The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-12-25

establish upon its ruins one Of their own pecu-
liar moulding. Then the North became fully
conscious of the dangers that environed the
national existence; and then the Northern
people, with all their strength, all their patri-
otism, all their wealth and all tl,sir devotion
to the land and the Institutions of their fathers
sprang to arms A more glorious spectacle
than this was never before beheld in the his
tory of any nation, in ancient or modern
times. Without efficient organization or
military strength anywhere; with but
few generals Of tried and unquestionable
loyalty; with treachery lurking undey the flag
in almost every sea where an American man-Of-
war was cruising or stationed; with q national
credit that was in constant danger Of collapsng
under improper and injudicious tinkering. the
stern and steady palsations of the national
heart never ceased.
Now see what has been accomplished by the
North in about three years. Troops have yoluu-
teersd by the hundreds of thousands, ships-of
war, Of new and most formidable character,
have been constructed; fleets OF transports,
almost exceeding the tabled number that his
tory tells US once foated upon the bosom Of the
Egean sea, have been employed for the transit
and for tho occupation Of seaports recaptured;
forts have been retaken in naval enterprises
without parallel for courage and daring In
the naval history Of the world; the navy yards
have all been restored, most of the arsenals and
military depots have been reclaimed; greater,
perhaps, than all, the rebels have been defeated
in almost all the great battles Of the war, and
vast extent Of country, once under rebel rule,
has been regained by the aid of the most mas
terly combinations that ever won for great
military genius page in the annals of martial
events.
The rebellion has proved the marvellous
strength of the North and the actual weakness
of the South. 1t has produced generals and
other military heroes in the North who have
met the proudest of the Southern chivalry, and
it is no humiliation or disgrace to the latter to
say they have foiled them in strategy, equalled
them in bravery, withstood privations and
fatigue as resolutely, and whipped them in fair
y,
but one sound general left He is Gen. Robert
3. Lee, and he is checkmated by Grant. Hood is
flying before the victorious legions Of Thomas,
emphatically-if the feminine figure may be
pardoned-a worsted Hood Bragg is laid
up in ordinary at Richmond, occasionally show
ing symptoms Of vitality-recently by admon-
ishing the people Of Georgia to throw obstruc-
tions in the way Of Sherman. Breckenridge, after
little furry in East Tennessee, suddenly finds
himself scant Of forage and ammunition, being
compelled to mould the latter over twice.
Longstreet is on the shelf, scar covered; Har-
dee is invested in Savannah; Beauregard is
laundering somewhere between Charleston
and Savannah, with the loss OF his communi-
cations; Wheeler, who, according to rebel &C
counts, managed Fitzpatrick with all ease" is
busy picking up Sherman's disabled and abau-
doned horses and mules. Dick Taylor is a
very noisy and rapid worker; but he
never has amounted to much beyond his
early brilliant dashes, when the transition from
his former life Of Incidence to ono OF activity
moved his friends with sensation Of astonish-
ment, and-but we cannot pursue the record
further, fearing we may tread upon the names
Of some Of the brave, but misguided, dead rebel
generals, so many have fallen lately.
What . contrast does this dismal picture pre-
sent with the array of great and victorious
generals the Union records present! Briefly,
it is only necessary to mention the names OF
Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Meade, Foster, Sheri-
dan, Stoneman, Candy, Hancock, Custer, Rous-
seau, Milroy, Stanley, Butler-we expect soon
to hear more Of the latter-and many other
military celebrities Of the war, to show that
capacity CT the generals is greatly in favor OF
the Union side; while glance at the condi-
ton of the armies Of each, taken in connection
with our unparalleled navy, under such gallant
commanders as Farragut, Dupont, Porter, Dahl
gren, Winslow, and other naval heroes-the
rebels have no navy, nothing but parcel of
piratical craft, fugitives on the ocean-must
satisfy every mind not embttered by sectional
prejudice that the Union cause is now, after
but little more than three years experience
in fighting, triumphantly onward, while that Of
the blinded and misled rebels is hopelessly
past salvation. If the North is able to perform
so much in three or four years. what may be
expected of it in few years more!
FINANCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC SANITARY CON-
MISSIONS" AT ONCE NEEDED-THE SOLDIERS
HOME AGAN.--K the assistance Of the SAM
tary Commission be necessary to the govern
ment in the present advanced stage of our mill
tary equipment and completeness, why should
we not have volunteer commissions" for the
purpose OF helping out the authorities in all
branches of the public servicef II some Wall
street philanthropists, for instance, would start