, for Governmen
founded on liberty and law.
Now that we have taken up arms, let us carr
the war into the enemys country. Instead q
suffering these audacious rebels to calculat
whether Washington can be defended, let us sc
them to calculating whether Montgomery can b
defended. Let our Government call forth tn
uttermost force of able bodied and select soldier
the country can produce. Let it spare no none
and no men, and, above all. let ii lose no tim
One decisive blow struck now Is worth Il hundre
victories by and-by. 1t tell on both sides; it il
spirits and kindles the loyal. and it discourage
and disheartens the enemy 1t decides the WI
vering which side to give in their adherence
Let the Government only take possession of an
of the strongholds of the usurpers, and it will NJ
want for loyal citizens even there. The secede
States are lull of patriotic men, cowed and owe
awed by this fierce, despotc, successful usurp
ton. Let it be overthrown, and that great ma:
of timid and conservative citizens who alwa,
side with the strongest party, will flock to Il
standard of the Government
If we have begun the war with a surrender, !
us not repeat the blunder by "acting on the
fensive" any longer. We are strong enough
make the enemy feel our power. The Fabil
policy of delay has been tried long enough.
can bring us nothing but loss. disgrace and rui
Let us abandon it for the Napoleonic policy
swift and decisive action.