The Portland daily press., 1865-04-04
THE REBELLION DIssoLvINe
RIcHxoxD MAS FALLEN.


The news fthe last twenty-four hours is
Of the most cheering character. Every loyal
heart rejoices, and the fainting are made
strong.
Twelve thousand of the enemy taken pris-
oners and fifty cannon captured, with our
lines everywhere advancing and closing around
the beleaguered cities of Richmond and Pc
tersburg, and our troops full Of spirit and en-
thuslasm, we're some of the events with which
Sunday was observed at the front, the news
Of which came flashing over the wires during
that day and the night following.
We had prepared long congratulatory
leader for the Press this morning, starting
from the stand point that Richmond and Pc
tersburg were fairly to be considered as be-
sieged cities, but before the ink was dry-be-
fore it had been placed In the hands of the
compositor, the lightning Knocked it into an
tiqaity, and compelled up to rub out and COM
mence anew. e
Yesterday morning the news came flashing
along the wires that the Rebel Capital had
fallen-that the old flag hoated in proud tri-
umph over that city whersfor three years the
rebellion has had its head. Yesterday morn
ing, at sl5 o'clock, that proud, dsfant citadel
of treason was entered by federal troops; and
1t was fitting that among the first to enter
should be the colored troops Of Gen. Weitzel.
1t was a glorious triumph. The Rebellion
may with propriety be said to be crumbIing.
Satan's kingdom is tumbling down. All pres
tige for the rebel cause Is lost It's star is fast
declining to the horizon, and no power can
ever again place it in the ascendant.
Where the rebels can make stand it is DIFF
fcult to imagine. Grant, Sherman and Sheli-
dan are all flushed with victory, and with full
and constantly increasing ranks will not al
low time to the vanquished rebels to recuper-
ate. Their utter destruction or unconditional
the Right.
A dispatch from Washington, received In
this city yesterday afternoon, said President
Lincoln was in Richmond, and would issue a
proclamation from that city during the day |
This is the elimination of Union success.
JEFF Davis said at Stevenson, Ala, in the
spring of 1851, "We will carry war where it is
easy to advance-,Ohere food for the s,oord
"Gnd torch otoait our armies In the densely
populated cities"
When the news of the capitulation OF Sum-
ter reached Montgomery, at that time the
rebel capital, Mr.. Walker, the rebel Secretary
Of War, in response to a serenade to Davis
the latter being ill-said:
"No man could tell where the war this day
commenced would end, but he would prophe-
sy that the flag which now fauuts the breeze
here would float over the dome of the Capitol
at Washington before the first of May. Let
them try Southern chivalry and test the ex-
tent Of Southern resources, and it might float
eventually over Faneuil Hall ITSELF"
The Richmond Wing followed up the same
strain, saying:
"They are alarmed for Washington, but they
have not yet begun to tremble for New York
and Boston. AS England and France knew
thai there would ba no stable peace with the
treacherous, cowardly and cruel Chinese, short
of Pekln, so we know that there can be- no
lasting peace with Chinese counterpGrts on
this continent. until Confederate cannon over
awe New York. and Confederate legions bio
ouac on Boston Common"
Where are these boosters now? Washing
ton stands firm as her everlasting foundation,
but Richmond has fallen; Davis is fugitive
from his own capital; his government is on
wheels, and Abraham Lincoln proudly issues
ed Confederacy.