Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-11-26

| II is the torpor OF our armies-this hope de-
ferred for the hundredth tirne-which has un-
furled that party banner whose shadow is now
resting on so many of the loyal States. 1t is
not disloyalty which has prompted the deplo-
rable moment, but weariness and discour
agement consequent upon the losses. humil
iations and delays we have suffered; yet it is
the most alarming sign OF the times, and can
only be arrested by decided military success
ses. 1t is the law of the very existence of
such political organ izations to seek strength
by assaults upon the Administration, in whose
hands, for veal woe, is the direction of
| those movements upon which necessarily de-
pend the preservation OF the Union. These
assaults will grow in vigor and bitterness as
they progress, and while thus Indirectly af-
fording said and comfort'' 10 the rebellion,
will make continual, albei, unconscious, APP
proaches towards an open utilization with il.
Let those who are called upon to vote party
ticket in the midst of the tragic events now
upon us ponder we'll before doing SO, the dis.
| astrous Consequences of such n I.olicy-a pol
| icy from whose baleful tendencies purity
OF motive possibly detract. Let them hes
itate long before they SOW the seeds of dis
sensions, whose bitter fruits may be upon the
lips of their children's children. Let them
not forget that by thus presenting a divided
front they degrade orr cause before the world.
they parayze our own strength, and add i'm
nieasnrabIy to the hopes, the confidence and
the power o! the enemy. Already the con-
federate press is pointing the deuded people
of the south to these rising distractions a.
mong ourselves, in tone not merely of hope
tuness but of exultation.
If any man, as motive for such a course
snpposes that he has ground of complaint a.
gainst the President, let him take heed that
his illdirected hostility does not put in jeop
ardy the republic itself. for whose preserva-
tion from overthrow the President is inces-
sanity and Loyalty laborng. What has a con
troversy with the President of the United
States to do with the question Of loyalty to
our country in the midst of such struggle as
thisl If he errs-as the best of meu are lia-
able to do-he is soon to pass away with all
his deeds but our government and country
should, and If we are true to them they will
endure for countless ages to come. The Pres
ident, with all the dignity and responsible
Ties belonging to his position, is but pilot
on the national ship, for a single watch of the
night. Who will be so insane as to aid, how.
ever indirectly, in scuttling the ship, merely
because he has quarrel with the pilot from
whose hands the helm is so soon to be wrest-
ed Who is willing that savage shout, as
OF victory. shall go up from that army of fe.
rocions rebels whose hands donby dyed
in blood of our people? Who is willing that
thrill ofjoy shall run throughout the entire |
south, and that bontires and illumination shall |
be kindled in the city of Richmond ove- the |
triumph of the opposition in the great Empire |
State /! If such there be, let him vote party |
ticket. The occasion demands the develop |
ment of the sublimest phases of human char
acter. If, with the duties to our land and to |
our race which are pressing upon u.s. we can
not rise above miserable scramble for party |
spoils and power, then the sooner we creep |
into our graves the better.
Another danger which is threatened from |
the inacton of our armies is from abroad. This |
rebellion is as ubiquitous in the curses it scat
tiers as it is foolish in its spirit. The conflict,
from our commercial and other relations, con
Germs the happiness OF the civilized world
not be too much commended, have, without
waited patiently and given us
every opportunity to subdue the rebellion.
But unless some decisive military demonstra-
tion soon takes place, and the south is occu-
pied by our forces, these nations will conclud
that We lack either the will or the power to
reestablish the Union.
Already a member of the English Cabinet
(Mr. Gladstone) has openly declared that
''Davis has made nation of the south - and
such announcement, from such source,
cannot but be accepted as having startling
significance. Ii the vast army in whose pres
ence, as it were, half beaten enemy is leis-
urel, destroying of the most important
railroads of the loyal States, does not do its
work speedily, European governments must
ere long yield to the elamor of their impover-
ished and starving populations, and there will
come intervention, sswith all its woes.''e Up
on this will follow at once intimate entangling
alliances with the south, to be succeeded by
hostilities with us, and, in all human proba-
bIlity, by the permanent establishment of the
rebel confederacy. What fate might befal
our own institutions, amid the bankruptcy and
orslization and brokenne of spirit con-
trust myself to inquire. We cannot hope to
escape from this train Of events by any ex-
Dots of our navy. however brilliant, occupy
ing the southern coast and the cities upon the
sea shore. This, though well and very we'll,