The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-10-08


steady and irresistible progress of the
army, in it's conqnests and occupation
If the rebel territory.
There have been times of suspended
activity-times when, from temporary
and contingent causes, our army opera
tions were stayed; when the enemy
here and there, eu,numbering our
forces; when our hearts throbbed with
alarm, fearful that the chance occasions
for the enemy's advantage should turn
against us the tide of war, which
might sweep over our Capital, or res
cue from us the hard earned fruits of
victory, and, possibly, destroy the last
hope of the restoration of our divided
and endangered Republic. odw .8q'ed
And yet, when has any substantial
advantage resulted to the enemy ?
The battles of. Antietam and Gettys-
burg were the issues of the two. peri
ODDS of the war most fraught with peril
Ia the North. Both hurled back the
arrogant armies of Northern invasion
moi rood of land was gained not
decisive triumph of rebel armies was
achieved the defeated armies, in each
case. retired, thinned, reduced, demon
allied the issue, defeat to them, and
new ,rinmphs TO us. as tta
1t is now clear-when the smoke Of
near battle-firlds is cleared off, and the
enemy is driven closer and closer To his
last retreats-tlrat the progress of the
national arms has been ever and steadi-
" onward, the enerny's lines contract
ing, while his resources are falling, so
that it requires only from the people
the Leediul exercise of patience, while
the Government pursues its vigorous
and necessarily ertended plans of ope-
ration, to bring the war to mauagea-
bic limit, relieving the vast strain il
has hitherto borne on its men and
means.
When we call to mind that not a
city or a territory we have gained has
yet been lost that all we have taken
We yet hold and that, too, in no in
stance, with any demonstrations Of re-
volt, but rather with those of peaceble
(,h"ugh compulsory acquiescence in
our legitimate Goverment-when we
see the national authority now tran
gully establihcd over Kentucky, Mis-
souri,, Western Tennessee with the
near prospect of its Eastern counties)
over considerable part of Mississippi,
and yet more of Arkansas and Louisi-
ana-what more complete demonstra-
lion can be had, not only of the sure
progress of the national arms, but Of
the certainty-against all protestaions
and iears, abroad or at home--of the
final and complete triumph of the ma
Flional authority over the entire Repub-
lie :?
True, there is yet toll, struggle and
sacrifice, and possibly fearful and sad
scenes of carnage and death, in the
otherwise hopeful prospective. But,
if ever the future is revealed in the ex-
perence and precedents of the past,
only one result is now the clear proph.
ecy OF events, namely-universal tri-
unrph OF our flag, and the undisputed
Acknowledgements of the national au-
thority throughout our country.
The wisdom and energy Of the Ma
tional Government are shown, beyond
dispute or cavil, in an issue thus far SO
clear, so hopeful and it should shame
the cavaliers on all sides, and in all par
ties, who have iguominiously sought
to turn our temporary disasters into oc-
casions of unmerited reproach against
our national leaders.
If anything were needed to show the
consummate forethought and vigor of
the Government, it is given in the pres
ent security of the navigation of the
Mississippi, rescued but few weeks ago
from the control of the enemy. Eighty,
cessels, of all descriptions, are now do
ing hepolice of that gigantic highway
OF the nation. The whole river, from
Cairo To the Gulf ds,ricted and guard
ed by our lynx-eyed naval command
ers, is now protected from guerrllas
and bu>hwhackers, so that rarely are
its peaceful waters disturbed by the
crack of the rifle, or the fear of plum
dering marauders.
Let our people give loyal and united
support To the veteran leaders i'm this
great struggle. "Slow an sure" may
be distasteful motto to the impetuous ;
n l.