The New York herald., 1864-11-29
The Work OF Finishing up the Rebel
lAOu-What il Mr. Lincoln About9

/ The WORK OF Finishing up the Rebel
liOn-What 10 NIr. Lincoln About9
Patiently waiting, as we are, the issue Of
! General Sherman's grand movement, and conf
dent Of the most glorious results; manifest as
the great fact now appears to the public eye
that the rebellion is staggering to its fall, these
questions still recur: Wat is the a6ministra-
ton doing Is it working or waitingf What
Is Mr. Line DIN aboutY
The countiy has endorsed his policy OF put
ting down the rebellion and restoring peace by
force n arms. The people Of the loyal States,
with an Emphasis which admits OF no miscon-
strGctioE. have declared this to be their policy;
and with tiiis ratification they have the right to
expect that tho war will be "short, sharp and
decisive We would. therefore, admonish Mr..
Lincoln against tie danger OF reapsing into
the policy of awaiting and drifting along with
tie course OF events. That day has gone by.
He il no longer under this necessity. His
course is fairly marked out before him. He
has now the authority as well a. the power to
shape ard control events. What be IL first re-
quired to do is plain, easy aud simple. IT Is to
demolish the armed forces OF JED. Davis; to
strike while the iron lie hot; 70 follow up with
yigor the late well delivered and stunning
blows OF Grant Sherman, Sheridan, Farragut
aid Rosecrsns, and 10 give the rebels, neither
East nor West, any opportunity TO recover
from the Generalization and CONSERVATION now
so widely prevailing among them.
The people Of the loyal States have recog-
nized and ratified the vast improvements in the
conduct Of the war under Grant and bis gene
rails as compaAd with Scott aud his generals.
The difficulty with General Scott was that il
the beginning Of the war he bad to select his
generals pretty much at venture; while the
subsequent events, Developments and sxpe-
rience Of the war have brought Grant and bis
generals into the foreground. SO far, then,
the administration is all right But the late
national election has called for something
| more. A reconstruction OF the Cabinet was
| one OF the planks Of the Baltimore platform.
| The country has seconded the motion, and the
| grea. public interests involved in the national
/ c.,rs- demand this reconstruction. The Ca
| hiuet needs new infusion Of life and energy.
There is no longer any difficulty before Mr..
| Lincoln ia meeting this public requisition.
lie il triurnphsntly reelected. lie is relieved
! Of his late embarrsssmeuts. He Is really now
the master Of the situation. The power Is in
his hands, and the coast il clear.
We want, for example. an active, capable
r-headed, healthy and vigorous man at the
head OF the Treasury Department. MIR. Fes.
senden is On invalid and 6ss shown neither
the strength nor the inclination required to
grapple successfully the duties OF his position
We have an enormous national debt upon oui
hands. and II still accumulates at the rate o
from two to three millions q day. The frs
thing in order ID to stop this tremendous lcal
by finishing the war; but the next thing in i'm
por.ance is an efficient naturalization Of the
Treasury Department Upon this subject VI
NAV properly inquire now, on the threshold o
a new session Of Congress, and on the eve o
the opening Of new set Of books, what is Mr.
| Lincoln about
We would next respectfully submit 20 MI
lincoln that We have bad quite enough i oil
, Mr.. welles as the head Of the Navy Depar
msnt What be Is doing now, when he shoul
! be making The remaining sesboard d.
/ fences OF the rebels rattle again, v
care not particularly TO inquire; by
, from all appearances be is, as usua
. quietly sleeping upon his oars. Herc, agsiI
. the question recurs, what Is Mr.. Lincoln abou
We might 60 further with this review. W
might show to the satisfaction Of Mr.. Lincoln
perhaps that the shortest and most satisfsctor
. ray to mend his Cabinet would be 70 make
a new cne OF nesv men, from top to bottom
The specifications we have made, howeye
!. | should no longer be dIsregarded, They al
), essential to the vigorous prosecution Of q
!. war, and the placing OF the national Treasu1
b and currency on sure and solid foundation.
4 10 any evert, now is the time 70 stop the
4 | crease ol tAs nstiopAl debt v save w Ires