The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-13

~ We fear that too many Of the PEG.
pie indulge . needless and useless impa-
thence for the event Of the present CAM
paign. Too many Of our public journals,
which mean well, pander to this mistaken
idea, by meaningless apologies for what
they evidently consider an unexpected de-
lay Of the final result. People suppose the
editors better informed than themselves,
and when apologies and excuses are made
conclude that they are really necessary.
This is altogether foolish, wrong, hurtful,
and beyond this, entirely uncalled for by
events. The campaign instead of demand
ing excuse is, thus far, in reality magnif-
icent success. It has produced better re-
suits every way than any preceding one.-
It has really done more towards bringing
the conflict to q triumphant issue for US,
than all preceding ones put together, and
our position to-day is almost incompar-
ably better than it was when the campaign
opened, and better than any intelligent OBJ
server expected to see It at the close. What
Is done we can see and understand. What
il to come we do notlknow. We only speak
Of the past. df
In judging Of what is past we must esti-
mate the advantages We have gained by
how much they advance rs toward the end
we have in view. The military purpose Of
the campaign is to destroy the military
power ofthe rebels. That being done all
Is done that mere arms can do. A great
many would have deemed the capture Of
Atlanta and Richmond, though the rebel
armies had merely maruhed through them
without making fight in their defense,
something to exult over. They would
have INDUCED in extravagant exultation
over such events, though 30 far as It would
have directly affected The ultimate result it
would have been simply transfer Of the
battle-ground to other points. We would
have gained nothing, but . lengthening Of
our lines and an increase Of necessary ex-
penditure Of our resources. The same
number Of rebels would have remained ia
be overpowered. The battles already con-
tested would yet remain to be fought, We
would have control of q little more terrific
~. We would hold the rebel capital, while
the rebel force would be still before rs,
and al the more formidable by reason Of
its concentration. s
Events have, ~ We look upon them, been
infinitely more favorable for u than such
barren campaign. Sherman and Grant
have had to fight their way totheir present
positions. Every battle has resulted in our
hvor. even in those instances where the
numerical loss on our side has been great
est Each has increased the disproportion
OF remaining resources in our favor, and
made the end thereby the nearer and more
certain. Therebels are on their last lees, and
aswetoldour readers they would lastspring
nave fought desperately. They contest the
ground, but they 60 backward continually
They have mustered al their men, boys Of
fourteen and old men Of sixty, and they
neht with despair, and they oblige vs. BY
lighting where we want them to fieht.-
They have lost continually, Is We have
ou the ratio Of loss gives us a daily in.
creasing preponderance, and in the emo
must inevitably result in their utter ruin
Al the outset Of the campaign We said
.oss the one thing needful for us was Il
Keep up our armies and make them amn,v
numerous TO overpower those of the rebels
"e sao 1t was only requisite that thei,
armies % destroyed or captured to enc
'ne var mat this was the one thing to b,
accomplished, and it was quite mmster;a
where. so Il should be actually accom-
plished,