Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-16
ar COKsFIFUTIOS-sTATR RIGHTS.
RICHMOND WING.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. le. 1884.
The Confidence and Enthusiasm Of our Army
and People.


and People.
The history Of revolutionary struggles would be
searched in vain for a parallel to the confidence and
enthusiasm which now animate both army and Peo-
pe These feelings have in fact attained to height
OF exuberance that would seem rather the result Of
prophetic instinct Of coming triumph than of logical
deduction True our unvarying successes in the little
collisions that have recently occurred well cAlculs-
ted to inspire hope and confidence to the future. But
the prevalent enthusiasm has grown up independently
OF any sucS influences and these results seem to be re-
garded as matters Of course.
There are circumstances which are found in the spon
taaeous re enlistment Of gallant troops, and the
high resolve to conquer which animSes them, that
Justify reasonable confidence Of success. The sggard
shirt dsp ayed at the North with the discussions and
divisions certain to result from Presidential contest
AMI already existing there, furnish motives OF cond-
dence that are peculiarly potent and persuasive, But
over and above all these considerations universal ent1u
siasm exists uninAueroed alike by prospects of radical
financial improvement or calculated deductions OF
success in the near future.
This sudden transition from condition Of serious
depression, amounting almost TO dependency to that
Of unbounded confidence, is truly astonishing. We
have presented to US the phenomenon Of people sud
denly emerging from the depth of sadness and dejec-
i'm to the extreme Of enthusiastic JOY and che erul-
ness. 1t is really nexplicsble upon any logical
basis. aud Its solution is only found in that in
nate sense of intrinsic power that imparts positive
conviction Of nyinciblity Doubtless this feeling is
actively vitazed a, this time BY the recollection OF the
baroarous cruelties of the enemy and burning zeal
TO ayengs them. Whatever be the occasion for this
IL, tha
rerunuer of victory, and that Of chArac ter so de-
osive as to render subsequent negotiations IN the mat
Ter of easy There can DC no
doubt but that the day of terrible rerbuton for the
Yankees is fast approaching II they we're not sti IN
fa.rasd BY deceptive idea Of their ability to conquer
predcAtsd upon the superficial basis of PrsPOnderance
in numbers, they would at once abandon their wicked
nuroose and aver. the terrible doom that awaits
them. We doubt, Notwithstanding all their pride OF
mower and sefcompacent deluson as to the certainty
NJ Ultimate victory If with full knowledge OF the in
domitabls spirit WHOA now perVsdes the army and
people of this Oonfederscy they would not make terms
Of p,ace with us without delay. To talk OF suodung
people animated BY such feelings OF confidence as
We see manifested every day, and in all spheres ct Life,
ia the sheerest foy-it is madness. QGem Ds'S V''!'
osrsrs prus dsns,.tat and it would seem as if the
Ynkess would furnish full ver6oatiOn Of this ancient
proverb No people not maddened, they are by IN
urats bigOry aud poignant chagrn at the loss Of this
great Southern Fl Dorado would persist in this unhOy
war in the teeth Of 60 many palpaOe admonitions OF
failure as they every day encounter TO persist IN TINS
var policy for another year disregard of such beset
ting Disadvantages as are displayed in the divisions
Swinging up at the North a result Of Presidential
.pd daair -
,eres. upon which they can found any hope Of COM
parltve prosperity in the future.
But the fact is, they doomed people, and must
continue victims Of their infatuated pride to the bitter
end What but the infGustOn of inordinae vanity aud
pride could instigate that people 10 seek conHct win
France and England 1t would be- perhaps, but chart
table TO attribute this vAn-goriOus display to an as
sumed dread of their power on the part oil those ma
ons IL their fol bearance is the result Of any such In
,euce, il lessons English and French statesmanshp
very much in our estimation. more transparent de-
usion than this threat Of on the part OF Seward
against both or any of these powers, was never at
tempted 10 be practissd. Aye, war with England or
France, or both while the redOubtabe bragglrts are
held half pArazed in the grip of the infant Southern
republic It is all Yankee braggadocio, and the only
wonder is that can serve SO well the policy Of forcing
non-inteIventon on the part OF these powers Yet SO
il does for the indications of fear their part are too
papabs 70 leave any doubt of the potency Of that in
aaence in enforcing the policy of nOn-interventon
which these powers have hitherto observed.
It il well for US that this policy has been pursued
We will emerge from this perfec! "mssters Of the
situation" untrammeled in the arrangement OF our
tar fl regulations by any avors from abroad and free
to fix impOsts aud arrange our commercial
operations in manner suited to the necessities occa-
stoned BY this war England and France had it in their
power TO arrest I at any Stage. Having failed to do 3d.
they should by all means be compelled to pay the debt
resulting from it in the form of heavy export and i'm
port duties.
We are yielding no undue sense OF confidence as TO
the result of this war; referring to what should be our
policy after it is over II any fails to be convinced
by the signs nov universally visible of the certainty
of an early triumph he must be very ncredulous IN
cd, Seward himself would not if he could but re-
aizs the feelings which animate our army aud Peo
pie. He will be soon taught to do so, however, and we
doubt not the process Of instruction will DO very IN
palAtable