Washington telegraph., 1864-02-24

our OlIlce. NDtWltlStanullg lHe!E HEll COlN ~
fions of Northern meAdacity, fes Of them read
Federal papers with eqlanimity. Some throw
them down with curse. Others read them
through quietly, but their colltenances fal l.
They speak more seriously for awhile. The
most passionate and inpusiye, as If in response
TO something renew their determination aloud
to sacrifice everything ior the cause and die up
on the last foot of soil as if such necessity
. were at all in any close prospect.
In fact, it requires very well balanced mind
to look thus closely into the workings Of that
great machinery which forms and controls pub
lie sentiment and sus.ains public patriotism. if
their insane desire of conquest can b. disnifed
with the name. One must reflect, that the large
majority Of Northern editors are 20 far commit
ted to the success of this war OF aggression are
so bound up with the fortunes Of the statesmen
and generals who push ID onward. that peace
would bring upol them inevitable ruin. They
have every motive to misrepresent the condition
OF affairs in both sections, to exaggerate slight
advantages and the Importance of baflied expo
ditions to descant upon the advantages of their
strategic positions; to suppress evidences Of dis
affection and decay of strength TO conceal
from view all threatening foreign relations, and.
at the same time. to present the affairs and pros
poets of the South in the gloomiest aspects
Even honest editors feel constrained 10 pursue
that course. if in the interests Of the admins
tration and those who are dishonest add tn it
the use of false facts and Intentional misrepre-
seutations Nothing has interfered with the pub
lication aud circulation of Northern papers
amongst their people. They have been the most
powerful agents in prolonging the war. They
have all along created before the eyes of the
people the beautiful mirage of a speedy peace.
and consequent restoration of the rich States Of
the South. They have concealed the terrible
aspect OF their national debt under the dalusyr
hope that confscations OF Southern property and
restoration OF permanent Southern taxation
would render it a burdel easily to be borne
They have lured the people with these ..tGRss
fdtui" through hardships and qIagmires innn-
merable, and sustained them under disappoint-
ments, with the seemingly ever-lear prospect OF
the realization Of their hopes. They are con
tinually shooting new arrows after lost ones
The people of the North are The shrewdest in
the world in caring for immediate AMI petty in-
terests. The history of this war has shown.
however, that they are stupid a. dull Bmotials
in recognizing their hi her interests which. 10
be seen and recognized, requires a wider and
calmer survey of their situation and prospects
than they seem capable of taking. With such
people the newspaper Is all-pOwerful Without
the bouying aid of the Northern press, they
would long since have ceased their efforts in de-
spair. With it they have made gigantic efforts
which remind Of .he lablcd war of the Titans
They have piled mountain on mountain with
frenZied effort. ali. notwithstanding tho almost
ridiculous results. are still led ol to renewed
efforts. blind 10 the gulf which yawn= before
them, into which they must assurcdly plunge
and be lost at last.
Knowing and recognizing the force or this
tremendous power upon the Northern mind We
cal take it calmly into consideration. aud csti-
mate il as a thia5 apart from mere channels OF
Information or vehicles Of sentiment wv which
We are to be at all affected Il is one of tie
war fo.ccs, to De calculated as all others How
long can it last? What are its Limits?
Public distr,ss. Under an inflated money
system, and with the increased demand for the
products of agriculture and manufacture, made
necessary by their large armies the people al
home have not felt their burdens yet. They
have lost only masi. The dead canno: be r.
called by peacc. They may be willing 10 send
forth more evea, to recover what ~ tangible and
permanent in their rational wealth. Whilst
they may do so without domestic distress, they
are easily buoycd up to further efforts. They
readily accept any pleasant dclusioas
But reality is death 10 illusions. One may be
persuaded that sawdust is bread, and may enjoy
the prospect of ease and abundance But when
the time comes to live upon ii, he no longer be-
lieves in its nutritious qualities Under the re
ality of experience, he wastes and starves. All
illusions must have an end. No lie can live
forever. Only the truth is eternal
When their currency becomes worthless n, X
gradually does when importations cease for
want of exports when home-industry il de-
manded for military support, with no remunera-
tlOn better than oak leaves when labor for The
government must be gratuitous. and the pro-
duets OF labor, intended for ones family. must
be taken by force to support an army of a bank
rkpt governmeut-then comes the end of cnthn
siasm in all aggressive wars The scales fail
from their eyes. The press itself. which goes
with the whrlwind and excites it TO fury. ,nnst
turn also with the shifting elements Ii mad |
dens and excites but does not give direction
wholly. With public distress comes realities |
which it cannot ignore and which ii must try |
also to relieve. or perish itself.
Therefore, we are neither irritated nor dis |
couraged by Northern papers. We only study
the machinery, and gain what wisdom we can.
at least this lesson : that the same power is no
less efiicacious in the cause of truth and should
be sustained amongst the conservator Of !
patriotism, the incentive to effort the hand |
maiden of holy sacrifices for our cause What
with them encourages false hopes should be
present with US, to guard against false discour |
agements. What blinds their eyes With false
statements, should be here presenting the truth |
What excites them to an unholy crusade nader
the false name of patriotism, should he present |
amongst us cherishing the true fire-keepinp il |
alive in our hearts. If ii can sustain them in n |
cruel war upon our civil liberties to the desola |
tion of onr hearthstones, much more can il sus-
tain US in the defence of all that men hold dear
in life
To the press in the South the people should
look as the fountain-head of reliable informa |
is WON'T, II.ll