New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-26
THE PASSION az TIaE EO,R.

If there b. any rcnson TO despair OF The Re
public, /. does not lie in military diSe-tor. A
nation long wrapt in the rep0se Of peace 10
slow to develop its dormant military capacity.
Il may be beaten again aud a ain; may lavish
HE aud treasure without avail; MAJ be the
victim Of the incompetence Of its Generals in
successive battles and siiil tend toward ultimate
triumph, batting no jot Of heart or hope.
But if it haze 10 heart or hope The tenn
per which has recently been shown in the
North may not be lastirg. but II is OF the mos.
painful character as long a, il lasts. Nor can
it be Traced TO any other cause than to that
habitual Difference 10 the South In which the
nation has been 80 long educated, which may
stil be appealed 70 with some SHORT lived sue
cess by those men among ~ who are still striving
more or lees openly. for tie reinstatement Of de-
ihroncd despotsn. Bet consider, for moment,
what is our actual situation. Within the last
three months We have recognized and enlisted
an army Of million Of m6n. The commander
who for year had wasted the energies and
spcni the lives Of Lis soldier, in inaction hos
been removed. The spell which paraly zed all
effort. has been bl,kcn. Prospects Of Winter
quarters on the Potomac or Rappahannock
vanished with his retirement, and the army
became once more u living and moving power.
new General assumed command. President,
Cabinet ana People announced with unnis
taxable decision that The war must henceiorth
be vigorously pressed, aud the Commander Of
the Army Of the Potomac both knew what was
expected Of him, aud meant to ltilfll it. VIA
what Gler.ty he coud, be moved, halted them
on the RappahaunoclE for tho want of means
OF crOssins-by whose fault does cot yet appear
ill his enemy hal time to intrench himself
in a naturally. strong position; then flung his
army over the river and buried il against the
Rebel works. lie was beaten, forced TO give
over the assault, withdrew bis army in safety
again to this bank Of the river, and announced
q defeat
WHAT ia Tie result stated in It's worst form
We have lost months time. nnd perhaps two
hundred moro men than tho Rebels lost in the
battle Of Prairie Grove in Arkansas on the 7th
met. Beyond that, nothing We loss is de-
plofablc, the lives cannot be restored. But it
10 the fortune of war, and bravo nation
would accept it as such
Hitherto We have gathered strength from
defeat aud plueked safety out of danger.
The eliminating turn of the nations history
was the burst Of patriotic enthusiasm which
followed the fall Of Sumter. Tho defeat Of
Manassas, which stunned Us at first, neryed
us in q moment to more vigorous nnd deter
mined cxcrton,. The inactive Winter on the
Potomac which tried our patience, tho long
series Of disasters Oh the Peninsula, the
wretched blnndcrs Of tho Pope campaign tho
delay and timdty which suffered the Rebel
army 10 escape from Antie.am-all failures and
misiortanes but stimulated tho popular heart.
Why should this last defeat have fallen with
such crushing force -
Profoundly regrettiDg il, We nevertheless need
not seek far for tho causes that have pDducod
such temper Rs This which ruled tie hour.
Happily. il ruled only tho hour Happily, We
are rapidly outgrowng tho old swnddling clothes
of party by virtue of which it is still attempted
20 keep US within tho rules of national in
fancy. We arc 40 longer Children to 20 susr