The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-17

ior eVIl 10 tne cause OF the Union. The rebels,
flushed with their victory at Bull run, are mag
nifying that affair, and rallying their forces for
desperate effort. The very nature of their
position renders it necessary that they should
strike blow before they have lost all the ad-
vantage gained in that battle. The scattered
reports of their movements. coming to us from
rebel sources, indicate that Maryland and Wash
ington are now the points that command their
attention, and that all other movements are
tents to draw the attention of the administra-
ton and our military chieftains from the real
movements near the national capital. Had the
Secretary of the Treasury failed in his efforts in
disposing of the loan they might have delayed
under the idea that time would weaken us: but
now, since his complete SUCCESSIVE prompt
and decisive response on the part of the fnan-
ciels of the three leading cities of the Union
placing the government in possession of the
means to carry on the war-tbat delusion will
be dispelled, and the administration must be
prepared to meet the issue, or all will be lost
The President, the highest officer of the
government, whose decision outweighs all
others, will be held responsible for the vindi-
cation of the constitution, or the destruction of
the hopes ofall true Unionists, North and South,
East and West, in one of which alternatives this
great struggle will end. Standing at the head
of the government, the nation-yes, the world
is looking to him for a successful guidance of the
ship of State through the troublesome waters,
the shoals quicksands and breakers that now
beset it. In dischargng that important trust
which has been reposed in him he will find
that different IDEAS must control his actions
from those which guided him 40 q lawyer and
politician in country village of the West He
stands at the helm of the government, amid the
most severe storm that has visited us since its
foundations were laid by the mastery hands of
Washington and the patriots of the Revolution
His first duty therefore, is not only to cast off
the garb, but drive from his mind the ideas of a
pettilogger and politician, and wrap himself
in the mantle of statesman, cut loose from the
influences of the professional politician, and
discharge the duties of his office as becomes the
patriot having in view the interests of his corn-
try only. If he possesses the talent, the energy
and the will to grapple with the issues IN that
await us as nation.
Unfortunately, the course of the administra-
ton up to the battle at Bull run reveals the
hands Of the politician instead of the mastery
statesman at its head. Not sign save the in
structions to our foreign Ministers could be seen
that gave us reason to hope that the places SO
long occupied by the INSCRIPTIONS politicians
had been filed with wiser and more patriotic
men. That disaster appeared to open
the eyes of the PRESIDENT but whether
he yet fully comprehends his duty,
and has the ability, the energy and
the determination to execute it, future
events must alone determine. The prompt sum-
moning of Gen. Mcclellan to the command Of
the army of the Potomac--the man who has the
reputation not only at home, but in Europe,
where he is known, of possessing one of the
ripest military minds of the age, having not
only studied war as a science but witnessed
warfare on large scale more than any other
man in the country, observing and participating
under the most favorable circumstances in the
struggle of the allied Powers in the Crimea-
is evidence that a favorable change has taken
place. disappointment of Gen. Fremont to the
command in the West and Gen. Wool to Fortress
Monroe, where he should have been sent months
ago, have likewise tended to inspire the public
mind with confidence. But all this avails no.
thing if they are to be hampered in their opera
tons by politicians seeking their own profit
The Pattersons, the Buffers and the political IA
vorites at Washington have already injured the
cause so much that the hand of the states
men must show itself in other matters before
the public will accord to Mr.. Lincoln the wis
dom necessary for the hour. When the Presi-
dent presentedto Gen. Mcclellan the list of brig
adler generals that had been selected by
the politicians of the several States, stating
that they were urged by political influences
that he (the President) could not refuse, the
gallant General replied that he had no use for
a majority of these men in his army except as
privates, and Mr. Lincoln, after waiting twenty
four hours, in deciding to yield to Gen. Mcclellan
instead of the politicians, again did that for
which the people commend him, but they further
demand that henceforth he will TURN deaf ear to
their counses. The advice of the politicians
amounts to nothing in this crisis; their counsels
are like the coils of the serpent to the Presi-
dent, and if listened to will crush out the adj
ministration and the nation.
All this is we'll enough as far as it goes; but a
herculean task yet remains to be done before
Mr.. Lincoln will be entitled to the credit of
sufficient ability to guide the nation through its
trials No one doubts his honesty or his desire
to do his DUTY but the wayering and imbecility
in his departments must be remedied. The
snail like operations of the Navy Department.
the inefficcncy of the blockade, and the loose
ness of the War Department. require at his
hand a rigid investigation and thorough
change We do not wish to destroy the conf
dence of the President in his advisers, but the
way some of the officials in the navy have dis
charged their duty has aroused serious appre-
tensions and the belief that many of them
would as soon see jeff Davis as Lincoln
in the White House. and may well awaken the