The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-23
POSITION OF THE UNION CAUSE.
Plain talk for q Northern Htiindo.

Plain talk for q Northern hHf,de
The New York Times has melancholy but
very truthful editorial on the present aspect OF
Yankee affairs. We bespeak for it an attentive
perusal:
The summer campaign, which was to have given
Us the rebel capital, has come to a disastrous end
Richmond is relieved, and Washingtoneis be-
sieged. That magnificent army, organized and
drilled with 50 much care by Mcclellan a year
ago, rcpulsed first on the Peninsula, has been
again repulscd in its advance upon Richmond
from the North, and now seeks safety for itself
behind the forts which line the Potomac Dis
9uiso it as we may, the Union arms have been
repeatedly, disgracefully, and dccisvely beaten.
The whole campaign against Richmond has proved
failure. The rebels have resumed the offensive
and have driven our troops back to the precise
position they held after the battle of Bull Run,
moIe than one year ago Our Generals do not
seem to be aware whether they intend to attack
us there, or push forward on some other line Of
operations. One thing may be deemed certain
they will not sit down in front of Washington
and attempt to reduce it by siege. They will
either attempt flank movement upon it, o. what
seems to US still more likely, they will push a
powerful column directly into Pennsylvania and
strike blow at the Union cause on loyal soil.
There is u class of public men who think it
highly unwise to admit that we have suffered any
revelses They have copious explanations of the
apparent checks our forces have sustained and
abundant assurances that they all to be re-
deemed in the immediate future. We regret that
we cannot share their creduous confidence. All
their explanations cannot change this fact, that
wherever have met the rebels-whether be-
hind an earthwork, as in front of Richmond, or
in the open field, as in front of Washington-they
have beaten Sometimes they have outhanked
us; sometimes they have got completely in the
rear Of our forces; sometimes they have thrown
their whole force upon a single weak point of our
line and so overborne by numbers sometimes
they have drawn into ambuscade; but it
matters not how-the fact remains that they have
beaten u.s. And all that these various axplana-
tions amount to is that their Generals are 5oldcr
and more skillful, and their armies more effective
than ours This is all that anybody can ask in
war Ard it is worse than idle-it is childish and
idiotic to attempt to shut eyes to the glaripg
and repusive fact that thus far in the war the
rebels have the best of the fighting The sooner
we realize our actual condition, the sooner shall
We find a remedy for tt.
What is the cause Of these awful disasters.
Not in any lack of men, for armies outnumber
the rebels two to one. Not in lack of arms, Of
munitions, Of supplies-of all the means and ap-
planes Of successful war-for no army on the
face Of the earth has ever been 50 lavishly sup
piled with all these as ours. Not in the goodness
Of the causc-nor in the spirit Of the people-nor
in the valor and patience Of soldiers for in all
these respects we may challcSe the world to sur
pass U.s. We are driven to the conclusion that
the rebel Generals have been superior ours; that
the rebel Government has been able to WELD
skillfuly and successfully the Weapons placed i'll
its hands Results afford the ouly test of military
capacity. The army that conquers is always the
best. Large or small, ragged or well clad, hungry
or full, armed or unarmed, the army that drives
its enemy off the field is always the better of the
two. Our forces have been Splendid drilled,
admirably clothed and armed, and always supplied
with abundant food; but they have been defeated,
and that fact oycrrdes all others, and brands
them as inferior
\ strange phenomena recently occurred at Pres
que Isle, Maine. One morning it suddenly grew
so dark as to require lamps to be lighted. There
was very little thunder and some rain fell, which
was black, and "smelled ike an old chimney burn
ing" Clothes that were hung out were covered
with a fine Hack dust