Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-18

THE ONE PLATFORM.

The contemplation of our late disappoint-
ments in the field hardly affects us more than
the bitter wrangling Of a large portion of the
loyal press. We can make an allowance for
the diversity Of opinion which prevails. for
we all have our own ideas az to the way the
war ought to have been carried on, and no
one feels exactly satisfied. We can under
stand, also, the disposition which exists at
this time for a general outpouring Of long re-
strained criticisms and complaints. con-
temporary, we observe, in relieving It's mind
on this subject, asks no less than forty quos-
tons in one article. But these are for the
most part good naturedly put; whereas the
feature Of this war of words which we do
not understand, but which we witness with
the deepest regret and sadness, is the bitter
ness and resentment with which it is conduct
ed
/ II things have been going wrong, either in
the civil or military departments, it is a mat
ter which we ought to consider more in
sorrow than in anger" What is past is past;
and as to what may be going wrong now, the
first question is, whether it admits Of any re-
medy or not. If it does, then pains should
be taken to bring about the remedy as quiet
ly and speedily as possible. In the midst Of
all these circumstances of national peril, it
should not be forgotten that there are two
parties which ought to have mutual under
standing and to support each other--the
President and the people. The President
yet retains the full confidence Of the people,
and If he is to enjoy it to the end, as the
safety of this country absolutely requires, he
must be fairly dealt with in return. II any
member Of his Cabinet has really forfeited,
or been so unfortunate as to lose the public
confidence, thereby disqualifying him from
the effective discharge OF his duties, then that
fact should be made plainly to appear, in or
der that the President may act-as we have
no doubt he will in all such cases-with in
telligent prompGtude. The same remark APP
plies to the case Of military officers, with oil
course greater distrust of first impressions,
owing to the greater difficulty Of forming a
correct popular sentiment on this subject
But how different from the pursuit of these
corrective methods are the wranglines and
resentments which characterize too large a
portion OF the public press II the Presi.
dent were the most candid man in the world
he would turn away in despair Of finding an,
instruction in such mass of discordant anC
incorporate ebullitions But beyond faiinG
to do any good, they generate vast amour
- '''0N'i'Sif " Ni'Nitlub IluullC htttutlOu IRON
the real needs Of TIE hour, and checking tn,
rapid enlistments which are so imperativel,
demanded We trust, therefore, that unit
public opinion can be concentrated in som,
more practical and beneficial form than w,
have yet seen, all this quarreling may be sus
pended This is no time for the indulgence
! Of any fighting, except against the common
enemy in the field, who is likely TO provide
us with enough of it. Differ we may an,
must about thousand things in the cours
of this crisis, but all are and ought to be har
monious on one platform, viz, "tho yigorou
4 prosecution of the war Insure MS that
and all other questions may be left to sottl
themselves Deprive us of that. and there
nothing left worth fighting about It is
, platform upon which not only every loyal ma
can and will stand, but upon which he ca
render important service al the present hour
Let us commend it to every reader as tn
platform of all parties and shades Of opinion
= whose cornerstone is loyalty to the Union