The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-12-27
Saturday, December ~, 1862.
The President Waivers Danger Ahead

The President Waivers Danger Ahead
BY the late telegraphic reports tn
President is represented as saying to tn
committee of Border State half hearted
slavery-sympathizing Union men. "tha
as TO his emancipation proclamation h
had acted from the belief that it would
effect good results, but if he could b,
convinced to the contrary. he woult
modify his position IN the subject. Hi
purpose being to do the best he could
under all the circumstances"
This looks ominous. 1t may be i; j.
only the best answer the Executive
could give to men who vehemsntly be-
seiged him for change of policy: but
it has all the appearance of a vaverins
of purpose and a change Of policy. We
trust it is only in appearance. We find
no whols-souled Union men of any
party demanding that the President
shall recede from the noble stand taken
after mature deliberation and announced
on the sed of September, which thrill
ed the hearts of patriots everywhere
and electrified the world. Only semi
Unionists are opposed to the Proclama-
sion-those who hold Slavery or party
in higher esteem that they do the gov
ernment and the country.
Now there can be but one result from
a wavering purpose on the part Of Mr..
Lincoln, and that is disaster to the cause
Of the. Union. Loyal people and the
whole world will lose confidence in the
wisdom and stability Of purpose of the
head of the nation. Only rebels and
their sympathizers will rejoice. To
them the fal.ering of the President will
be q victory more substantial than the
conquest of State or the destruction
Of an army; and while the friends of
the government will BE- disputed, their
hearts heavy and their hands hanging
down. treason will revive and rebels
become hopeful and bold.
And more than this, disasters will
follow in the field. Already has the
rebel army of the west been greatly re-
enforced, and instead of retreating a.
was the case few days since, is assum
ing the offensive, and the Federal forces
are falling back at various points. Gen.
10. johnson. an accomplished officer.
and one of the very best Of the rebel
generals. is At the head of the depart
ment. and has concentrated the scatter.
ed forces under Bragg. Kirby Smith.
Price, Van Dorm, Pember:on and Breck-
inridge into a vast army, and if our
generals are not vigilant and active they
will be cut off in detail.
God rules the nations. This bloody
rebellion is not to terminate before some
good is accomplished. If the President
recedes from his proclamation which is
TO Emancipate millions Of human be-
ings. the nation must suffer for the ain.
We may look for defeat. Mississippi
will be lost; Tennessee and Kentucky
will be overrun. Even St. Louis, Louis
vile and Cincinnati may be taken.
These may seem like visions Of the
imaginaiions but they may prove sad
realities if the nation sins through her
Executive by dashing the cup of prom
ised liberty from the lips of millions of
enslaved immortals, the ''very hairs Of
whose head God has numbered" It
OF small thing to trife with tho mean
.st Of Gods creatures. 1t was not the
.ieh man clothed in purple and fine
men," who 'Gared sumpiuously every I
lay" that God had respect for and com
'assion upoa. but the poor "bsggar at
is gate" clothed in rags. who was
fed with the crumbs from his table,"
The poor beggar was honored by con-
voy Of angels and"carried to Abrahams S
BOSOM" while the other went his dark
way alone. to the chambers Of eternal
night. We may learn a lesson from
ibis not TO dispise the poor Of this world.
God cares for them. and they who tram
lie upon them God will punish.
"RefoIms do not 60 backward" 1t
$ far more dangerous to recede than 10
% forward in any reformation. In the
present instsnes it is certain disaster to
ecede. Onward is the waschword,"
IS We said before: and 1t is the only safe
y consistent policy.
Look at the situation of the opposing i
orces. The rise of streams in Tennis
20 and Mississippi night prevent a 4
of our some what divided ;,
'rccs. The enemy being in their own =
o,cfrv .cd ~, ,l,n Jnc--: