New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-03
THE uEsVREE AND TEEE rgGPE on
VgsE lEG,stEg.S.

The Southern papers continue to exhibit cyl
dcnccs Of discomfort, Of suffering, and Of de-
spondcncy. Better evidence than theirs ~ the
order of lee. which exhorts his soldiers 10 en-
dGre patiently the hardships occaaoncd by The
reduction of ratious. That order il dated so
late rs Jan. -, at time when his army Is IN
Winter quarters, and within easy distance Of
Richmond and Of Lynchburg, both of which
places have until lately been dcpots Of pro
visions II comes close upon the refusal
by the Rebel authorities 10 receive sup
plies from the Government to feed and
clolhc tive 1900 prisoners suffering then
az now from hunger and cold Yet tie
refusal was accompanied by an OaicntatOus dec
aration of their ability and intention to furnish
full rafions to our men. What must be their
condition to-day when cry of dIstrcss-amoH
of famnc-Comes even from Lees army, which
has always been better cared for than any other
Rebel forccl Lees soldier, get little meet even
nov. "Can Z VIC live on half rltions, so that
they may at least have quarter mtoae " asks
The RicLmond BLig. And it We are entitled 70
infer from this that Ice has not even Qu'rier
rat,ons for his mon, where is he to look Tor a
supply in futurc'
The Richmond Examiner furnishes an equally
remarkable comment on the prevailing dcstitu-
ton. II declares that the time has passed for
offensive military operations on the part Of the
Southern armies; that the war must hencciorth
bc one Of defense purely; and thi, for the rca-
.ou that their means of subsistence have been
too iar exhausted to admit any other than de-
irn.iye tactics. Fabian strategy only for the
future. And This very poverty OF resources and
The harrnacs, of the country are relied Oh o
aIoriug a protection against the advance Of
tie national arms. On the lines along which
our forces must approach there are no longer
means Of Subsistence even Tor the people.
Whatever army marches there must carry IT,
oau supplies, and must move with The difficulty
and .lpsuess that large train, and the necessity
of maintaining communications OCCASION.
Whether the loritudc Of the starving inhahi-
tauts viii support them in Rebellion longer
than the OVERLOOKING comnie,ariat Of Our ar
mics viii supply means for campaigns The H.
aplr.r ,o-gcis 20 consider.
4 30 the midst Of this gloom any FAY Of light
lCll. oa thc downward path which the Rebellion
trral. % CONES from the hope OF continued
Democratic opposition to the Government, and
of o Democratic successor 90 President Lincoln.
With certain cyultation The Examiner cries
out that "Lincolu's term draws rapidly 10
close " and declares that "any change will bee
beneficial 30 the south Lincoln and his party
are 20 i-rcyo,ably committed a., aud 30 inds-
.o,ubly linked with the continuance OF TIE War,
that Sc eau hope for no peace from them save
by utter exhaustion of the means Of prosecuting
h." Peace spcc,hc. iu Congrcss 10y men So de
ioyal - Fernando Wood, and such hostility TO
Ae drlt as seymour, hi, "f.cnds," and h.s
per ounl organ in This city exhibit, and the re-
pea'rd manhaIrg OF the Democratic force,
under leader, thu. committed 70 tine cau-e OF
iu,f Southern allies are what keeps the Rebel.
lion FOO heart at Obi moment, and what viii -u,-
tain 10, !. anything can sustain it, through the
coming struggle ~ tine Spring.
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TuE NEW sEiPBE.