Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-01-06
The HOpelessness of the Rebel Cause-A Suc
gesti0n tn ifs Leaders,

20 the usual rate OF estimation, five ap6 .
halt millions, or possibly six millions, of FIGHT
ing men ID the country; of whom not above
one million and quarter or possibly one
million only, could be fairly assigned to the
population claimed by the insurgents There
re,f aimed, therefore, to the nation, avaiIabIa
for the purposes of the war, from four to Ave
millions of fighting men-nearer FIVE than
four, probably. Not more than a million and
a quarter, perhaps not more than a million of
these, have been called into the Federal SER
vice. So that there remains not less than
three millions of fighting men in the loyaI
States who have not taken up arms; while
as our previous statements show, the number
of fighting men who have not taken UP arms
as yet among the insurgents does not proba-
bly, exceed one hundred thousand. Allowing
the whole number called into the field, the
number rendered incapable OF further ser
vice, and the number of veterans now under
arms, to be about equal on each side, WHAT'S
to be decided is, the ability of the remaining
one hundred thousand Insurgents to fight the
three millions of remaining loyal men. If
one party were five times strong as the
other, and the losses were equal, as soon az
they had lost a million of men each, the
stronger side retained four-ffths of its
strength while the weaker side had spent its
entire strength. This is the process which
has actually been going on-the result toward
which the parties have been rapidly tending
the end which must necessarily be reached
when bloody war Is carried on between
those who are very strong and those who are
not strong at all. In the earlier stages of
such war, and for limited time a certain
equality of force may be brought into the
field, and doubts may appear to cover the re-
suit; but as the end approaches, the explana-
ton just given shows how the success of the
powerful party must necessarily advance at a
constantly increased rate. Nothing can be
more certain, or, as We suppose, more obvious
than these facts or results and the whole of
this war completely illustrates the inevitable
force of the process, and has constantly tend
ed to the unavoidable result. 1t never was 4
question with Us, Of Greeks against Asiatics
but of one American against four or five
others-either of the four or five as good q
man as the one, perhaps better. 1t never
was question, with US, of the weak party
fighting in some sacred cause and the strong
one in some vile and dishonorable one but
of the strong party unfolding a cause of the
highest glory AID the supremest necessity,
and the weak party fighting without even a
preposterous and in part desperately wicked.
How, then, is it possible TO doubt that the
cause of the nation, in respect of an adequate
warlke population, Is invincibly strong, in
any comparison whatever; and in comparison
with the weakness of the Confederates, grow
ing stronger continually How can the final
success of the insuFgent~ cause be any longer
even imagined, except upon the basis of some
change IN the condition of the parties which
only a miracle could produce Two or three
hundred thousand veteran insurgents, with
almost no available reserve of fighting men,
might protract the war and domuch mischief;
but that they can finally, or even long, main
tain themselves against an equal number of
Federal veterans, with reserve that Is prac-
inc m no. he Cd
If these insurgent troops are so embittered
against the United States, that they are re-
solved 10 brave any fortune, sooner than TO
return to their allegiance TO 1t; how much
better would it be for them to quit the des-
perate folly and mischief they are now en-
gagged in-and escaping the destruction which
awaits them-march into Mexico, drive the
French out of it, and-foIlowed by their wo-
men and chidren-establish themselves in
some portion Of Spanish America, where all
who choose TO share their fortunes, might
Join them from the United States, and where
they would Law the foundations Of a glorious
future. 1t would be a wonderful thing if il
the providence of God, this mOnstrous con
spracy against the existence of the United
States as one of the great nations of the earth
should end IN making Ii still more powerful
and durable than it was before in totally
changing the condition Of the black race on
this continent, and by consequence, in some
degree, throughout the world in creating a
great Protestant Anglo-SaxOn nation in The
vast region on this continent so long abused
by papal and Latin races; besides working
out, in regard of two great European nations
results in all respects the opposite of those
they hoped to derive from our ruin. No event.
in modern times has been so fruitful as the
war to establish the independence Of this ma
ton. Who need doubt that the Ear more ter
rlbIe war waged to maintain cad perpetuate
the existence then won might be used by God,
in a manner more fruitful