Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-07
victory or a shameful SURRENDER.


The last thing which a proud spirited
man, conscious of the rectitude of his ac-
tions, will do, is to make confession Of hav-
ing done wrong when justice is wholly on
his side. This is a humiliation of manhood
which it is dangerous for any one to ask
Of him. It is none the less insulting to
ask Of the proud and prosperous people of
the North to consent to self-abasement be
fore a bitter foe, the enormity of whose
crimes is piled mountain high before God
And this is precisely what they ask The
proposition of the Peace men at
Chicago, in which thev take so
much delight, demands what never
can be granted, a virtual concession of the
Independence of the revolted States The
Union party insists that remuneration
OF the right of secession and recognition.
of the supremacy of the constitution and
laws of the country must be theprerequisits
to any cessation of hostilities, or to settle
ment of any minor questions. Of such
a willingness, on the part of the rebel
authorities, we have not had the slightest
indication. On the contrary, everything
which has come from them, bearing
the slightest official sanction, has proved
that cessation Of hostiities could not re-
suit in anything but the independence of
the South. If once the above antecedent
conditions could be satisfied, if JEFF. Davis
and his associate traitors wonld renouneel
the heresy of secession and announce their
readiness to treat with view to the re-es-
tablishment of the Union in all its strength
and glory, then the appeal for cessation
Of hostilities and convention. Of States,
would meet with popular enthusiasm and
support. But as matters now stand, the
proposition of the Chicago Convention,
carried out, would result inevitably in the
independence of the South, In the pro-
posal to negotiate, as indeed in the whole
platform, there is not even the recognition
of the rebellion as a fact One who did
not understand affairs in this country,
would suppose by reading the Democratic
platform, that the present Administration
led BY Abraham Lincoln, was in rebellion,
and not the rebels headed by JEFF Davis.
If then the rebellion is not recognized at
ALL the Democratic party proposes
to treat with them as an inde-
pendent, sovereign power OF course
in the present military status an ''imnedi-
ate cessation of hostiities" could only be
effected by opening diplomatic relations
with the "courta of Richmond. But his
Highness JEFF. Davis says, SO soon as the
invaders are Withdrawn from my king |
dom, SO soon win 1 treat with you.a OF
course an ainmediate cessation of hcstii-
ties" would demand compliance with this
request of Davis. sherman's legions, after
having hurled the enemy down TO the
coast, after having by three years of sturdy |
war eliminated untold difficulties out of
the problem of finally conquering the re-
bells, are to disgracefully turn about and |
wend their way with trailing banners back
across the Ohio. The a Father of Waters"
wrenched from the foe after many bitter
struggles. is again to be given up. General
Grant, on the very verge Of expelling Lee
from Virginia, is to give up that work and,
with mufied drums, fall back upon WASH
ington. The old war dog, Farragut, is to
give up New Orleans and Mobile Bay. ALI
the magnificent triumphs of our arms are to
be given up by a naughty, mighty people of |
twenty-five millions to the execrable despot |
who sits at Richmond, and regards our ar
mics as 'invaders." But if his majesty
should waive the withdrawal Of the inva-
ders,p he is yet bound by the Montgomery
constitution, and would be obliged to call
the Confederate Congress, to authorize an
other convention to consider the PROPOSE
ton of the Democracy. Before the ulti-
mate cOnventinn could be brought about,
months would elapse, and in the meantime
the aConfederacy" would be virtually in
dependent. Such then is the alternative.
II is victory or shameful surrender. We
must fight until the power and authority
of the laws and constitution of the Repub-
lie, are recognized as supreme. When
this is done, then viii be the time for 3
lCessation Of hostilities and a convention
II stAtss, 4