The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-14


and Ifs RespOnstbilttIes.
II the military preparations now in progress
In Virginia, under the supervision Of General
Grant, shall result in successful campaign
against the rebel capital, the rebellion will have
received its death blow. And the blow that
destroys the rebellion establishes our country
in that position as . nation which she has
seemed likely to lose. Europe must then recant
Its too ready requiems over the "great repub-
lic," and the military Powers Of the earth must
yield us the first place as the greatest Of them
all; for not only will our government then
have gone through an ordeal that il cannot be
pretended that any European government could
60 through, but we will also have exhibited a
military power equal to the combined power
OF England and France. All the civil
wars in Europe have been the merest
skirmishes to this great struggle in which
thc parts Of the United States have mustered
against one another-a power equal on either
side TO the power of great nation under the
European system. Our own force now under
arms-under the Stars and Stripes---is equal
in numbers, as in every other respect, to the
armies, a. they at present stand, Of England
aud France together; and, adding to our own
force the rebel force, as the equivalent Of any
addition that England aud France might make
TO their forces in case of great necessity, we
are still the equal of those two Powers COM
bined. and thus certainly entitled to take pre-
cedence in military power over any one. An
immense primary military Power will there
fore be established in the community Of ma
tons by this single success, and the influence
of its existence will be felt in every govern
ment in Christendom. And, as our success
against Great Britain-our first success-had
its fruit in Europe in the French Revolution,
what influence upon the people Of Europe may
not this infinitely greater triumph OF free in
situations baves
Bat IL Grant should fail, it is hardly possible
TO say what results may not follow. We would
be 10th to recognize even such defeat as the
death blow Of our cause. Il is certain that the
staunch qualities Of our people, taken as a
whole, would lead them to rally for even
greater struggle still. But it il also certain
that such defeat would strengthen immensely
the factions that exist in our midst and politi-
cal anarchy would blunt the edge of all our
future attempts. And thus il is at least proba-
BILE that this defeat might lead to events that
would count US out for hundred years, from
the number Of great nations One great dis
ruption would lead TO lesser ones; we would
be broken up into community OF petty and
quarrelsome States, and the great experiment
OF free government that We have 80 magnifi-
Gently tried for eighty years would be settled
against the people We would die the young
eat Of great republics. and our fall would
strengthen the hands OF despotic power every
where
II thus appears that the struggle upon which
We are now about TO enter Is a momentous one.
not only to ourselves. but to the world at large.
Its result either way will affect for good or evil
the future history Of the human race II is as
stinct turning point In human history as
were the battles Of Marathon, OF Tours, of Pull
iowa or Waterloo. At Marathon the possession
OF Earope was decided against the despot who
graspcd all Asia At Tours II was determined
whether Mohsmmed anism or Christianity should
prevail in Europe. Pultowa brought Russia
into the council OF European nations. and ne
cessitated new balance Of power; and Water
loo decided the possession Of Europe against
the people. and In favor of the little coterie OF
< ngs that constituted the Holy Alliance. Our
coming battle is 10 decide issues a. great as any
n these, since Il Is 10 determine whether the
yrea. republic Of modern times shall stand or
the existence Of a government
destined 10 exert a greater influence on the
progress Of the human race than any other
known TO history The responsibilities Of the
nan who commands our armies In this great
crisis are tremendous. and the reward Of his sue
cess will be the greatest within the gift Of the
people