The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-31

~-S~s ~ NsS k~sSS>e sssSs 49,
the glad satisfaction in every loyal heart
and the we'll grounded conviction in ever,
mind that the rebellion is gradually draw
ing nigh its death. Daily We mentally
hold jubilation. Now is the winter o
our discontent turned into glorious sum
mer, cum mer ,eemiug with the full har
vests and the golden fruits of blessed
peace. We may not read Alright the sigpi
of the'lime. Peace may be fat from US
Yet. as 1864 goes from US and 1865. be
comes our present year of the Lord, the
times are suspicious f,r an early and great
ly triumphant peace.
This is the golden opportunity for the
complete success of the national arms.
I,may be lost. Lost by Encouragement,
b. poor generalship, by inactivity. ~ not
strengthening our armies. by various
9 uses. And yet We are not concerned.
Were it merely contest for military ag.
grandiz cement and glory. our armies might
cease their lsbors for the present and rest
upon the laurels won in the most brilliant
campaign in history. But our authorities
are lighting to preserve the life Of the ma
tion, to save democratic government, and
30, despite the viBter season and past
achievements, the work stili goes. Thro'
every portion Of its extended territory
our victorious legions press the fast falling
rebellion
Oat upon the plains, In the far West.
the savage allies of barbarous rebellion
are met. and fought and routed
Down on the Southern border Of the
C,nfederacy Mobile, nearly all that re-
mains 10 it on the Gulf coast, is threat.
ened by our arms and We don't view il as
an i'll founded hope that looks for its cap
ture and occupation.
Bnrbrid e, ,-Stoueman and GiIlem have
chased tie fugitive Breckenridge into
North Caroline, destroyed Saltville and
the important salt works in that part OF
Virginia and other rebel property to the
amount Of some twenty millions of dol
lars, aud Breckiaridge's dispatch to the
contrary notwi' hsts ndine, have inflicted
40 irreparabIe loss upon the enemy.
After Shrrman's great march and i,s
erowning success, the precedent. of war
wenld have justified bis resting at Sa
vannah for rest, recuperation and organi-
xation. But, however he may have been
repeatedly used up and thoroughly ex-
tingnished BY the rebel press South, and
his army dispirited and demoral zed by
the rebel press North, he quits Savannah
as soon as taken. aud the steady tramp Of
his veterans is toward Agusta and Chatles
ton. Aud If it be his object to march
upon both there can be no doubt that both
must yield to him.
Baxton Bragg's dispatch to the effect
tn Porter and Butler have given up the
attack upon Wilmington, seems to have
been premature. They are still there,
and will doubtless remain there until II is
their property. Were it true. however,
the only explanation would be that it vas
q feint, embraced in the original pro
gramme of the expedition, the real ohjec.
tive point of which would be Charleston
where the fleet would next be heard from
in which case Sherman would march di
rectly upon that place without going tt
Augusta There, however, he has sait
he is going, and Sberman's is the Napo
leonic strategy which frequently give
notice of what be proposes doing, aut
then does it.
Thus all the forces of the enemy are
kept employed. and . consolidation at an.
one place is prevented.
Sill the ,.double barreled vale" come
up from the Richmond papers. Factio
is vehemensly declam atory and the sOss
upon Pelion'' of Vrginian jourDalis sti
indignation is poured upon the un
fortunate held Of the unfortunate JEFF
ersoa Davis The Examiner thunder
and Davis is in,ractable and silent. II
may have his own thoughts and his ow
words to hmself, in his private room a
Richmond, but we are mono the wise
thereby. IL Dickens Christmas story
where Mrs. Lirriper galops rough sho
over commas and periods and rides dow
sentences Of interminable length-whe
Mr.. Bnfiie's honse takes FIRE and Mr. Blu
As and Mrs Bnfles, Miss Buffles an
",he srt'cled Young man." well secure
in hlankets are carried to Mrs Lirriper',
the ar,icled young man, with his hes
very light and his heart very heavy Wit
love for Miss Buffles, rocks his bevilt
cred self to and fro and utters hi, p.tha
ic lament, '.R,bina is reduced to c,nder
Robina is redu led to cinders" We i,
affected. and very glad when Miss Buff
relieves him by saying '.dear George
and We see affection returned, and graf