New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-05
THE SITUATION.

enemy as III ID IN mechanics 10 unuerrato
force to be overcome, or in morals a tempta-
ton to be encountered. In either case defeat
is very likely to be the result In the attempt
to suppress the Southern rebellion here lies
our danger. We do not presume the North
TO be stronger, or richer or more determined
than it really 10; but we arc inclined to be.
lieye the South to be weaker, poorer, and less
in earnest than we ought by this time to know
her TO be. II is nine months since the first
blow of tho insurrecton was struck 10 Charles
ton Harbor. In those nine months the rebel.
lion has assumed the gravity, tho dignity. ond
the strength of q revolution. Why should we
attempt to disguise or conceal 1T In oil that
time not fifty men, out Of q population Of eight
millions, have voluntarily laid down their arms
aud returned to their allegiance. OF all that
region which nine months ago was debatable
land, and held in any force by the rebels,
hardly a county is at this moment 10 the quiet
and undisputed possession Of the Federal Gov.
eminent. They have not succeeded in bring
ing about IN instruction in Mary land, and
they have not taken possession of the Capital;
but both these are negative triumphs on our
part, made, especially in the latter case, at an
immense cost of money, Of time, and, 40 far
as foreign nations are coDcerned-we may
as well confess it-of reputation. True,
We have made Judgment at Hilton
Head and Ship Island, both good things as
the basis Of future operations; but Bragg
is not yet driven FROM before the fort at Pen.
saccla Bowling Green, place OF great nat
ural strength, made stronger by ,kIllful forti-
fcations, 10 yet TO be overcome in Kentucky,
notwithstanding our late success there; in
Missouri, Price, whom, two months ago, FIRE.
mont had driven 10 bay. and was on the eve
Of bringing to the ordeal Of bahle, tue result
Of which no sane man could doubt. has, after
again rayaging the State with fire anu sword.
turned again at Springfield to confront and
defy Pope; and tho stereotyped report OF
f" al quiet on tho Potomac ought not to fail
to remind M that six months ago il fist came
from Washington to reassurc the North, from
day ~ day, that the rebel success at Manassas
was not followed up BY an attach upon the
capital. Why should We hesitate 10 LOOK ct
aud to speak Of these things True, our
preparations, in the mean time, have been
enormous; out Of nothing we have created a
Navy, though the last news from tho Sumter
ia that she has gone into n European port TO
rclit, after taking and burning three prizcs;
and we have put on foot an efficient Army OF
COO, 900 men, which, We trust, may speedily do
Its appointed work when once 1t begins.
Nevertheless, every month OF an unsurpassed
rebellion is month gained, and brings il a
month nearer 10 the time when, II II can con-
tinue ito defiant attitude, the nations who
watch the contest As interested spectators,
shall give it their sympathy Us successful
revolution.
We ought, by this time, to have learned
that the South 10 in earnest and is not afraid.
We ought, by this time, to acknowledge that
her affairs are managed by men wise in state
craft, all the more wise il her people are not
a unit in the purposes Of the rebellion; that
her armies are led by men skiliul in the art
Of war, who draw tho sword without reluc-
lance, and have thrown away the scabbarj.
II we have done much, Il we have shown our
selves strong in enthusiasm, rich in resources,
prodigal Of men, lavish Of means, then they
have done more, not having these advantages,
~ else they possess them in common with us.
In either case it is 10 no ordiaary contest they
have called US by the issue Of war. They are
10. in VI INIT A
or they supply the want Of these BY zeal aud
determination which so often command success
without them. The sinews Of war; says Mach.
~ ELI, are not 10 men and money, but in the
,pirIt of people. Is it We or they who hold
tie most of this reserved power Ia it We
who are the more determined TO put down the
rebellion at all hazards or they who ut any
sacrifice mean to break up the Union and
achieve their independence 7
The pivotal point of success is Slavery. 1t
is our strength and their weakness, or our
weakness and their strength, as it may be used
by either side. Tins far the advantage has
been retained on theirs. Our laboring class is
composed OF men and women, and on the
former We rely for the needful work at home,
in agriculture and the workshop, aud tho fight.
ing material abroad. Their aborng class is of
men, and of women who, 80 far as labor is
concerned, are also men. There are four mil.
lions Of them who. without regard to sex, and
almost without regard to age, do all the need.
full labor for all the rest. They do not need to
keep their fighting men at home. They send oil
their irecmen 10 the field to meet os mapy of
ours as We can spare. The labors which