The New York herald., 1865-01-02
The Character OF tho Richmond
REexs.

| The Character OF tho Richmoad
Press.
The Pythoness OF the rebellion bas had her
home in Rehmond, and her voice has been tho
Richmond press. Aud the propkscics and say
| ings which have emanated from that source
bavs been just about as truthful as those which
emanated from Delphos. The newspapers Of
Richmond have been the chief support Of the
rebel cause. Those of Charleston, Savannah
the siIencs and gloom that surrounded them
but in Richmond they have been cunning, un-
scrupulous and defiant. We admit they have
certain kind Of ability, characteristic Of their
self-admIrston and Southsro pretsnsion but
beyond that from first to last, they have shown
they we're unable to grspple with the unm
peacbable merit Of the institutions Of the Union
honestly to defend their conduct or to conpre
bend the logic OF events. The Richmond editors,
inspired by their ambitious and unscrupuious
leaders, by long course Of seif-adulation.
had como to the conclusion that they were
as much superior to Northern mea Is they were
to their own negroes; that labor was the true
badge Of infer;ority and ssrvitude, and all they
had to do was to proclaim their own superiority
and their aristooratic principles, and the North
would not only be overawcd, but conquered.
In order to inspire the mon Of their armies
with these notions, systsmaaie abuse and de-
probation Of the North were favsrits means.
"MudsilIs," "greasy nschaaiss," "slaves Of
the dollar" "doushfaes.' che SCUM Of
Europe" and ocowards" were spithets In
constant use. Robert Toonbs was TO call
the roll Of his slaves at the foot Of
the monument on Bunker Hill; his cavalry
were to water their horses In The Delaware
river, and Now York, Boston and Phila-
delphia were to be the easy booty Of his irwin
clbles. The Richmond press made this kind OF
predictions with the boldsst assurances. They
had lepg ruled the North from Washington,
they now intended TO do 20 from Richmond.
This was the arst tone Of the press Of that city.
But when the indignant and outraged North
began to bestlr itself. and accepted tho gauntlet
thus impudently and wantony thrown down;
when taught by few early reverses that they
could not fight this battle in silk gloves; when
the tide Of war began to turn, and the enemy
was gradually driven back from the Poto-
mac, from Norfolk, from. the Ohio, tho
rivers OF Tennessee and Kentucky, and from
the Mississippi and Missouri, the Richmond
press had to assume new tone. The loss OF
all these lines was nothing, every defeat was
but the result Of defensive strategy, every
forward movement of our armies was but
walk into trap, every misfortune OF their
~tIr SocIs -
blessing in disguise. In the midst Of the most
apparent dlscomHturcs they assumed that all
was we'll; that their final success was beyond
all doubt, and Europe was called on to believe
them, and adjurcd at once to change neutrality
Into recognition. While every year thousands
Of miles square were wrested from them, they
declared their territory was intact, and homo
geneous; when they had in their whole -coniede-
racy scarce single State government which
was carrying on its functions in legal or
orderly manner-their local presses defunct,
their courts dead, their schools and churches
deserted, their commerce destroyed and their
money worthess--the Richmond press con-
tinnsd to boast Of tho stability and progress
Of their States, Of the certainty and success Of
their institutions, the rapid growth OF their
industries, the calmness and happiness Of their
people And even of the last great and trium-
phant march Of Sherman, which our worst
enemies abroad have declared--if successful
will surpass the march Of Xenopbon from the
battle field Of Cunaxa, or the most famous
advances of the First Napoleon, they have
declared not their apprehension but contempt.
The Richmond press, always rubbing up
their classics and ready to hurl ancient his
tory at the head Of modern dissentients,
ehore to consider this movement al disgrace
ful retreat from Hood. On his flank and rear
the gallant rebels were to goad him to
frenzy; and, like the men OF Roderick Dhu,
Southern heroes were to start up from every
covert TO assail bis sstonished columns. Bragg
was to conquer him here, Hardes was to crush
him there, and he was TO meet the fate Of
"Nacedonia's madman and the Swede" This
was the speech Of the Richmond press, do.
signed TO keep Georgia aud North Carolina In
place, TO impart new hope to the rebel press
Of New York, to encourage the London Times
and the Inder, and to give SIdell and Mason
one more chance Of button holing the French
Emperor. But Sherman has entirely succeeded,
Savannah itself has fallen, aud The tactics Of the
great Hariee were hasty flight before our
feet should get up the river to make his escape
impossible. 81 ~
The Richmond press, with its usual
cffrontery, will proclaim this movement Of
their hero splendid triumph, like tho
retreat Of Moresu through the HolIe Pass Of
the Black Forrest, and that the loss Of Savan.
nah is no loss At ell. On the contrary, by this
splendid strategy, tho confederacy win be
saved and its independence assuredly cstab-
lished. When Wilmington falls--ss, sooner or
later, fall Il must--wc shall have the same
story So with regard to Charleston; and
finally, when Richmond (with Jefferson Davis