Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-29
r1carfleSs.

" Oht VI tbc Ata1ibH htFdOhC1u
of the West
Hcartless.
General GARFIELD. when he published the
forged letters of JOIN G DAVIS and d r.
EcKLEs. knew uhat RANKIN was in the Con sedera-
cy IN the character OF spy. The publication of
those letters. whether forged or genuine, revealed
the position OF RANKIN, and of course exposed
him to the punishment of "A spy. He was not
only in the employ of the Government and en-
titled to its protection on that account but as a
Republican he should have had the sympathy
and consideration of his party friends But thi.
generosity. kindness aud good'faith was not ex-
tended to him. General GARFIELD. a Republican
partisan, for the purpose of making little party
capital, was ready to sacrifice the life of party
friend. He was willing that RANKIN should be
hung as spy, it the sacrifice would damage his
political opponents. This evidence of heartless-
ness on the part Of General GARFIELD and his
political associates. is anything but creditable to
them and the cause they profess to represent.
e~~.D~
National Life vs.. the Administra-
lion.
The following article from Wilkes Spirit of
the Times, loyal radical Republican paper, is
worthy of attention. Its review of the conduct
of the Administration in its management Of the
facts in the make it so. Certainly no
American who loves his country can peruse the
statements of the part taken by high officials
on the Mexican question without feeling hum-
ated and mortified. SAYS the Times:
1t has been well said by a great writer. that
there is no extremity of distress which ought. of
itself. to reduce a great nation to despair. 1t is
lot the disorder, but the physician not the casual
concurrence OF calamitous circumstances. but the
pernicious hand OF government. which alone
make whole people desperate
The statement suits our case exactly. 1t was
bad enough when "a whole region permitted
to revolt. Ii was worse when the disorder was
treated with emolents rather than slashed aud
puuctured by the knife: and may well be
driven to despair when our cOwardly and incom-
petent Administration quails to the complaint.
and admitting some of its features to be chronic
aud Organical, prepares to give the patient up
So do regard the present attitude of gov
erumeut toward invaded Mexico. The whole
French movement in that quarter has been a
mere Hillary of fhe Confederate disease; and
the resignment OF the Cult, now meditated by
the authorities at Washington to the new empire,
will be not only practical alliance with the re
bellion, but the first formal step toward full
recognition of the belligerent States That such
a course in regard 20 Mexico 3 meitated by tn,
Federal Administration. we have not particle
OF doubt: uelther have We any doubt that If the
present military sfofu quo can be maintained
until Lincoln and Seward perfect their schemes
at Baltimore, that the Shareholders Confederacy
will be recognized at the White House provided
Seward and Lincoln be re elected) as early as
December next
We admit this view is gloomy and alarming
but, il must be confessed. so likewise is our con-
dition Shocked from our complscent prestige
bv numerous defeats. we hud ourselves. at the
end Ui three years OF war. reduced to the hopes
and chances OF a last campaign: and reused from
dream OF empire Ger a hemisphere. we are al
ready reduced TO the contemplation of parting
with "a quarter of the continent. The recognition
of monarchy in Mexico, is the first step toward
the permanent dissolution Of our nation An al
lance. offensive and defensive, between il and
the congenial Southern system. would speedily
ensue: recognition throughout the world of the
two Southern arstocracies would follow.
and the humbled Northern Republic, which had
long threatened the security of every throne in
Europe would at once become the focus of dom
ineerng cannon from every quarter Of the globe
Such would be the country lett to the misguided
democrats who are bindy following the lead of
venal party politicians; and such the poor rem
nant of public power. which the selfish and pet
tifogcing arts of our Cabinet conservatives
would leave to mankind, as a rallying point for
future hope.
We scanned. in our last. the astonishing con-
tradlctIOns which the acts of the Administration
presented. with the theory OF its existence. Ira
cling IL from is pledge that the rebellion should
not be conquered by the force Of arms, down 70
the amnesty act. " bich notified traitors thew need
be in no hurry 10 finish their experiment as full
pardon was ready for them whenever they were
tired we came to the conclusion that it had. by
these aud other errors. made itself practical
allv of the rebellion To Judge by its acts, its
its policy appeared to be. 20 prolong the
war until war should De regarded as a necessity
offs continuance. aud not u provoke the rebels
BY exssperating measures, lest It should not re-
tain that personal esteem with the South. which
would enable IL 10 negotiate a reconstruction.
This latter idea seems 10 have been Stewards ir
repressble infstuAtion 1t accounts for his clan
destine reception OF the rebel emIsssries IN
Washington: his advice to them To 20 home. be
quiet and depend on him: his assurance that
Sumter should not be relieved: his BETRAYAL of
the mission Of the Star of the West. which led
To the bombariment of the Fort: his reputation
OF the proclam nation of Fremont. his repulsion of
the sympsthies of Europe by describing emanci-
patton from the Federal programme. his suhlu
cation of Congress To- the rebel interest on the
hrst cOnhscation bill; his exhausture OF the vgor
OF the second. by the amnesty and reconstruction
acts; his grinding of the Missouri liberals under
the heel OF the conservatives, and his attempted
subversion Of the MARYLAND radicals to the con-
troll of the gradual progressives and it also ac-
counts for that otherwise ineIplicabe act. OF sup
porting Long and Harris with every lincoln
vote. in their disloyal sympathy for the expiring
cause Of the Conlederates.
We repeat these Instances. because il is neces-
sarv for The busy public 20 be- frequently remind