The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-09-23
PERPETUAL w Ar,
Llncain's Letter

full in another part of to7days paper
is not what it was universally expect
ed to be, few or none will deny. Even
the New York Tribune of 31st ult.
three days before the letter appeared
in its columns, said:
awe look for some significant fore
shadowing of what is to be, in the
Presidents letter to the Union State
Conventions at Springfield and Syra'
cuse on Thursday next. Believing
him wise and humane as we'll as pat
riotic and courageous, we believe that
letter will 90 far to reassure the South
that the President is anxious for
an immediate arrest of hostilities
on terms that will humiliate and de-
grade no section or class, but be hon"
able and just to all. Confding in his
wisdom and craftsmanship, We san
guinely expect to follow his lead in
undoubting faith that we are doing our
best to serve and bless our whole
country" .....
For weeks it had been chronicled
that THE letter would be forthcoming.
The public mind awaited it with an
interest seldom elected by expected
State papers. That it was to be the
opportunity for at least enlightening
the people on the grave matters OF
the day in which their every interest
is involved, no one doubted. That it
would indicate some opening through
which at least a gliner of day could
be seen through the black cloud which
has rested upon us SO long, all expect
ed. That it would tell us of the ex-
tent of our dangers from foreign COM
plications-.the relations which We are
to bear to the French in Mexico
very many believed. But when the
letter fell as it did among whole peo-
pie in a single day, there is no man in
all this broad land who can deceive
himself by denying q surprise and dis
appointment. Even the ntensest
Abolitionists, says the Crisis, who
alone are grati6ol in getting what
they hoped for, expected something
more. With tenfoll more cause, could
Mr.. Lincoln now repeat "thore are
those who are dissatisfied with ME-. -
But We must take what wa have ro-
ca;aea and dispose Of it as best we
may. ...
It is unnecessary to waste time and
space, by comm snt upon the grotesquc
rhetoric Of this manifesto. It is only
Important to solve from it the philo-
sophy BY which Mr.. Lincoln's Admin
istration intends to conduct this na>
tioa through the troubles to which
this letter confines its disclosures
1t is only important, but it is all i'm
portant, for the people to know how
the Administration ineends to direct
their destiny while it has been taken
so completely in their hands.
While showing US the future, Mr..
Lincoln gives us no encouragement as
to the condition Of the present.
There are those who looked with hope,
if not belief, to some nearer approach
to the end of the war, through the
victories of the battle fields of July.
Mr.. Lincoln coolly dispels that illa-
sioa. He tells us that he believes
compromise NOW to be impossible;
that he has received not the slightest
intimation from any authentic source
of any desire on the part of the South
to accept any compromise The first
step of all who are worsted in arms, is
to try to get terms. AS long as no
attemptis made in that direction, it il
very certain that there is no evidence
of subjugation. Such thing is i'm
possible of entertainment, as that or
enemy is on the point of subjugatior
while disdaining TERMS. Mr.. Lin-
coin while thus, whether Intentionally
or not, disclosing the true state o
affairs, has dashed the .thoughtless ex
seotations Of thousands; and has rem
dered himself liable to denunciation
as "traitor the penalty of "ban'
ishment." But we must take him as
meaning what he says; and so far a
he can see, the battles of July have
brought us no nearer to an end OF the
war, than we were before. When h
gets word Of progress in that direc
tion he explicitly promises to inform
us. @a re reGa .
The sum and substance of the whole
letter is PERPETUAL WAR. Its whole
philosophy can be compressed in
few lines. Mr.. Lincoln determinedly
refuses to acknowledge any instru
mentality as available other than war
and the conduct Of that war must b