Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-04-02
THE STRENGTH BEHIND WAR.


state of public opinion among us must
have noticed the great change that mas
taken place within a few weeks in the
feeling with regard to the war. There is
general sense of relief, as if the worst
were past. There is an air of hopeful
ness and even assurance, pervading es-
pecially the great centers of population,
which are the first. to feel change. 1t
is an effect almost equal to that which a
splendid victory would have produced.
1t is in truth of far greater value than
that The wild exultation, that halls a
triumph, passes in few days into des-
pair for the defeat that follows. There
may have been little occasion for either
the reckless triumph or the reckless despon-
dency. The history of feeling during the
present war shows us we'll enough how
this has been.
We think we can see the signs of some
better thing now. 1t looks as if the ma
tional will was getting little out of its
boyishness and was settling down into the
firm state of manhood. We have found
out that we can break down the rebellion
if we choose to, whether or not we sue
coed in any one battle, or series of battles
We are being drilled into somewhat of
resolution and endurance, it may be
trusted; and are getting some grains of
real and wholesome independence, "a
quality that hitherto, with all our boast
ing, we have sadly lacked as a people.
The legislation of Congress, for the
last few days of its session, was the first
general indication, and it is proving in
it's turn the most decisive cause of this
new and healthy tone of national senti-
ment. The strength of the nation is
finally, and for the first time, pledged by
law to the business that has been under
taken. Men and money are put within
the power of the president. If his firm
ness proves equal to the occasion, as we
believe it will, the land is saved to day.
There has been something majestic in those
acts of legislation. Their power has been
already incalculable, both North and
South. 1t has assured both the friends
and the enemies of the nation of its
strength. Before, therebel leaders hoped
we should surrender in despair if the
early spring did not bring us complete
success. While they had that hope, com
plete success was impossible. They would
have borne up under great defeat, as I'M
der several, thinking that the limit Of
our exertion was not far off. Those laws
have broken all such trust They
have carried more dismay into the hearts
of the knowing men of the disloyal South
than rout on the banks of the Kappa
hammock or the Mississippi. And the
spirit which they have both indicated and
created is the best earthly assurance for
final success. There are not wanting in
history instances in which, beneath the
pressure of public peril, the great consti,
tutional representative bodies of state
have risen up, with the sagacity at once
to discern, and the courage to sustain and
direct, the spirit of a nation, and have
thus flung upon its enemies the weight Of
a blow more crushing than any single
stroke of war could give. 1t is not too
much to hope that in the coming time,
there will be found the story of one more
such grand occasion to be recorded for the
year that is now passing.-SprmqJfela
Republican.