The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-06
WHERE WE ARE.

X ON the ITtohne.
1t is useless to attempt to disguise the fact,
tent to every intelligent person in the country,
at for weeks past, till quite recently, there has
en- among all loyal people good deal of dis
tisaction at the present aspect Of affairs, and a
od deal Of very painful apprehension for the
ture. The events OF the last three months, so
herent from the general expectation of signal
.ld decisive results Of the summer campaign,
bile they were the cause of this dependency,
I'VE justified the foresight Of those who advised
5ainst the assembling of the Union Convention
June. Perhaps. had that Convention been
,stponed till September, its choice of Presl-
initial candidate would have been the same as in
me; but, made In June, the feeling is that il
as premature, becau'e it was made under the
iticipation of events which have not been real
ed, and which, it is now seen, it was hardly
asonable TO expect.
But the resulting tffcct was n widespread
butt of the wisdom OF that nomination, nOt be-
use the country did not know as much then as
does now Of the chOrde eT Of Mr.. LnCOlns Ad-
inistratiOn, but that Il attributed to it then an
.ieTgy and Judgment, In the conduct OF the
ar, which the past did not justify, but 90 which,
vertheless, the people chose 20 found unwar-
nte hopes and eNtrayagant eX peCtltOus. With
Rebellion believed 10 be at almost lis last gasp,
.ld which vigorous campaign was sure to finish
ninety days, where, II was said, could better
.anGard- bearer be fOund than Abraham Lincoln
r the coming political struggle Who so we'll
|eseTvirR 10 be the Nations ruler for a second
rm as he who has carried it triumph lntly
rough the war, and who will, before the leaves
II, Ie-establish Union and Peace?
. Such was the popular feeling or such Il was
sumed TO be; ana, IN the crest of this wave OF
popular deuson, lhe Convention was held, and
Ie Presidential nomination carr ed. Blt sub
quent events dsproyed the popular an.icipl
|ons; and the strength, which was TO be proved
] their realization, turned out to be only "A re-
.tonary weakness in their disappointment.
ith disappointment came despair, quite rs un-
.arrantable as the eXIayagant expectations OF
ur months ago. and, as we sunk into lethargy
|nder the influence Of hope deferred, so our op-
onents rallied with new strength born OF our
eakness.
Only those Of the most vigorous faith aud most
.nyieldipg determination held out against this
|eneral apathy; while the half-hearted and the
lntheaIted deemed that all struggle was impo-
mt against the vigorous opposition setting In
gainst an Administration in whom condolences
as so much shaken and which Il was feared
ust be overwhelmed by party promising 70
ad the nation, in some way, out of the wilder
ess OF indeclsioD, of doubt, and OF imbecility.
b those who demanded peace Mt any rate were
.1ded those who preferred peace to protracted
I'd ruinous war, which, il was feared, could only
ID in disgrace and disaster. From this positive
mper on the one hand, and this doubling and
espairing spirit on the other, we seemed hasten
|g only TO defeat.
| No careful observer Of public opinion for the
st few weeks can deny that this is a true state
lent OF what its condition has been. No
|ational man, we think, can deny that it nee
ct have come about that had We not, 20
SO the slang of the street, discounted"
|uccess and built upon an enthusiasm that was
ct to be created had we patiently awaited
vents, and made up our minds 10 accept disaster
| disaster was TO come, resolved upon facing the
tuation, whatever IL might be, and then go In
nd win with the best man we could find TO lead
70 victory, whether Abraham Lincoln or
omebody else, that we should have started on
he Presidential campaign full:of freshness, and
.onhdence, and hope, sure TO carry us in triumph
D the end. Now what are we 20 dol Are the
ahtskes Of the past beyond remedy Are the