The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-06
SHALL WE STOP THE WAR AND
TREAT FOR PEACE1


TREAT FOR PEACEr
The Democrats talk very confidently of
electlng General MCCLELLAN President of
the United States. But, If our armies shall go
on from this time until November next,
winning such glorious victories as FARRAGUT
and SHERMAN have lately achieved the hopes
OF hcCLELLAN's election will melt away like
the mists Of the morning before the rising sun.
The only even plausible pretext which the
Democratic leaders have yet urged, or can
possibly urge, for change of Administration
in the midst Of the war is, that a different
policy from that heretofore pursued towards
the Rebellion would end It at once, or put it
down more efectually and speedily And If
the people could be persuaded that by retiring
Mr.. LINCOLN, and placing MCCLELLAN or
some other person In his place, the war could
be honorably and satisfactorily terminated
within short time, 1t Is not improbable that
they would be likely to try the experiment.
But they would not consent to such change
unless they had some reasonable assurance
that they would thereby improve the con-
dition of the country, and increase the chances
of its early restoration to unity and peace on
acceptable terms
But oil such arguments must fail to impress
the people now; because, in the presence of
such grand and decisive successes as our brave
troops are gaining over the Rebels, it would
be the sheerest madness to arrest their course
by offering to suspend hostilitles and treat
with Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS and his con-
federates in treason, for a peace based on
compromise.
1t Is quite manifest to the most incredu-
lous observer of affairs that the operations of
FARRAoUT at Mobile and SHERMAN at At
lsnta have dealt the Rebellion such stunning
blows as have broken its strength beyond
reparation, and that the same patient and
obstinate perseverance which has crowned the
campaign in Georgia with such brilliant sue
cess, must eventually, and perhaps very soon,
-reward the indomitable tenacity and masterly
strategy of GRANT in his purpose to capture
the Rebel capital.
With such inspirting prospects before them,
why should the people of the North consent
to arrest the victorious career of our arms?
Are they likely, we would ask, at the very
moment when the valor of our brave and de-
voted soldiers is accomplishing the most i'm
portant results which have occurred since the
beginning of the war, to abandon the army,
and seek truce with treason and rebellion,
by degrading supplcation for compromise
and dconciliationP Are they so weak, so fool
ish, so cowardly, as to negotiate with the
Rebels for peace, iusG when the national armies
are conquering peace after nearly four years
of struggle and suffering, and fearful expen-
diture Of treasure and bloodp
We cannot and will not believe that the
people OF the North will act so unwisely and
improvidently, as well as pusillanimously.
Even If desire to hasten peace, on tolerable
conditions, should, under any circumstances,
be permitted to prevail, as a motive for
changing the Administration of the Govern
ment and placing nav men in power at so
critical ajunctnre as the present, would it not
be absurd to make a change now? The Re
bellion is evidently on its last legs. The power
and resources of the insurgents are almost
entirely exhausted. Their best armies are
being whipped in their strongest positions.
Why, then, should we give up the contest, and
tamely sue for terms in the very hour of final
and complete triumph over the enemy?
Such an act OF folly and imbecity would
cover the ma ton with everlasting disgrace.
And does not every man of ordinary sense
be he of one political party or another, see
that the shortest road to an honorable and
permanent peace now, is by fighting the
Rebels until they are forced, by exhaustion, to
lay down their arms, rather than by giving
them time and opportunity for recovering
their shattered strength But this latter
policy is precisely what the Democratic party
proposes. They have declared, recently, at
Chicago, that hostilities must cease, aud
convention of all the States be called TO dis
cuss the question of pacihcatlon. Beside the
fact that such a convention Of the States is
legally and otherwise impracticable, we have
no assurance that the convention, if once AS
sembled, would agree on any such terms
of settlement as the Northern people
could possibly assent TO. But If that were
not SO; if it were even probable or certain
that a satisfactory peace could be made in the
manner suggested is it not quite as probable
in view Of our recent military successes, that
. safe discreet and honorable peace can be
reached sooner by prosecuting the war right
o. TO the end than by suddenly stopping hos
tlitles, giving up al we have won in nearly
four years Of strife, and granting an armistlce
that may result in nothing but building up
OF the Rebellion for four more years Of disas-
trous conflict? Let the people, then, reflect
on the choice that is offered them. If those
who have thus far conducted the war are not
disturbed. they win end it speedily by arms.
If MCCLELLAN is elected, we shall have an
empty and protracted truce, followed by
several years more Of strife and bloodshed
Between such alternatives who will hesitate?
PUBLIC sPIRIT.
Among the many things which seem what
they are not there is perhaps nothing more