Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-18

fault He has been laid aside for the sake of
politicians and of jealous technical officers, whom
God never made Generals, and OF whom, there
fore, West Point could make only engineers.
Great military leaders are born, not built.
Certainly neither Mr.. Lincoln nor his Cabinet
have proved leaders. They have not gone before
the people. Their policy is one which has
obliged the public to demand each step Of ad-
vance. They feared division at the North They
feared the malignant fragments of the Demo
cratic party. Fear was stronger than faith.
They ventured only on those points about which
there unity and eagerness, with the whole
community. Even when they advanced, they
preferred to have it seem rather like a resistance
to yet further advanced radicalism. than to be
a voluntary progress beyond some old landmark.
This might be the melancholy wisdom OF such
times as Washingtons, with small population,
with few resources, with little money, with an
untried government driving team of newly
yOked States. But he who initiates Washing
tons sowness. i'm the midst of twenty millions of
men-with twenty lusty lova States at his back
with money enough, and arsenals pouring out
ornaments and munitions and all the implements
and vehicles of war on land and sea which art
can construct and science suggests fool,
thrice SOdden! There never was a time when
mems prayers so fervently asked God for leaderl
He has refused our petition. What an idol would
we have made of a man of lusty will, who out
of weakness had waxed strong, and marched
through the land, threshing it in his Indignation!
Mr. Lincoln is good man; a considerate, pru-
dent, honest politician But not a spark of ge-
MUS has he; not an element for leadership; not
one particle of heroic enthusiasm. The people
long TO twine about him. Never was such an
opportunity. No man since the world began
has had circumstances throngng about him, i'm
tn he hn has
shown such singular self denial. While he is
considering, Events are moving on.
There has not been a line in any Government
paper that might not have been issued by the
Car, by Louis Napoleon, or by jeff Davisi
Our State papers during this eventful struggle
are void OF genuine enthusiasm for the Great
Doctrines on which this Government was founded
Faith in human rights is dead in Washington.
The Administration have faith in America, i'm
the United States, in a united North, in a Re-
publican party, but no faith in that invisible
principle which underlies and nourishes them all.
The people are never called to maintain their his
tOric ideasl The nation is never reminded Of its
political truthsi The people not reached
where their enthusiasm, like the sleeping music
OF the harp's strings, lies waiting some touch to
bring it FORTH to ioll over Chis continent such an
Anthem as the world never heard, aud only
Tree people can chant
All the piddling questions that arc spun in
Washington, thick as spiders webs on a meadow,
would 90 down like those films when a moving
machine sweeps round the field, if the Great Ma
tional Truth and It's Historic Pride had been
ridden forth with Courage and Will But when
an Administration weayes the mighty affairs of
this nation like lace weaver, with thread and
bObin piled uDOn its knee no wonder that all its
time is consumed in loops and broken threads
and stitchesl
But we must cease looking any more to Gov
We must turn to ourselves. a time
may be near when the people will be called TO
act with prudence and courage beyond all prece
dent. After strength has been frittered away iu
mending the manhood of Border State eunuchs,
and reverses have come, and our rulers are fugi-
tives from the proud Capital, should they deem
the task of maintaining the sanctity and integrity
of the National Soil hopeless, then this Great
People, moving through all their States, may yet
be called TO take up the despairing work and
carry it forth to victoryl The People must
have Leaders. As yet they have not found
theml
Great God, what people hast Thou brought
forth upon this cOntinentl What love of liberty;
what heroic love of law and institution; what
courage, and cOnstancy, and selfsacrihce hast
thou given theml And no man is found to lead
this great Nationl Be Thou Leader! Lord
of Hosts, hast Thou forgotten how to lead
people! There are no ages on Thy headl Years
make Thee neither old nor weary Behind Thy
unwrinkled brow care dwellsl Teach this
People to need no other Leader but Thyself!
Then, led by Thee, teach them to be all-suffi-
cient for every deed of Justice, and omnipotent
for Liberty 1