Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-09
The Trial of Faith

had been made to the ear, has been broken |
10 the hope; and the dreary "lines of retreat"
which Gen. Mcclellan in April and Gen. Pope
in July, rejected from the plans of their dis
astrous campaigns, our brave soldiers have
traced with their blood. From besieging
army in the heart of the enemy's country,
knocking at the gates of has capitol, they are
besieged within the Notifications of their own
capitol, while the loyal states tremble all
along the border in the presence of hostile
forces which threaten to make their soil the
theatre of the next struggle.
If in the shadow of these accommodating dis
asters, the people find the faith they have re-
posed in their rulers severely tried-if they
sometimes cry aloud in remonstrance when
the government fails to use the opportunities
for victory which God gives it, it is because the
country is so dear to them-because it is more
necessary that the country should be saved
than that the government should be justified
in doing wrong.
Early in the rebellion Gen. Fremont, then
at the head of the department of the west,-
on whose loyalty and bravery no enemy ever
breathed suspicion, and who was as sagacious
as he was loyal and brave,-proclaimed the
policy by which we shall conquer. Ittouched
the heart of the country. 1t sent an electric
thrill of joy and hope through the land to
know that his soldiers, if none others, could
rally under the invincible watchword of free
dom. But the president had outlined a diff
erent policy. States, then hesitating whether
to raise the black flag of revolt or not, OBJ
jeeted. Fremonts policy was overthrow,
and soon afterward he was removed from the
field.
This, we believe with the earnestness of
assured conviction, was the planting of the
disasters of which we are now gathering the
fruits. From the hour when he was com
PEELED to withdraw his proclamation of liberty
to the slaves of traitors-from that hour when
the right arm of every general commanding
in the field was bound by the same cord which
restrained Fremont, our armies, whether at
the east or at the west, have fought the re-
belion at disadvantage, till in spite of all the
resistance we have opposed to 1t, it is at this
hour laundering at our doors. Something of
the responsibility is unquestionably due to the
incompetency of some generals and the inf
deity of others. 1t is, at the same time, true
that this policy excluded from commanding
influence in the public service officers whose
fidelity and competency there was never just
cause to doubt.
Let us not, however, dwell upon the past.
The future, with its unreveaed destinies is
too near to us. The restoration of Union and
peace has been postponed, but it is not hope
less. The issues involved in the war must be
decided right though the heavens fall. There
is that in principles, which, when men fail,
takes hold Of everlasting life. We lose
battle, but the war goes on. We lose cam
paign but the struggle renews itself on other
fields. Events appeal from the short-sight-
edness Of rulers to 1.-THE exquisite providence
which regardeth every particular thing and
purpose in the world" The people who re-
gard the rebellion with a consuming hatred
which no calamities can quench are as deter
mined to destroy it now as they were in the
beginning, and are as prodiga of their
strength and resources as if the service of the
past year and half had been a holiday par
ade Wo to him who stands in the way of
the Highlander when the slogan of his chief
calls him to battle!
If they could be content with degrading
submission, if they could sacrifice anything
of the devotion with which they cherish the
integrity Of the country and rights of its peo-
pie, there would indeed be cause for despair
That would fix the seal of destruction. 'sThe
war, the wrath, the terror, might otherwise
work their worst, and the strong walls would
rise, and the slight pillars would start again
from under the hands of the destroyer; but
they would not rise out of the ruins of their
own violated truth" That, however, is not
possible. We can turn with renewed faith
and hope from the darkness of this hour, in
which we have seen wealth and life squander-
ed without return, and inferior results OBJ
tanned at stupendous cost, to the people
of the country who cannot be msled
when their eyes are fully opened to
the light. While their faith makes them
courageous and generous to the last drop of
blood, 1t will also vigorously demand its rights.
1t will fight under no leaders who recognize
equal loyalty to slavery and the Union. 1t
will carry no shield which, like Ajax's, would
weigh down rather than help those who bear
it. 1t will fight for a perfect Union and
settled peace-hopeful in duration and prom
Use Of good, because based upon reverence
for human feeling and respect for human
rights.