Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-17
THE FUTURE.

The present is the parent of the future, and all
wise men provide for its exigencies- We plant, we
SOW we build for the future. Life ITSELF according
to Christianity, is but preparation for the eternal
future. All government, in its daily operations il
directed by WISDOM takes in the future--not the
present only-in its consideration. If the present
only was regarded, who would 80 through the tolls,
the sufferings, the miserieS of revolution and war
But it is future sccurity-future prosperity-future
liberty and independence-which induces a people
to take up the sword in reastence to present OPP
preston or invasion. Successful war; like all other
enterprises, depends upon preparation looking to
the future. 1t is here the Government of the Con-
federate States has failed 1t never has been able
to scan the future. Hence it has made no adequate
preparations to meet it. Last spring were found
by our enemies without preparations to encounter
their immense hosts. The feeblest sort OF efforts
were made to obtain navy to defend our ports, or
harass our enemies on the high seas. At this tlne
whilst our enemies are raising three hundred thou
sand additional troops, the first Conscrpt Law has
hardly been enforced in of the States and the
President expresses doubts of our requiring more
men to carry the war successfully Clothes,
hats, shoes, blankets, during the last summer
months, could have been imported by the Confede-
rate Government for our soldiers in the field Now
the people in the States called on to supply the
gross negligence and ineffciency of the Govern
ment by furnishing clothes to the army This was
years resources have been before the Government,
it is not excusable that the people of the States be
looked to by the Government for any necessity of
the army. And yet further-wil not, the calami-
tous experience of the past teach our Government
to put in the field sufficient number of troops in
time to meet our enemies? Will we again ever be
found unprepared to meet them, and new inroads,
upon the Confederate States be successfully made,
and Richmond perhaps be- again beleaguered, and
another campaign of Southern invasion be opened ?
Can no calamities no experience induce the Gov
ment to exercise wise forecast and act in such a
manner as to end the war? With sufficient num-
Der of men now in the field, properly equipped, we
could so assume the aggressive as to end the war
we can keep inadequate forces in the field badly
provided, and protract indefinitely the war; Which
is the course Of wisdom? Is it not the dictate of
true humanity, as well of policy, not to let our
gallant armies be worn out and wasted by continued
battles, in which decisive victories not achieved,
but to keep them in such numbers as shall recruit
Their strength and enable them to be concusively
vlctorouss Our soldiers have always fought against
fearful odds. Their unsurpassed heroism has saved
our cause. Shall this halfway policy be continued
until they are overwhelmed and destroyed in detail
by numbersE Are we to wait quietly until the
armies of invasion are again upon us That is
what our enemies propose to accomplish Charles
ton Mercury ~.