The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-20

In another column of our paper, Mr.. Gree
ley expresses his opinion that the war draws
10 close, and that this year will probably
see it ended. He does not give the facts on
which such Judgment is based, and it must be
regarded as the impression produced by the
whole course of events, and their present con-
dltion. upon his mind DIS o.
But judgments Of this kind are but little
more than the reflection of personal temper
ament. Opposite opinions will be formed, in
view OF the same facts, by two men equally
wise, simply because one is sanguine, and
dwells upon the hopeful aspects, while the
other, cautious and slow of belief, weighs the
difficulties and dangers. - r.
We can see how the war easily n,iqIa be
short, and that it mqy be near its close But
we see with equal clearness that it aaag be
protracted for several wears to come. Nor is
Ii in the power of any man, at present, to-
judge which of the two possible courses events
will follow. .f.-
We see no substantial evidence that the
South is yet discouraged. What Legislature,
Convention, or influential man, even, has Mt
tered desponding word !? The spirit of the
people is not'broken. With a few exceptions
the intelligent prisoners who are taken hold
one language, and that is of firm, resolute,
bitter determination to resist to the uttermost.
Nor can we LEARN that those who stay at. home
and who suffer great deprivations, are weary
or discouraged. Even when hunger drives
women to riot and violence, it, is remarkable
that they demand bread but never tpeaceb
Indeed, we are free to say that we canuot re-
press our admiration of the conduct of the
| Southern people in this terrible struggle. 1t
needs only a worthy cause to be regarded as
heroic. They seek to establish detestable
SvSfpp1 of S1ayarv fNbayy for hot
the overthrow of benefcent governments
Their cause is as bad as it well can be. New
ertheless, they have given up all things for
what they regard their country. They
have reHnquist-ed Injuries, submitted to hard
ships, suffered bereavements and losses, not
only without murmuring but eagerly; and
after two years of trials that may be said al
most to have revolutionized the interior of
Southern society, and reduced them to the
minimum of comfort, they are undiscouraged
They are even more fierce and bitter than
ever
The prospect of starving rebellion does not
seem very cheering. The summers of the
South come round too quick. Men that could
march as Jacksons army did into Maryland
almost without a coInmissariat, and eating
green corn for rations, plucked from the fields
! for each days use are not likely to starve on
corn meal and green herbs.
| Already early garden crops are coming into
/ Southern markets. We don't object to fair
/ share of starvation as part of military, ne
! cessity, but we confess to not little shame
when we hear men taking it for granted that
the North is playing a trencher-g game, and does
by knife and fork what it cannot by sword
The nobler expectation is founded upon
the power Of our armies to overcome South
ern armies. We wait for that. But so terri
| bly, have former expectations been dashed
! that we shall believe after the event, and hold
our Judgment in suspense till then. We ad-
nit that great Improvements have taken place
in the army, in many important respects
But, we are sorry to say, that after two years
OF schooling no man of genius has been
drawn to Washington in the confidence of the
! Government. .e, is- .t
Mr.. Lincoln understands plain men, He
selects wisely among men that have simple
common sense: 1t is only when affairs de-
mand man of more than industry and rou-
tine sense, that he is at fault. He has no af-
fnity for men of genius. They seem to ter
| rify him. He likes to ride a safe, strong, dull
horse, that will keep in the road. But a
| blooded courser, that knows how to leave cir
cuitous roads, and make straight path for
himself across fields, over walls, across ditch
es, through thickets-such animals Mr.. Lin
coin sends off to pasture as soon as possible
And so We have had. draught- horses pulling
at this war, while the Mitchels, the Buffers,
the Fremonts, are at grass. ~.
1t is this fondness for plain men, we pre-
sumo, that has drawn Gen. Halleck to Wash
ington. Heis wise in military history. He
knows what has been done, rather than what
should be done. If old battles were to be
fought over again, probably Halleck would be
our best general. 1t is his memory and not
his invention that is strong. Unfortunately,
for the use of his best gifts, all our campaigns
have required new ideas. He is patient and
industrious. He pulls at the war with dull,
oxlike strength. As yet, he has shown moth
ing of genius. His plans and combinations,
so far as developed, have excited no admira-
ton for brilliancy, nor even for efficiency,-
0pinionated, obstinate, bitter in his preiudi
ces, he seems unable to use to the best advan-
tage the men whom be might Command
But he is steady, strong plain. He is just
the man that the President understands and
likes a man without fancy, without novelty
of idea, without dangerous impetuosity-a
sober, solid reading, rejecting man, who could
edit Military Encyclopedia-if it it took
him hundred years.
Is it surprising, after all the past, that the
people are not SO certain of military success
as they used to be
For example should we meet reverses in