Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-11-04

estimated with arilbmetical accuracy for
the want IF exact data; but il must
q. amount 20 many millions. The nav. sub
slstence, and transportation of the soldiers
sent into Pennsy ylyania, is less than a drop
In the bucket, The retreat thus nsle
} necessary by converting the army into q
political machine TO carry elections for
the Republican party, has rendered abort
i've all that has been done by Gen. MeaGs
since he re-crossed the Potomac in p,s-
suit of Gen. Lee, after the battle Of Oct
tysburg. Not only has all the EXPENSE
OF maintaining the army of the Potomac
In this long interval been squandered. hut
(what is still more Important prec. q
time has been wasted at a season Of The
year which precludes the recovery or ne
ground Gen. Meade has lost until the
roads shall have become practicable IA
the spring Of 1864, when the term of ger
vice OF the three ears men first enlisted
Will be about 10 expire. The Republican
! political victory in Pennsylvania, there
lore, costs the country the greater part Uf
years expense of the army Of the Poto-
mac, ana postpores anything more than
defensive operations by that army, until
great part OF its men are mustered Out oC
, service.
We presume all sorts of tales viii be in.
vented 20 show that Gen. Meade's retreat
was purely voluntary, and made for STRAIT
, eGic reasons. Bnt no reason, strategic or
other, can be given for Gen. Meade'srl
treat which is not q reproach to the sd-
mlnistratiou. hurried retreat of ffty
or sixty miles proves that he was not
strong enough, or did not think himself
strong enough to fight the enemy in the
region into which he had advanced. If
he was not strong enough originally, why
was he permitted to do so foolish q thing
as TO advance? II he was strong enough
before his army was depleted TO carry the
Pennsylvania election for the Republicans
military advantages have been sacrificed
Tor party objects IT he was originally TOO
weak TO fight in so advanced a position
and with such long lines to defend, then
so much greater is the crime of weaken.
ing him still further, and exposing MS
safety, TO accomplish party purpose -
! II Meade could not fight Lee on the Rap.
man, and II there Is no strong military
position in the whole intervening distance
from the Rapidau to Bull Run where he
dared to give battle, what did he advance
to the Rapldau for2 Why was he allowed
to increase the cost of maintaining his
army by lengthening the distance lrom
his supplies, and guarding long lines of
communication in the enemys country
If, without lighting, he was to hurry back
20 the neighborhood Of Washington and
there stand on the defensive? He could
have hovered around Washington and
have Kept on the defensive without incur.
ring all this expense, and without the loss
OF prestige involved in fifty or sixty miles
hurried retreat, under vigorous pursuit
by the enemy.
The simple truth. obvious 10 the whole
country, is, that Meade maintained his
advanced position until the admnistra.
ton weakened his army 10 carry a State
election, and that he was then compelled
to fly before pursuing foe.
We could, if necessary, demonstrate
With equal clearncss that the defeat Of
Rosecrans and his present critical position
are the direct consequences Of using sol.
diers by the administration for accom-
p!ishing party objects. The attempt to
put Governor Seymour in false post ion,
as means Of prejudicng the country
against the Democratic party, caused
forty-tive regiments this is Senator Wi,
sons statement Of the number, to be sent
to this city, when half of that as a rein.
forcement to Rosecrans would have saved
aim from disastrous defeat The two or
three thousand soldiers the draft produ,
ced in this city were not important
enough to justify the administration IN
weakening our two most important a.
mics, endangering their safety, and rem
dering the fall campaigns in the Wea.
and the East worse than n nuiIitv Tba
draft could have stood still for a while
here, as well as in dozen other States
But political considerations prevailed, a.-
the administration has caused important
campaigns to miscarry that it might carry
elections. The season of deep mud, which
will postpone active operations for tho
winter, is close upon US; and rext SUM
mer the administration will still have
great war upon its hands, as an engine for
electing Republican President.