The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-09-17
fConsin..s5 from Era, Pacs.1

fCorsinssS from Frat Pdgs1
umph promised them. Many intelligent
Southern gentlemen do, indeed, express
strong hopes Of their ultimate indepen-
dence, but such hope is not shared by
the masses. Disappointed from the first
in not having been acknowledged by
foreign powers-more bitterly disap-
pointed in their general expectations
that Northern cowardice or dissension
would secure their ends, but a single
chance remains, and that is in the result
OF our next election for President. If
Democrat succeeds to Mr.. Lincoln,
they profess to feel sure of negotiations
and their Confederacy. They believe a
Democrat will be elected. In Mr.. Lin
coins reelection they see only subjuga-
ton, humiliation; for the war must
then continue, and continuance is their
failure and ruin.
In military affairs it is an excellent
rule never to do what the enemy desires;
is it not equally true in politics? Ger
tain it is that the only remaining hope
Of the South lies in Mr.. Lincoln's defeat.
Now I am not enough Of politician
TO know whether the election of Dem
ocrat can result as favorable to the South
as it anticipates. The wish alone may
be the parent Of their belief. But l
assured all who expressed that belief,
that the North, as mass, is as united
as the South-that no Democrat could
be elected on apeace platform-and that
any President who would inaugurate any
measure leading to peace On the basis
of Southern independence, would be
promptly hung, by loyal acclimation, to
the lamp posts in front Of his own Pres
idential mansion.
However that may be, if We are but
true to ourselves, there can be but one
result. What We now need is men, only
men. Not substitutes Or hirelings who
20 forth for any motive but the Coun-
try's good, and produce but little effect
beyond depreciating our armies-but
MEN, such as really constitute the State,
and boast of being freemen and the sons
of freemen.
If these fail to support their country's
cause in her hour of peril, they are un
worthy of continuing freemen, and
should blush ever to exercise freeman's
privileges.
But if bounties must be paid, let it be
in Southern land-not in Northern gold;
and armies Of emigrants, whose sons
may aspire to even the rule Of the Nation,
will cross the seas to win the broad
acres that disloyalty has forfeited to the
State.
To every intelligent soldier who has
fought through all these indecisive cam
paigns on almost numberless indecisive
fields, the question constantly arises
with touching force, why We do not
overwhelm our enemies?
Tens Of thousands of lives are lost
because our array Of strength is SO dis
proportionately less than that against
which we battle. Every where We meet
on nearly equal terms, where we might
we'll have four to one. The cost to US
in blood and treasure, of prolonged
war, can hardly be foreseen-the econo-
my is infinite Of such an effort as the
glorious North should put forth. The
South will fight as long as the struggle
is equal, it will submit to such prepon-
derance as we should show on every field.
GLANCE AT THE SUMNER CAMPAIGNS.
If Sherman had but SO, 900 or IS, 900
more men, the South would be lost, be-
cause Hood would be annihilated. If
Meade had moved in the spring with
reserves Of Is to 100000 men, Lee
would have been hopelessly crushed.
Even at this moment, third column of
40 to $4,000 men rightly moved, would
give unopposed blows to the Confeder-
acy, from which she could never rise.
What folly then to struggle on in this
way, when we can send to the field five
times the force already there. What
weakness to think we cannot conquer
the South. Behind the James only boys
and old men are to be found, while here
men buy and sell as in the olden days of
quiet. and regiments Of able bodied citi.
zens crowd the streets of our cities.
There is but one course consistent with
Northern safety or honor. Let the peo-
pie awake to sense Of their dignity or
strength, and few months Of compar-
atively trifing exertion, Of such effort
as alone is worthy Of the great North
and the rebellion will crumble before US.
Fill this draft willingly and promptly