Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-03-12
THE TIME HALF OUT, AND THE TASK
MORE THAN HALF DONE.

MORE THAN HALF DONE.
The first half of President LINCoLN's
term of Office is completed to-day. How
is it with his business in hand?
Every rejecting man, we suppose, will
admit that, considering its intrinsic diff
culties and tremendous consequences, the
suppression of this rebellion, if actually
accomplished, will have been work enough
and glory enough, for any single Admin
istration. The rebellion is by far the most
gigantic history has ever known. Its O.
verthrow will produce results in favor of
free government both in the New World
and in the old, which will extend through
centuries, and probably through all time.
The period of four years is but mere fin
gers breadth in the great stretch of our
national existence. If, in this Presiden-
tial term, this terrible revolt is put down,
the nations life saved, the nations au-
thority vindicated--if, two years from to-
day, ABRAHAM LINCOLN shall be able to
hand over to his successor the reunited fas-
ces of an unbroken Republic, which two
years ago dropped into his hands disuni-
ted--the period will surely stand out in
the future history as, of all others, immeas-
urably the NEST serviceable and the most
praiseworthy. Is this to be realized?
Positive prediction, of course, is idle
We cannot absolutely know the future
We can only judge it; and judge it there
is but one true way, and that is by the
past. "The unknown" said BoNApARTE
"can be reached only through the known. y
We must estimate the likelihood of Presi-
dent LINooLN's completing the work devol.
we'd upon him, just as we would calculate
the probability that any agent Or servent
will accomplish the task given him. We
take note of his progress. We look tc
what he has done to determine what he
will do.
Now, it is not possible for any fair man
to deny that the first half of the work has
been completed during the first half of the
term of service. In every point of view,
this estimate more than holds good. Let
us see.
First, as to accomplished results. Tc
determine this there is no necessity of re.
verting to particular battles and cam
paigns though it would be very easy tc
show that the great majority of these have
gone against the rebels. One broad fact
is enough. When the rebellion started
the National banner did not and could moi
and did not float on one ten-thousandtb
part of the soil claimed by the Confedera
cy. Jeff Davis exercised dominion sub
stantially everywhere, from the banks o.
the Potomac and of the Ohio, and the lows
line, down to the Gulf, and from Cape
Hatteras to the outermost limits of New
Mexico. The National flag now floats
unmolested over two-thirds Of the area 81
far as substantial results are concerned, ,tha
tells the story.
Then, as to psrils from abroad. TIVE
years ago the Confederates held implicitly
that cotton was King and would dictate
to the Powers of Europe speedy rccogni
ton and active interference in their behalf
The Northern people had just reason t.
apprehend. There was, indeed, vast dan
ger. Nothing excited so much misgivins
about the final result. But this jeopardy
has been reduced to almost nothing. l
is at least virtually settled that England
the power which we had principally t.
fear, will not unite with France in an.
demonstration against us, and will remail
a passive spectator to the end Of the war
Any interference, on the part of Franc
alone, even were it of violent character
could not prevent our effective prosecution
of the war. The chances of the Confed
eracy for efectual help from abroad have
during the two years, almost entirely dis
appeared. How far this is owing to tn
skillful diplomacy of the Administration
and how far to the silent influence ofevents
it is needless to inquire. 1t is enough t
know that the two years have more thal
half-vastly more than half-abated thi
reliance of the rebels.
Then as to the means IN hand. 0