Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-19
FAILURE OF REBEL HOPES.

When the rebels set up their bogus government
each If which had a semblance Of plausibility:
1. Chief and foremost was the indispensable
ness OF cotton to the industry of Europe. II cot
ton continued to be exported, IL would furnish
the rebels with the sinews Of war; while a long
blockade without foreign Intervention was re-
garded as an impoDibilitv, because II was sup
posed the governments Of Europe would be un-
abe 70 SAND aiocf and see the important indus
tries connected with the cotton manufacture go
into collapse. This hope has been to them like
the apples Of sodOm, fair to look upon, but turn
Ing to ashes In their mouths. Instead Of getting
the recognition on which they counted, they have
been repelled and put of until the rebellion has
so far gone under that Intervention to procure
cotton would oostruct that object far more than
II would forward 10,
success OF the rebellion was the expected CO.
operation of the Democratic party OF the Northern
States. Its leaders looked for special sympathy
In the city OF New York, whose trade would
receive a disastrous blow from the suspension OF
commercial Intercourse w ,th the South, and in
the West, which would lose one OF IT'S most
important markets. This hope exploded like a
badly constructed steam boiler the moment the
war broke out The people Of the North were
united az one man as soon they caught the
reverbraions OF the guns which opened fire On
Fort Sumter.
3 Another principal peg on which Davis hung
bis hopes OF success was the supposed injury he
could indict on our commerce and the terror he
could spread over the seas by means Of prIvateers
untimelv fruit In a tempest. The merchant ves-
sells Of the United States have continued to navi-
gate every ocean and sea with comparatively
little damage from the southern privatsers. They
being fitted out.
Another ground Of hope in maintaining a
defensive war agai st the United States was the
supposed impreenability Of the forhAcators 5
which stood as sentries to guard the entrance to
their harbors and command the navigation Of the
Mississippi and other i'm portant rivers We have
demonstrated to the world that any defensive
works situated on waters accessible TO our gum
boats and tron-clad ships ara easily capt ured or
passed. The renowned NJ onitor and the bril- liant
achievements OF Farragut ami Porter In the Lower
NJ Mississippi show how pDwerless any kind OF for
tincation Is to resist our progress In any navIga-
BILE waters.
Another ground Of rebel confidence, and the
only one OF which the war has left any fragment
remaining, 10 the supposed invincible determine
tion Of their people, aud the assumed valOs Of
their soldiers With regard to the persistent de-
termination OF the southern people IL Is vet too
early to speak, but by this time their confidence
must be sadly shaken. The last two or three
months have been more thickly crowded with
stirring military events than any period Of equal
length In history Dutin all this pid succession
OF battles and sieges, or captures, evacuations
and retreats, the South has won no laurels On
the southern side, the story Of these active cam.
paigns is s'ory of battles lost, OF strong holds
abandoned, Of great cities surrendered OF forti6 .
cations demolished, OF flying troops and panic.
struck communities.
Everything presages that the end Is al hand.
Even II the North should find its splendid career
Of victory interrupted by one or two reverses the
doom OF the rebellion could not long be deferred
We have gained so many advantages; we have
prostrated the rebels at many Inn portant poll
the swelling tide Of our victories has gathered
such momentum, that its irresistible sweep would
b. like swollen rive rushing against obstacles
They might cause It's waters 70 dash themselves
into foam or pile themselves up in accommodating
weight which would bear down all obs acles
The Union armies have no longer anything to fear
except the southern climate, and there is good
reason for believing that before the sickly season
sets In there will remain no enemy for them to en-
counter except scattered guerilla bands-N Y
World.