The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-10
Lincoln Up for Reelection.

Mr. Lincoln is now fairly presented to the
country for its decision. He stands as the nomi
nee Of the Baltimore Convention, on the plat
the people by the windy harangues of the
Conventions very empty orators. But neither
the ten times falsiGed platform of the Conven-
ton nor the speeches OF its members are what
the people have to notice and reflect upon in
regard to this nomination. What they have to
notice are the three terrible years that the
country has already gone through under the
Presidency of Mr.. Lncoln-three years Of war,
in which the country has endured every misery
that the Presidents incapacity. in military,
naval and financial point of view, could plunge
it into. This is what the people have to con-
slider; and what they have to decide is simply
whether or not they wish to repeat those years.
Mr.. Lincoln is responsible for every blunder
committed in every department of the govern
ment since the commencement Of the wal
He assumed the absolute control of our ar
mics, with flourish of defiance to the enem,
and Chinese announcement that our armiel
should move on certain day. Under hii
reverses without parallel Our grandly organ.
lied Peninsnlar campaign was made to end
disastrously by his interference, and Stonewell
Jackson's triumphs in the Shenandoah valley
we're DUE not to Jacksons genius, but to Lin
coins intellectual opacity. He organized the
Pope campaign, which was merely daily sue
cession Of frightrul revcrses TO our arms. He
conducted from Washington Burnside's dread
full Fredericksburg slaughter, and he is
equally responsible for the butchery at Chan
cellorsville. Our great victories at Gettysburg
and Antietam and Grants victories In the
West were won in spite of bis policy. BY
keeping such man as Welles at the head of
the Navy Department he has become response.
BILE for the blunders that have we'll nigh made
our heroic navy contemplate, and has fellow
ship in the incapacity that has driven our
commerce from the seas. Every intelligent
person in the country can see that If Mr.
Lincoln had been man Of any
ability he could have ended the war
by the complete destruction Of the
rebel armies eighteen months ago. But in his
incapacity he has not only failed to put the re-
bellion down, but be has fostered it and minis
tered to it's growth, and to the development of
it's whole possible power.
That Mr. Lincoln would not. and could not.
end the war became clear to the country seve-
raj months since, and then the pressure of pub
lie opinion compelled him to put our armies
and the whole conduct of the war In the hands
of General Grant. Under that great soldier
the nation felt some security that its military
operations would be carried on properly. Yet
Mr.. Lincoln has managed to interfere very
dangerously with the present campaign, and
has even seriously compromised its success
Who knows how long he will respect that pub
lie opinion which compelled him to put Gene
raj Grant where he is II Lincoln be re elected
the country has no safety that Grant will
still command our armies-no security against
his removal at any moment, and no hope for
such definite success against the rebellion as
will end the war.
There is wonderfully distinct issue before
the people in this nomination Of Mr.. Lincoln
That issue has no reference to the nonsense Of
this or that political platform. II is the clear
question whether or not the people of the United
States will elect for another term Of four years
q man who has proved over and over that be
does net possess the ability to administer the
government; man who is either ignorant OF
the constitution OF. ready to trample IL under,
bis feet at any moment; a man under whom
this bloody and expensive war can never be
brought to an honorable close.