The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-12
SIGNS OF FAILURE IN TIE soUru

There is nothing like putting bold face or
desperate cause. Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS
understands this policy, and practisas Il 70
perfection However respondent he NAV be
he never allows the world TO know t. On the
contrary, his spirits seem to rise as his for
tunes decline, and were we to credit his words
Just now, we should be forced to the conclu-
sion that the hopes and confidence Of the
Rebels were never higher and Grmer.
In bis late message to the Rebel Congress.
Mr. DAVIS affects, with mastery skin. a re
markable tone Of courage and assurance; and
it is quite possible that the unhappy people
whom he has so long deluded, viii continue
TO be deceived by his brave promises of even
tUal triumph in their mad scheme for the
establishment Of an independent Southern
stoniederacy. Addressing the members Of
S1e Confederate Legislature, he says:-
"The campaign which was commenced amo3.
simultaneously with your session early in Nav
last, and which was still in prorres, M your
adjournment in the middle of June has not yef
" r. ached its close. IL has been prgsecl ed on
" ascale aEd With an energy heretofore uuc N led
When we revert TO the condition OF our country
at the inception Of the operations of the present
year-tO the magnitude of the preparations
" made oy the enemy, The number OF his forces,
" lne bcCumuidDln OF MS warlike guDDlipg. aud
the prodigality with which his vast resources
have been layshed in the attempt 20 render
success assured when we contrast the numbers
and means az our disposal for resistance; and
"when we contemplate the results Of a struggle
apparently so unequal, we cannot fail while
rendering the full need of deserved praise TO
" our generals and soldiers to perceiye that a
Power higher ihan man has willed our deliver
ance, ana gratefully TO rec lgaize the protection
" of a kind Providence in enabling US success
fully TO Withstand the utmost Efforts Of the
enemy fo- our suljugation."
This sounds well enough, but it amounts in
fact to nothing more than grateful ascription
Of thanks to the Almighty that the insurgents
have not ere this been utterly used up and
crushed out. All the success yet enjoyed by
them is only negative, and Mr.. DAVIS would
find it a hard task even for his ingenuity and
mendaeity to put his finger on a single posi-
tive victory won by his armies in the last
twelve months.
He truly remarks that the campaign not
yet closed has been prosecuted "on scale
and with an energy heretofore unequalled"
but with all that exhibition of zeal and vigor
he has accomplished nothing more than a
postponement Of the inevitable doom which
must eventually overtake the Rebellion. Mr..
DAVIS must know, moreover, that the greater
the expenditure Of means and energy which
he makes, the swifter is that process of ex-
haustion that is now so certainly and obviously
bringing the Rebel States to condition of
weakness which viii leave them no alterna-
tive but submission.
That the resources Of the Rebellion are
already reduced to a very low point ia quite
apparent in those parts OF Mr.. DAVIS mes
sage In which he refers to certain methods for
recruiting the army. He not only suggests
that those classes OF persons in the South
whom the laws have hitherto exempted from
military service should be made subject to
conscriptiOn and impressment, but he urges
the measure as one Of extreme necessity.
Surely no stronger evidence could be required
70 prove the weakened state of the Rebel
ranks, and the small reserved population upon
which the War Department can draw for
reinforcements.
Besides, Mr.. DAVIS favors, to considera
bic extent, the propo stion to enlist negroes
In III military service OF the seeded States
and also accepts the suggestion that the slave
30 employed shall be given their freedom, an,
endowed with a certain number of acres q
land in consideration Of their being embodie
in the form Of military organizations and per
mitted TO do active duty in camp and in tn
deld
This measure surely would not have mJ
with anything but promp, denunciaiion an
rejection by the people and the authorities
the seeded States two years, or even OF
year ago; and the inevitable conclusion to
drawn from the general acquiescence accord,
TO it now in all parts Of rebeldom is, that Ii
white people capable Of bearing arms are abo
played out"
DAVIS, moreover, refers in very gloon
terms TO the refusal OF all foreign Powers
cognize the independence of the South; al
VII le he declares his faith in The ability of h
so-caIled Confederate Government to ACHE
its final triumph in the struggle it is makiI
for its permanent establishment, he bctrays
spite Of himself the fear that it must newt
bly, fail.
PRACTICAL E1IANCTPSTTON.