Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-27
.WkOMORNENGLRADER.
sATURDAY MORNINs, AUGUST "a.


.-~-r-
The Approaching DRAFT. -
Monday, the 5th Of September, is the
sme appointed for making another draft,
in which all drafted men must either go
themselves or get substitute. The reduc-
lion on the caH for 100000, by credits and
enIistments, during the past fifty days, viii
anSant probably, to 100000 men, leaving
100000 as the number to be added to the
effective strength of the arduies already in
the field It IS undoubtedly true that q
great deal of anxiety is fslteoncerning this
draft, as It comes more closely home than
any which has yet been made. 1t viii
probably take one in five Of all between
the ages Of twenty and forty Ave, where
nothing has been done to raise the required
quota. The consequences Of 50 large an
addition TO the armies Of Sherman and
Grant must be apparent to all. These
men will enable Sherman TO detaoh fifty
thousand veterans from the army at Attain
Ia who win march to the rescue Of the
Union prisoners confined at Macon and
Andersonville, cut OF Hoods communion
Sons, and result in the entire overthrow OF
the rebel force in Georgia If there were
an addition of that number at the present
time 10 sherman's army, there is NO doubt
but that The rebellion would be entirely
destroyed in the Southwest, within very
few I10u ths.
An addition Of seventy live or hundred
thousand men to Grants army would ens-
bic him in few weeks to complete the
isolation of Richmond, compel its abandon
rnent, and result in the overthrow Of Lees
army before Christmas.
These results are scarcely problematieal.
We know that the rebel army has r0aohsd
It's maximum of strength, and is rapidly
wasting away by the accidents of war
With this prospect in view, the aPPrehen.
sions of those who are drafted may be par
italy quieted wish the expectation Of haT.
ing but few months 70 serve before they
see the peace Of the country secured in the
triumph Of our arms.
Great efforts have boen made to have
the draft deferred. By many it was sup
posed the fear of disturbances and resist
snee in the North wcald prevent the exc
eEtion Of the order. Such an expectation
is utterly vain. The Government ia q
power whose authority cannot be dehed.
Those who may attempt resistance will ex-
perience it. By some more anxious for the
success Of party than the salvation of the
country, it was hoped that the draft would
be deferred. We rejoice in the courage Of
the President Though aware that a draft
viii be used to excite the fears and preju-
docs of the people, and that al manner OF
evil passions Tili De stirred up, the Presi.
dent will not shrink from any personal
danger that may be apprehended The
Government must be preserved, aud the
people must do it. The experiment might
as well be tried now as at any time. Ii
the people deliberately choose the extinc-
tiOn Of the Republic, the defeat of our ar
mics, and the disgrace of the National
army for the sa he of a little temporary
I,vueei rfIe Diunder lies with them.
The way, then, for every law-abidiDg
citizen is clear. If he himself caEnot 60
or can do more good for the. country by
staying at home, let him send substitute
if possible. At al events, his duty is clearly
hat Of rendering service to the Govern
neht with the well-gtounded assurance
hat he is lending helping hand in the
iast hour Of the struggle, snd-thAt the
proud Consciousness may be bis of having
lone something to secure Peaoe, Union aud
Liberty. Better that the sacrifice should
oe made than that our armies should be
abandoned and the rebellion succeed. Bet
er that the Administration should be de-
eated than that the country should fail
Better everything than the destruction Of
free Government ON this continent.