Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-04
Is Our Country Able to Ma,ntuln a Long

AhNio oAO hOh lew WuO DelGNe IlAL tine
present war will be protpacted one. This
opinion appears to prevail to some extent
abroad, as well as at home; and if such is to
be the case, the question arises, are we able
to maintain a war for series of yearsP The
New York Commercial AdUertiser, in consid.
eriDg the matter, says that in the outset it
will not admit the probability of the war
being extended through another twelve
month. Late events have done much to
verify the predictions of Generals Scott and
Mcclellan and Secretary Cameron. There
is every likelihood that the period named by
theveteran Genersl-six months-vill bring
about the triumph of our arms. The re-
sources ofthe rebellion are evidently all bat
exbaustedi and its hopes must speedily COL
lapse under the sad turn of events in every
part Of the South. But, taking the worst
view Of the case, we maintain that theabeo-
pie of the loyal States are abundantly able
to carry on war one, two or three years
longer, if necessary.
In the first place, the nations of Western
Europe have done so, keeping armies ex-
ceeding half million on foot for a much
longer period than has been named. Why,
then, should not the twenty-five millions of
Northern Americans do the same? As to
the men, they are already in the field. All
that is needed now, is to maintain the force
now on foot and no sane person will ques.
tion our ability to do that Can we then
manage to feed, clothe, pay and equip that
vast host, after supplying the wants of the
twenty one and half millions remaiaing?
Why ncl2 The United Kingdom had over
thTee.quarters of million of men under
arms for years during the great French war.
Napoleon bad million Of regular soldiers
at bis disposal during the greater part of his
reign. Austria, Prussia, Russia, Sweden,
Denmark, armed to a corresponding extent
with their two leading Western rivals. The
FIVE great Powers, in periods of war, have
maintained three millions Of soldiers and
sailors in their pay; even their peace estab-
lishments have seldom run down much
below two millions.
Now, can not the average American do
what the average European has done? Is
he less intelligent less versatile, less enthu-
siastic, less active and enterprising? Is he
less ready to call to his aid the help of the
natural powers, and the latest improVem ents
made in machinery Is the soil of his coun-
try less grateful2 Are the treasures hidden
underneath it less abundant and rich than
in the Old World2 Or is its territorial area
too contracted for the employment of his
unwearied diliGence2 These questions sug-
gest their own anewers, and their presenta-
tion alone might dispose of the whole mat.
ter. But let US look into it little more
closely.
The area of the loyal States, excluding
Western Virginia, and the territories, en-
braces l,o9S s94 square miles, or nearly
twelve times the extent of the island of
Great Britain. Taken as a whole, the soil
of this country may be made as prolific as is
that of the ''sea girt isle;;" and if less atten.
tion has been bestowed upon developing its
full capacity here, it is only because the
quantity is practically without limit.
much larger proportion Of our people
are occupied in the labors of the field than
in England or ScotIand and man to man
thus engaged We believe the product brought
TO market in the shape Of grain, wheat and
the other great staples. is also larger. We
possess in abundance the best agricultural
machines; and the Great West affords a
scope for the employment of these, such as
no other country on the globe can equal.
Admit that the quantity of breadstuffs ex.
ported would seldom run up to what it has
done during the past year, and will do the
present. still, we should continue to pro-
duce much more than we required, exceptin
the most uDfavorsble seasons. The absence
of two per cent of our population from the
plow and the hoe would scarcely be missed
from the multitude ready to take their
places,
If agriculture Is unlikely to suffer, so are
our mining interests. And here field is
opened before the vision such as might pro.
woke the envy Of a European statesman. The
Pacific States are digging precious metals at
the rate Of never less than sixty millions a
year. We need feel no anxiety, then, about
drawing these from Europe, or even airing
some portion of our abundant receipts. East
and West we possess mines Of coal, iron,
copper, lead, zinc, mercury, such as all Eu-
rope combined can not equal in extent or
surpass in richness. Every pound of these
metals that may be required oan readily be
furnished from our own fields. We have
the works requisite to dig the ores, convert
them into metals and transport them to any
desirable point.
1t is only in respect to some kinds OF manu-
featured goods that any fear of short home
supply is entertained. Cotton might have
10 be imported from abroad at still higher
prices for time; but we should soon begin
to substitute fabrics made from other sub
stances for those Of the cotton plant. For
the skill requisite to work up these we should
not have to go far from home. So with the
WOolen manufacture, and to considerable
extent that Of silk. Leather would continue
to be tanned in every State, and Massachu-
Betts woud stand ready TO furnish any guam
tity Of boots and shoes that might be de-
manded, As to the great necesssries Of life,
what more do we want2 !
OF course, in the event of a prolonged war,
many would have to 90 on short allowance,
as respects the luxuries of life = costly
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