The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-01-27

! Has he not noblv vindicated himseIi
against the sneer that he had mo policy?'
| II he had been less wise and more rash
could he, as now, point to his enemies
and Remember my warnings and
/ forhearance that You would not heed?,'
And during all this period, the success
of our arms has been as wonderful as the
grand rccompenses which have flowed
out of them. For a while the people
naturally Jealous and impatient, were be
logged on this point, assailed as they
were at every turn by the adroit and per
nicious engines of Party. Wide awake
now, the people have quite recently dem
onstrated that there is no party but the
country-no party but the Union party
whose President and whose candidate
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is. All who stand be
yond this line, no matter what their per
sonal stature or pretensions, in this cri-
sis, dwindle to the proportions of Fac
ton. The Republican party has fulfilled
a heaven born and heaven inspired mis-
sion. As a party. its work is done-it
has created an epoch;-it has marked an
craft has become one of the pyramids
of History. Henccforth its members are
enrolled only under the broad banner OF
the Union. No good man can recognize
mere party until the Ship of State, over
hauled and repaired, is once more safe
at sea on her final and triumphant voy-
age. But this is depression from what
we were about to submit on the subject
of the progress of our arms.
From the earliest records of War, with
out intermission, down to the date of this
Rebellion, armiers have been quite as
much distinguished for their cabals and
cliques and petty rivalries and jealous
les, among the officers, as they have for
their achievements and renown. There
fore it is that no current history of a war
can be written; since we cannot, Gnfor-
tunately, absolutely rely even upon the
Reports of Generals in Chief; for the
Reports of such are made from the de
tails which General Commanders obtain
from subalterns. The only safe view
therefore, of thcprogress OF "a war which
the people can take, is that dictated by
common sense, in view of the crcum-
stances that surround campaigns, and Of
their aggregate results. Hswho has not
sense enough to comprehend the great
task Of c-s@aizing an army ias,asa raw
rccruits, IN which is Included not olly
drill and discipline, but ell the immense
material essential to its effect and sub
sistcnce; such man has no right even
to offer an opinion on war. He who can
not comprehend the vast difference be
tween an o6ensiye and defenstre war
should never obtrude his criticism on
such a theme. Some people seem to for
get that epery soldier in the army must be
fed and clothed; that he must sleep;
march; that he must he cared for in ill
ness; and that, to accomplish this, the
mere matter of transportation for an in
vading army is thing of bewildering
magnitude. Equally excuseless is that
War critic who will not comprehend that
incodess march in strange land that
they are ignorant of roads and streams
therein; that they are liable to the per
fidy of guides. and to the presence of the
most unexpected and formidable natural
obstacles. Surely, he is not very wise
either, who will not remember that the
elements, the seasons, the condition of
an army as to food, clothing. and rest
especially after serious fight-enter
very largely indeed into righteous indg-
ment of the operations of war. Some,
also, speak of the present war, as if they
were talking about pitched battles on the
smooth and narrow plains of the old
world; as if we had no enemy to encoun-
ter: as if mistakes, ignorances, treach-
cries were not sure to occur in such i'm
mense affairs as these 1t is difficult to
maintain the slightest respect or charity
for such hypcrcritics- Nor is any ac-
count made, by this class of men, of
deaths. wounded, sick. missing, desert
ers. And very few persons indeed, stop
to consider how very little one knew.
practically, of war matters when this
Rebellion broke out The vast amount
of the war talent which the United States
had educated and developed, found its
way into the Southern lines; it was for
opportunity, therefore, to create our
men.
To be eont;nued-l