The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-15

Modern war is not mere bulldog fight, in
which the oombatants rend and MAIN each
other until one OF them "a totally exhausted or
some humane bystander interferes aud chokes
them off, War is now the ally Of diplomacy.
1t is simply display Of force, In order to Sc
cure q certain object. II Is the last and the
strongest argument advanced to convince an
opponent When civilized people carry on
war they pause at every stage to observe and
consider the effect which their martial logic
has upon their adversaries. At the least sign
of weakness or of yielding they again bring up
their verbal arguments and try TO secure
satisfactory settlement II they succeed, the
war ends. II they fail, the war goes on to
another stage. If the parties are SO evenly
matched that neither can obtain any marked
advantage in the field the result IS q compro-
mise. Those OF our readers who have atten-
lively watched the progress Of the Crimean,
the Italian and the Danish wars will recall this
systematic combination of 6ghting aud di-
plomacy.
Now, we claim to be a civilized nation, and
to conduct our wars in a civilized manner. The
war OF 1872 and the Mexican war were GER
tainly thus conducted; but during the present
war we have not yet had any recourse to d.
plomacy. On the contrary, this imbecile ad-
ministration has set its foot down upon any
attempt to negotiate with the rebels. President
Lincoln fears, doubtless, that such an attempt
would be regarded as an endorsement Of the
peace party and a recognition OF the indie
pendence Of the confederacy. How groundless
such fears are is evident from the fact that ne
gotiation Is now part Of war. For example,
il the President could make any proposition
which the rebel people would approve, and
the rebel leaders reject, he would divide and
weaken the enemy more than by . hundred
victories in the field. &C. by conference With
leading rebels, the President could end the
war and restore the union at once, he would
show himself greater man than if he carried
on his campaigns until every Southern soldier
slept under the sod. This is the only true view
Of war. Any other view Of it degrades it to
the level of combat between wild beasts.
Thus it Is that truces and armistices and con-
ventions have come TO be regarded az legi-
innate war measures. They are Of course,
designed to end in peace but so all civilized
war is designed to end In peace. When, there
fore, we urge upon the President to offer an
armistice OF six months and call convention
Of States, we urge it as war measure, and we
regard 1t as the best war measure yet brought
forward.
Should such an offer be made by the Presi-
dent to the rebels. one Of two things must hap
pen: the offer will be accepted or rejected.
Suppose it to be rejected, what would follow
The peace party OF the North would be de-
prived Of their rallying cry, and forced to de-
clare them selves for the Union or for the rebels
at once. Then JEFF. Davis aud his clique would
be confronted by the indignant people Of the
South and accused Of refusing to listen to what
we had to propose, just as the indignant peo-
pie Of the North now accuse President Lincoln
Of refusing to listen to what the rebels have to
say. Finally, the governments Of Europe
would be compelled to acknowledge that the
South is in the wrong, and European diplomats
would not hesitate to declare this unreserved-
y. We ask candid and careful consideration
for these statements. We repeat, that the con-
sequences Of rejection Of our proposition
by the rebel leaders would be the
destruction of the peace party at the North, the
encouragement Of intestine divisions at the
South, and the withdrawal from the rebels of
the sympathies Of Europe. Would the capture
Of Atlanta, or even the capture OF Richmond,
have more beneficial RESULTS Must there not
be some merit 10 proposal which would give
us so much advantage even if rejected? We
put these questions to Mr.. Lincoln and bis Ca.
binet We put them to the loyal people every.
where. We waive all political issues and
party interests, and present this subject from
national point ofview. Let the administration
SO regard it. and they will see that we have
everything to gain and nothing to lose, even il
our proposal be rejected by JEFF. Davis
Suppose, on the other hand that the rebel
leaders accepted the armistice and agreed to
the convention Of States. In that event, the
Union would either he restored or the war re-
newed. Accept the latter hypothesis, and what
then Why we should resume the contest with
armies reorganized aud reinforced. We should
feel ourselves more clearly in the right, and
should put The Southern people more clearly
in the wrong. We should be convinced
that the Southern ultimatum was inadmis-
sible, and no man at the North would ever
dare to raise hisyoice.ip deience OF "the way
ward sisters" The South, on the contrary,
would be weakened. Our blockade, main
tanned throughout the srmistlce, would pre-
vent them FROM receiving supplies. Their
soldiers, having again tasted Of some OF the
blessings of peace, would not be willing to
continue the war on the basis Of Southern ndc-
pendence, which means JEFF. Davis despotisa
They now think that they are fighting for
rights of which we have sought to deprive
them; but during six months armistice they
would learn better. The moral effect in
Europe would also be immensely in our favor.
G.. 1T