Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-16

Iron he y I. kFs1l1g Posi lEsPf)
The Iuaugural-Failure OF ur. LIN.
coin To Define the Policy os HIS sec
oDd Term

The Iuauaural-FaIlur OF Mr. Lin.
coin To Define the Policy os HIS sec
ond Term.
1t will be disappointment TO perhaps ma
ority Of readers that nothing Is said in this pre-
Jude TO a new administration 20 Indicate the pol
icy by which il will be guided Beyond the one
topic Of slavery we are not even vOuchsafed a
single hint as TO the spirit of the new rule. Yet
important questions as the war itself are rapidly
coming upon Us, and which are TO be met and
disposed Of by quite other methods than those
that have sufficed in the conduct of the war Ii
has been Mr. Lincoln's habit of life, as be him
self confesses 20 wait upon the Developments OF
time and 90 adapt measures 10 events as they
arise or 10 Circumstances az they existed. De
has seldom met them beforehand with a defined
and well prepared scheme of action by which
he resolved 10 marshal aud control them to
proper end. he has. OF The contrary, allowed
himself to be controlled by them. and to do the
best that be csuld for the time being. hoping by
wise erpedents 10 defeatin The end the effects Of
any want of foresight and of infexible adhesion
TO system in the ouiset. .#I-
This expectant method may have been neces-
sary IA the conduct of a war suddenly sprung up
on the nation, the magnitude and duration OF
which, as the President SAYS, few expected
none he might have said, except those eJdis
corning minds which are in the habit of tracing
out the workings of principles IN ali their ulti-
mate social efiects-tbe very means Of which
both in men and money, had to be imprOvised-
aud the progress of which was marked by pro-
digious turns and vcissitudes. We shall not
criucise it here. il has loaded Us with many a
needless burden, afflicted Us with many need
less loss and sorrow; but il will be crowned
doubtless. with an eventual success, which is all
that most men care for or require They will
praise the bridge that carries them safely over
the gulf. without scrutinizing too narrowly either
the materials or style Of architecture. When
the danger is passed, when the storm has blown
over, they are apt to think only OF their escape,
and will not 90 back to discuss the means by
which the salvation effected
But in the coming time. il must be obvious TO
the least thoughtful person that this mode of
waiting for events will not do. The questions
of recovery and reconstruction that are 10 be
settled. are questions involving great and lasting
principles. destined to be established and to act
for very long time We are not to provide for
an emergency, but for a regular and continuous
existence. We are TO reconcile embitered
and preudced population to the peaceful SUI
premacy Of the law, without infringing our per
manent principles of free government, or impair
ing the rights of any locality or Of any individual
we are to let down social and political system
| from that feverish erelhism, as the doctors say
which is produced by the ntoxicston of paper
money; TO disperse the dangerous
| gestion of power in the Federal head, that
enormous and almost unlimited Capitalization OF
functions and forces, which the vast operations
of war require, but which would be fatal to LID
erty in time of peace; and We are TO simplify and
reform the process of taxation, which i'll its pres
ent state is vast, ncoherent, and complicated
network Of distractions to trade. endurable in an
exigency, but not otherwise
These and dozen other questions of equa
moment are not to be disposed of by transient
expedients. They demand the exercise of eau
ton, of sagacity. of foresight; in short. of tie
highest qualities of the statesman, and the appli
cation of the most fundamental and compreheD
sive principles of political science. Mr.. Lincola
must be prepared to meet them with the broaGest
wisdom. with clear and settled principles before
him, with consistent and inaexible purposes Of
action, or he will fail more signally in his second
than he is supposed to have been successful il
his first term of Office Other methods and 9th
er counsellors will be needed as we have nc
doubt his good sense has already prescribed