Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-27

Our people hail the successes in Ken
lucky, not because they are victories Of
arms 10 much as because they seem to be
victories OF policy. They IeemtO show
that the reluctant, dallying, d3-nothing
schemes asCribed to the Administration are
Abandoned, and az active prosecution Of
the, war substituted. Everybody hopes
that the days Of Sherman PrOcianations
and Chinese tactics, which consist 10 paper
walls, wooden guns and making faces, Is
passed. Everybody hopes, too, that the
officers who have achieved the important
triumph will not Immediately return to the
cities to receive tho customary ovation but
that they will march on from Somerset 10
Knoxville rs rapidly as they can, aud max
ing no apologies for the injuries which
their shells may inaict, like Louis the
Twelfth OF France, at whom Machlavelli
laughs for "his falling on his knees and
humbly asking the pNrdoP Of His Holiness
every time his troops TOOK u town orwon
a field"
War is eithera stern and awful necessity
or a great crime. II must he serious and
sauguiuary, or else be stopped. The only
justification for it is that the ends to be
attained by it can be attained 10 no other
way. II policy, II negotiations, If delays
can restore tue Union, we ought to diSband
the troops but II lighting alone can re.
store Il, then we ought 10 fght, But the
people Of this country have long ago de.
ter,niued that alternative. They have en-
tered upou the war before Us as the only
means Of preserving their national life,
and Of handing down TO their posterity
in tact all that Is precious 10 nGtion Of
Christian ircemCn. They have sea! into
the field six hundred thousand Of the
flower Of their youth. They are daily
pouring out two millions Of their treasures.
They demand that this war shall be carried
forward-With humanity, certainly, for
that Is an attribute Of our ago and Ctvili-
zatiou-but ut the same time with severe
and trenchart energy.
In certain crisis uufinChing 6rmuess is
the truest humanity. The surgeon docs
not weep aud wiring his hands, and protest
his unwillinguess to give pain, over pa
tienI on whom be Is performing perilOus
operation. The patient himself would
deSpise him for such untimely and unmAn.
ly releuuugs, II this great republic, al
ways humane and pacific in her policy at
home and abroad, has come to this sad
conclusion, that certain wayWard aud re-
belliuuS children, whom she has been pst-
ting aud spelling by indulgence for the
last thirty years, must now be reduced 10
obedience by se5ere measures, and has u.
ken tho rod in hand for that purpose, let
not the needful severity be made ridiculous
and Intellectual By ill;judsed and ill'timed
leDieneey,
We need everywhere the infusion Of q
sterner element into the conduct Of our
struggle With this rebellion, Should every
active rebel in the land be this day depFi.
yed of every dollar, including bis slaves,
II would DO mercy TO the country at
large, 70 the foreign nations who are suf.
feriug with US, to the multitudeS At the
South who have been forced into complici'
ty with treason, aud who are at this hour
Eroaniug under wrongs and crimes which
they have no. the power 10 redress or the
courage 10 disayoW-mercy 10 the eHd to
the rebels themselves. Their only chance
Of restitution 10 peace and good citizenship
| lies now In the coercive band Of the Gov
ernmcut, They have steeled themselves
against all gentler Influences. Men who,
in the very ireu8y Of rebellion, are putting
the torch 10 their own property and have
run up the black dag against their loyal
fellow.ciuzens, are beyond all hope Of re-
clamation by any other means than the
sword. Besides, such is now the AFRO.
ganee Of the rebel leaders, such the con.
ceit Of their own superiority, that nothing
but thraJhlug them thoroughly will teach
them proper respect for the Northern
people.
What the value Of earnestneSS In this con-
test is We may learn from the battleNt SOM
suet. A large part Of our troops there