Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-13
Mr.. LINOOLN,s COURSE.


The enemies of Abraham Lincoln, North
and South, condemn him for the persistency
with which he has carried ON the war against
the rebels. They condemned the policy of
coercion before any coercion was attempted.
They did not condemn the coercion policy.
when the Southerners began to coerce the
! Government into surrender of all it owned
at the South But coercion by the Presi-
dent of the United States, for the sake of
saving the nation was dreadful sin in the
eyes OF traitors everywhere
Suppose Abraham Lincoln had been
weak man like James Buchanan had been
persuaded, as he was, that coercion was
both wrong and impracticable, and had
adopted the policy that it was best to dis
solve the Union peaceably and to submit to
all that the South demanded he would
have been the most despicabie human being
that ever lived. Even the Southern people
would have despised him utterly for his
mean and abject failure to do his sworn
duty. The loyal people of the country
would have been so incensed at his infamous
betrayal of them, that they would have
risen and driven him from Washington. and
he would probably have suffered death at
the hands of a mob In pursuing course
directly the opposite of the one we have in
dleated, and employing the whole power of
II.
Lincoln Is entitled TO the admiration of foes
as well as friend. They could only have
desplsed him had he done otherwise. Now
they may hate him, but they also respect
and fear him
Each seperate act of the President to-
wards the rebels has been simply an act Of
his duty as the elected and sworn head of
the nation. At first, owing to the treachery
that filled Washington, he was able to do
but little. But as time went on, and he got
honest men to serve him, the power and
resources of the people were developed, and
he has used them wisely and effectively
When he found the measures adopted were
insufficient, he tried new and stronger ones
When military or naval commanders proved
too slow, too weak or too timid he employed
others. When he found that negroes were
employed by the rebels, he authorized their
employment, not only as servants and la
borers, but as soldiers. When it became
clear that the continued existence of the in
stltutlon OF slavery was Incompatible with
the safety or the honor of the nation, he
first proposed gradual emancipation, and
finally proclaimed freedom to the slaves in
all the States in rebellion. There are signs
OF progress in these and all other acts of
President Lincoln in reference to the rebel |
lion. At first he was not able TO employ |
measures, and of course they were ineffec- |
tual. But now he is strong, and he has |
gained in energy and determination, as well |
as in strength. Soothing syrup is not of |
much use when the subject it is admins
tered to is monster. The President does |
not want to appease and comfort the rebel |
lion, but he wants to destroy it SO he is
treating it with strong drugs like overpow-
ering armies and fleets with black-drop, |
like negro enIistments having first ex-
tracted its teeth and removed It's venom by
freedom to the slaves.
1t seems really providential that the pro-
cess of subduing the rebellion should have
been slow instead of fast, as was at first
predicted. Had it been ended in three or
six months, the South would have been as
arrogant as ever, and slavery would have
been firmly established in many States,
though possibly its territorial extent might
have been limited But the obstinate re-
sistaDce made by the rebels has compelled
President Lincoln to strike at the very root,
and, seeing that the existence and honor of
the Union cannot be maintained with
slavery, he has resolved to destroy slavery,
in order to preserve the Union. He has
little more than year left of his term,
during which time we believe that he will
restore the Union, and we trust that slavery
will in that time be brought to an end. 4
Presidential term, ending thus: gloriously,
will be forever memorable in history The
President that does all this viii be entitled
TO new term, in which he may enjoy
peacefully the fruits of the stormy four
years of civil war through which he triunl-
phantly carried thenation. .-BdLetta.