Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-02
GLITTERING GENERALITIES.

The President of the United States, as the Con-
stitutional Commander Chief of the Army and
Navy, is constantly in the receipt of advice which
has very hot-spiced favor of patriotism and fiery
energy, but which unfortunately deals altogether
in hgh-sounding generalites.
A literary essayist in the last number of that
excellent periodical the Atlantic Monthly is great
ly concerned for the safety of the Government, be.
cause, in its conduct of the war; it is compelled to
play the part of huge mastif, unable to cope with
the little Scotch terrier that has fastened to his
over bis nose. In order to explain his idea the
writer borrows an illustration from that charming
story told by Brown-of Edinburgh, and not
of Harpers Ferry-about Rab and his Friends"
In that story, it will be remembered, small tho
roughbred terrier, after being Iudely interrupted
In his encounter with large shepherds dog, darts
of, fatally bent on mischief, to seek new canine
antagonist. He discovers his enemy in the shape
of big mastif quietly saunterog along the streets,
in very peaceable frame of mind and all unsuspi.
cious of danger. The angry terrier, however,
springs upon him aud fastens on his throat The
rest of the story runs in the original as follows
ITO astonishment, the crest creature does nothing
but saud still, bold himself up and roar-yes ronr: long
serious. remoust alive How is this He is muz-
zied. The babies had proclaimed general muzzn g and
bis master studying sre 9Th and my mainly had en-.
comprised his huge jaws in home sppaI atus con.
struced out Of the lea her Of brechng HIS
mouth ol far it could his ps CURED I'm in
rege-a sort of terrible grim bis teeth cleaning ready
out the darknes th- strap across his mouth tens.
bowsrng; his whole frame stiff with ndgi alton and
SURPRISE his sskiBg al round Did you ever see
the like Of ths7 He looked statue OF anger and aston
shrnent dore in Aberdeen granite. Wesoo had crowd
the chicken held on A tnife cried Bob; aud cobber
gave hun his knfe you know the KIDD knife worn away
oblquely to piu aud always keen. put its edge TO
the tense leather it before it, aud then lone sud-
den jerk Of that enormous head Of dirty mist about
bis mouth and tie bright aud fierce little fellow
10 dropped, limp aud dead"
Such is the sprightly parable, and the following
is the "uscfu moral drawn from it by the At
lantic reviewer for the advice and instruction of
the President
"A steahy, cunning, upulous desperate devilsh
foe has seized the nation by the throat aud hretens its
life. The Government s strong determined
abundanty able to make successful resistance, aud
to kill the insolent enemy; butt is mrrsted-muzz ed
here by conservative couuse and there by radical CON-
plants; by the ovecautions policy of General and
the he adoug haste If another by too tender regard for
slavery States, and by too jealous anxiety for
instant emancipation IN others by fear Of provoking OPP
position in quarter, and by blind defiance OF all
obstacles in another. Now what sball be done7 Shall
we hesitate, de,pond, despair Never! For Hearers
sake, rke Oft The mnzzie Use every weapon which n
God OF Battles has paced 10 hands Put forth all the
power OF the nation Encourages aud promote all fighting
Generals cn. oil officers who are DEF 10 make
peace principles; arm equip aud discipline ne
gr,esnot to burn, pluader and massacre but 10 meet
tier aud our enemies 10 fair open fight trae
TO the world that We are terribly IN earnest Waste
time IN discussing the chance OF foreign Intervention
Postpone Peel railroads, international teegraphs poly
gamy IN Utah. African colon zatiou, every tbing to ire
ergrossng and emergent crisis which conirouts the
Government Make the contest sharp short and decisive
Put down tie rebeon vndcate the majesty of the law
the sacredness OF tbs Union and he getty Of the Con-
sttution. There will DO lime enough alter his lie done
to discuss all minor ques ious and all collateral issues
One paramt uut duty lies directly before Let per-
form this duty iearlesy, and leave the future with God
Now, all this is very good, considered IS Hne
essay writing. But how does it help the Presi-
dent to practical conclusions in the matter Of his
daily duties 7 Why say to him, "use svery weapon
which the God of battles has placed in our hands pa
Let the reviewer rather show him one which can
be had for the showing Why say "put forth al
the power of the nation 7" Let the reviewer rather
point out an ounce of power which, now wasted
or unlsalized, can be pressed into our service BY