The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-10-07


tory Of the country in the past Tow years ws
might make many collections Of words, 1t the
end of each Of which the honest patriot could
we'll declare, "For all this we thank Thee
good Lord" In such way We could name
the glorious victory Of vicksbarg; the
stubborn fight at Stone srlver; the
great battle Of Aatietam, with the sal
walton of country in its carnage; the three
dreadful July days, when our staunch country
men dressed the line Of battle and touched the
elbow day after day on the bills to the south
of the quiet little town Of Gettysburg, when
no man fed, and when those who stood were
only less glorious than those who fell. And
For all these the country could certainly render
thanks in fulness of heart So it could, too, for
New Orleans for Port Hudson, and for what
has been done at Charleston. We can also
heartily thank God that the country has such
sons as Grant. Rosecrans, Meade, Mcclellan,
Thomas, Farragut, Dupont, Porter and Gill
more. And for men like Ericsson and Parrot
we may render need of thanks equal to what
we would render for seventy and seven War or
Navy Department heroeA
But there Is something more" We praise
Thee, good Lord" is to a certain degree asso-
ciated with "Good Lord, deliver u.s." Can we
render thanks for such Cabinet as the Presi-
dent is surrounded by-fer what is done
at the War ONCE, and for what Is not
done by the navy! Can the country thank
God that General Rosecrans is compelled to
advance into the ensmy's territory against
his own convictions, and with an insufficient
FORCE 30 that our arms sustain defeat, and
that over ten thousand citizens Of the republic
are killed and MANNED to no good purpose!
Can we thank God for war that has lasted
nearly three years, when 1t should have been
ended in ones Can we thank God for the i'm
mense damage done to our commerce by the
Alabama and the Florida--for the twelve mil
lions of dollars worth that Maffs boasts to have
destroyed, and for the sixty-four captures made
by Semmess We can appreciate the emphatic
"Nol" With which the country may answer these
queries.
Evidently We cannot give thanks for these;
and there is, therefore, deficiency in the
Presidents proclamation. With his national
Thanksgiving Day he should have associated a
not less national fast day, on which the whole
country might feel abundantly Inundated that
the Presidents advisers are no wiser or better
than they are. Let us, then. when the thanks
giving is well done with, have another day
upon which the whole country may formally
mourn in sackcloth and ashes over Chase and
Stanton, Halleck and Weles; over the imbs-
cilities Of each and the persistent blunders OF
all; over the vices and weakness Of the War
and Navy Departments alike, and over the
awful loss that they have caused the country.
The Russian Empire and tho Amoriran
Republic Axainst the Western Faro
pean Powers.
The Russian government has answered the
last note Of France relative to Poland, and We
may truly assert that in this political discussion
the Gar comes out with all the honore. We
have seldom read more dignided and at the
same time myielding document than Prince
Gortschskoffs reply to the French Minister Of
Foreign Affairs. The attempt on the part OF
France to dictate to the Russian government is
defined by the Prince as inadmissible, while
the reference made to portions of the Russian
territory not coming within the jurisdiction OF
international law is 'peremptorily excluded"
These are brave words, and TO back them Rus
sia Is arming a million Of men, She has
already fifteen powerful iron-clads. She is
constructing eleven more, to enable her 70
compete successfully with all Powers who may
be so rash as to attack her. In what hui
initiating position France is placed by the last
note Of Russial She had threatened loudly
that II her demands were igaored she should
no longer make use Of diplomacy, but Of can
non. These demands are sternly repu'sed.
What now. Shall we see France make the
attack she 80 loudly asserted was imminent. or
shall we rather. see the willy monarch Of the
French back gracefully out OF his assumed
position as defender OF oppressed nationalties,
and leave Poland to her fate, after having
bestowed upon Der the requiem of a we'll
turned phrsse'
Napoleon cannot, dare not, attack Russia
alone. He could not do so were he untram-
mellei by that unfortunate Mexican expedition
Of his. Embarrassed by il, be would be insane
TO assault 30 powerful nation as Russia aided,
as she would be, by Prussia Neither England
nor Austria will help Napoleon to make war
upon the Gear. The former Power has had
quite enough Of her recent experience in that
matter, and she will not, in this instance. be
made a tool OF by Napoleon. Austria has
too great q fear Of her powerful neigh
Dor to engage in any contest with her.
As was the case during the Crimesn
war, Austria would look on II France
were to attack Russia. If there Is TO be war
between France and the Prussian and Russian
allies Napoleon must undertake the struggle
unaided; and we do not believe thst, with the
experience Of his uncle, the great Napoleon,
to warn him, be would dare 10 engage In so
terrific . contest. He will 6nd thst he has id
vancsd beyond his limits; that, blinded BY pre-
vious success, he has now gone too far, and he
will retreat - best he may, leaving behind
him large share Of that prestige and influence