New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-15
Now 1T LOOKS AT A DISTANCE,

ton of the Union, have already told you. 1t
| IL, however, the sympathy Of a spectator, who
while wishing all success to one party, is yet
cool enough to critcise its movements, untouched
1 by that passionate partisanship in which oil
| Judgment is swamped. The intervening Atlantic
il like breadth of Time, as well as space, and
I the events which transpire on the other side at
tain something of the character Of History by
/ the time they reach here. At home, the most
steadfast Of US is more or less reed, yielding
to the blast Of popular excitement, which now
blows this way and now that as fierce as it is
+ tickle. Even here, Also the heart of born
Anerican-hke some far-of inland lake which
! has subterranean connection with the sea
rises or sinks in harmony with the native ebb
and flow. Yet one may steady his views some-
what by contact with these intelligent spectators,
of whose goodwill he is assured, and whose ca
pacity for criticism he may acknowledge when it
is directed toward movements which, having
universal application can be everywhere under
stood There are few men in Europe who are
capable Of analyzing our political conflicts, but
the suppression of Rebellion by force of arms
CORY of historical events, where-especially in
its military phases--it may be iDtelligently com.
pretended and discussed by thousands.
Let me. therefore, without repeating the opln-
ions of any particular individual, endeavor to
give you a general reflex of the German view OF
the manner in which the struggle has been con-
Quoted thus far. | shall do this as impartially
as possible, without intruding my own opinions
simply confning my labOrs TO the collation. OF
the various expressions which | have heard, and
giving YOU fair average of the whole.
On reaching Germany, two months ago,
found it difficult to convince any person that the
rebels would make stand, after discovering that
the Federal Government had earnestly decided
on their subjugatiOD. Two things were not at
all understood here-the actual Oligarchy which
exists under the name of Republic, in the
Cotton States, and the boundless ignorance and
vanity of the Southern people. This ohgarcby,
involved in q struggle for life or death, has IN
these elements of Southern character the readiest
materials for the organization Of desperate re
sistance. The preponderance Of men, money,
credit, and munitions Of war in the loyal States,
in combination with the blockade of the South
err ports and the absence Of any help from
abroad for the rebels, rendered Il am giving the
German view opposition hopeless, and the seced-
ing States would soon return TO their allegiance
10 the Federal Government.
This view however based on ihe SUPPOSE
tion that our Government would institute vigorous
reasserton Of its authority wherever possible-that
there would BIZ a thorough cleaning out Of traitors
from public places--that the line between Loyalty
and Rebellion would he drawn sharp aud clear, and
the geographical boundaries of the latter be con-
tracied ~ closely possbe-that, while abstainng
for fhe present, perhaps from military advance into
the rebeious territory, Il would possess aud oc-
cupy' every point which the enemy might
otherwise hold to It's disadvantage; in short, that
our Government would act very much as a strong,
centralized European Power would set under SINH
lar circumstances 1.-THE right of State 10 secede
did not exist the Federal authority was indeed
paramount, under the Coustitnton-the rest fol-
lowed As matter OF course.
For instance, was asked long ago, BY those
more familiar with the strateecal points: Why
il the construction OF batteries allowed, opposite
Fort Pickens now that the garrison is reen-
forced and the fort itself declared TO be impreg.
nable Why are not Arlington Nights seized
and fortified Why (this was after a large
number of Union troops had reached Washing
tom are the Rebels allowed 10 intrench them
selves at Manassas could only declare, in
answer, that presumed the Government must
have some good reason for lis delay. "The
Union troops are not yet properly exercised and
ready for the field, no doubt" said an officer,
"but, if the reports from the South are true,
the Rebels are no better prepared. Here are
points which appear 10 be Of great Importance,
utterly neglected. Do your officers receive
military education ," In fact, the questions most
frequently asked, are: "What Kind of officers
have you1 Are they competent TO conduct the
operations Of 80 largo an army Or are they
not mostly lawyers and politicians, who have
never seen military service" Then came the
news of the affairs at Great Bethel and Vienna,
which so far seemed to justify such suspicious,
that could only answer: "Wait little. These
are bunders incident to the beginning OF cam
paign. When an important battle is fought, it
will be differently oficered.'
And now -.
The successes at Carthage sud Rich Mountain
were received here with genuine satisfaction
the former especially. since Col. Sgel Is remem-
bered for the part he took in the Revolution in
Baden, in lsi9. Patterson's advance into Viz
ginia, retreat, resdyance and inaction. excited
the greatest surprise, aud / regretted that
could give no satisfactory explanation of these